Opalescent Reflections

[Daryk]

You, sir, are NOT wrong! ;D

[drakensis]

Opalescent Reflections

Full House
Chapter 7

Imperial City, Irurzun
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
2 August 3057

The display in front of the DCMS High Command showed the results of probing attacks against the Clans. “We have little time left to decide where to attack with the forces being sent by our allies,” Minoru reminded the warlords.

“With Task Force Topaz already committed to assist the Outworlds Alliance, using Ruby to liberate adjacent worlds would concentrate both task forces against a relatively limited part of the Diamond Shark’s forces,” Li Dok To advocated. “Galedon V is only a short distance behind the truce line and we could reasonably hope to reach New Samarkand.”

“I don’t doubt that you could,” Boris Petrov agreed mildly. “But that would put a preponderance of forces facing just one end of the border and even if the Diamond Sharks were entirely focused on you,” Which was not something to count on, “It leaves the Ghost Bears and Smoke Jaguars free to attack us and we would have limited forces available to contain them.”

“Sixteen ‘mech regiments,” Daniel Sorenson said grimly. “We could call on Task Force Emerald to reinforce that, but that would take time. I think that would pose an unacceptable risk to Benjamin… and possibly to Irurzun.”

“If we push somewhere else, the Diamond Sharks could move on the Davion border,” Li Dok To pointed out.

“Possible, if somewhat unlikely since they would be the nearest reinforcements for their forces in the Outworlds Alliance,” Petrov allowed. “In that case, I think we can safely say that the Federated Commonwealth would guarantee not only Task Force Emerald but their remaining reserves from the Draconis March to support us.”

“My sister would certainly twist arms to that effect,” agreed Minoru, examining the data displaying the confirmed and theorized strength and readiness of the Clan forces on worlds that had been raided. “Since we cannot be strong everywhere, that leaves us two basic options: the central option, striking at the Ghost Bears and the Diamond Sharks, or the anti-spinwards option, targeting the Ghost Bears and the Smoke Jaguars.”

He had tried not to indicate a preference, but from the way Petrov looked apologetic as he said: “As much as I would like to advise otherwise, the anti-spinwards option seems better. The Smoke Jaguars have significantly more of their forces tied down dealing with local resistance and are far less likely to coordinate with the Ghost Bears,” he had apparently seen through Minoru’s feigned indifference.

“That is true but any serious advance into that region would be surrounded on three sides,” pointed out Li Dok To. He indicated the central option. “Here, we would have the potential for follow-up operations to connect with the liberated Outworlds and perhaps push all the way to the Draconis Rift!”

Reaching the Draconis Rift would not be the challenge, Minoru thought. At its nearest, the edge of the rift was only a jump away from the truceline. That would, to an extent, cover the flank of a central advance. “There are valuable industrial worlds in that part of the Diamond Shark’s occupation force,” he observed, trying not to look at Luthien, which was temptingly at the far end of the most optimistic hopes for progress of the attack. The much more densely packed worlds of the anti-spinward option would mean slower progress but also less exposed flanks.

“That may be so, but we would have to succeed in liberating those worlds, Tono,” Sorenson pointed out respectfully. “The Diamond Sharks know of their importance and we know at least one of their frontline galaxies is operating out of Luthien, in addition to what they describe as ‘Spina’ units in some degree of strength acting as response forces along the front, on top of second line and garrison units. It is unlikely that they will be overcome before reinforcements arrive from deeper in the occupation zone.”

Petrov nodded. “And while the Diamond Sharks don’t appear to have more frontline galaxies here than the Smoke Jaguars, their units have a larger paper strength and are generally closer to full strength.”

“Then we should prioritize them for destruction.” Li Dok To pressed his hands together.

Ninyu Indrahar cleared his throat. “The key phrases are ‘don’t appear’ and  ‘here’. Interrogation reports indicate that the Diamond Sharks have five frontline galaxies, when no other Clan has more than four. Continued flow of reinforcements may indicate that another frontline force will be arriving and it is unlikely to be less capable than the others.”

Minoru rested his hand on his chin. “Can you confirm that this is so?”

“Not so far,” the spymaster admitted.

The coordinator looked at the map, seeing the icons indicating worlds that had not been attacked recently. “One more rounds of raids to gather information and seed insurgent teams,” he ordered. “The ISF have until then to investigate further. If the Diamond Sharks do have four frontline galaxies then it would be best to rid ourselves of the Smoke Jaguars and Ghost Bear distractions before we focus on the Sharks. If not, we will focus on the central option.”

All three warlords dipped their heads in compliance.

“In the event that we do strike at the Smoke Jaguars and that the Diamond Sharks refrain from launching an offensive, it occurs to me that an attack on Galedon V may lead them to anticipate a larger offensive there,” offered Li Dok To. “If they respond in sufficient force to make a retreat necessary, then those forces are not committed across the truceline. If they do not… well, we would have retaken a district capital.”

Minoru rubbed his chin. “There would be limited forces available to you.”

“Three ‘mech regiments and support,” the Warlord offered as if in challenge. “Enough to handle anything less than a full galaxy of Diamond Sharks.”

“I am not convinced that that would be enough,” Sorenson said cautiously. “However, since you would be waiting until after the initial waves of fighting are over, if Operation Topaz goes well then the Fifth Sword of Light would be available for recall.” He looked away slightly as he mentioned the regiment he had once served in.

“If it goes well, which adds another questionable outcome.”

Minoru shook his head slightly, leading to the warlords falling silent. “If the Outworlds front is not making progress then an attack on Galedon might reduce pressure on them. It is too early to know how the war will go but it does not hurt to plan for the possibility. Of all the major worlds lost, Galedon V is the most accessible.” He paused in thought and then nodded in decision. “Any such attack would be secondary in nature, looking no further than the district capital and perhaps worlds within one jump of it?”


“Yes, Tono.” Li Dok To lowered his head slightly. “As much as I wish to reclaim New Samarkand for the Dragon, it would not be achievable.”

“Prepare options with and without the Fifth Sword of Light,” Minoru decided. “And also with and without a further regiment from the capital. I may send my brother to fight for Galedon V.” It would be politically beneficial for Franklin to have military experience fighting with the DCMS, both to give him credibility if he had to be named heir and to link House Kurita to the victory.

“Is weakening the capital wise?” asked Sorenson. “There are no frontlines in space and a deep raid could be very destructive.”


“We will know that only in retrospect, and it is too soon to say if it will seem prudent.” Minoru glanced at the clock. “I have another matter to deal with shortly, so I will move to one last point. Warlord Sorenson, your proposals for Dieron District will be allowed on a provisional basis for the proposed Dieron and Algedi prefectures. The remaining worlds of the district are to be organized into Kessel and Vega prefectures and these will continue to operate under current regulations for comparison purposes.”

The warlord bowed. “I am sure that this will strengthen the Dragon.”

“Officials who believe that you are wrong about this will no doubt congregate in Kessel and Vega and attempt to prove their point,” Minoru pointed out. “This at least gives you somewhere to send those who do not cooperate.” It would also reduce the impact if Sorenson used this to build up his personal power base further. He didn’t like the idea that he might have to remove the warlord, but it was always wise to consider contingencies. “I look forward to seeing the results of this experiment.”

He rose to his feet and all those present did the same, saluting as he headed for the door.

“Best wishes with your next appointment, Tono,” Petrov said daringly.

Minoru half-turned and frowned at the warlord. “It is not a military matter, Boris.”

“No Lord Kurita,” the man agreed and bowed his head - probably to hide that he was grinning, damn him! “But it is critical to the survival of the Draconis Combine.

There was no time to castigate him and in any case, he hadn’t said anything worthy of official punishment. That didn’t mean that Minoru wasn’t considering how he might take a more subtle revenge as he went up the stairs leading out of the underground complex. His grandfather would never have been addressed like this, that was for sure!

A valet was waiting for him at the top, the man keenly aware of Minoru’s schedule. In the time that it took the Coordinator to cross the hall, his stark white uniform tunic was removed by deft hands and a longer jacket of less martial cut replaced it. Minoru paused briefly to let the valet wipe his face with a warm cloth, pat it dry with a towel and then run a comb quickly through his dark hair. In a few heartbeats he was returned to perfect presentability and gave the man an appreciative nod on his way out.

Guards snapped to attention as Minoru crossed through a more public hall, courtiers stepping out of his way and bowing as he made his way to the entrance of the building. A long black groundcar was just pulling up outside and a member of the Otomo checked inside it before giving the Coordinator a formal bow that covered for a discreet hand signal that all was as it should be.

The occupant of the back seat turned carefully to extend both feet out to the floor. Minoru stepped forwards and took her hand, helping her to exit. Atsuko Hideyoshi’s fingers were warm within his and although she released his hand and bowed once she had her feet under her, there was an air of excitement that she could not entirely hide. “I am honored by your invitation, Tono.”

“Permit me to take some pride in showing off my new home to an honored guest,” he answered and offered his arm. “It has only reached the position where I am sure that it lives up to expectations.”

A brief tour of the gardens, he thought. And then the scheduled entertainment before dinner; the Jasmine Troupe would be performing Martin and Illiyana, a traditional romance, for those of the court free to attend. He would be seen with Atsuko and see what she made of the formalities of court. If those went well…

He almost stumbled at where that thought led, but a lifetime of martial study kept him from a gaffe.

Well, if that went well then it might be time to speak again with Oda Hideyoshi on matters of courtship.


Takadanobaba, Oshika
Diamond Shark Dominion
25 August 3057

Oshika was a hole of a world. Once a major source of minerals, the mines had long since been exhausted and left the primary industry as the agricultural sector that supported billions. Transplanted terran animals fed the wealthy and provided a small measure of exports, but most of the population could only afford the meat of the native Goji, an insect the size of an armored elemental that tasted only slightly better than its droppings smelt.

Winning the… well, not the loyalty but at least the apathy of the people of Oshika had been as simple as sending a team of scientists specializing in biology to work on adapting new animals to the world - or a Goji variant that was palatable.

Unfortunately, Oshika was also in a prime strategic position - it rested on the Draconis Rift and jumpships could almost (but not quite) reach Iijima on the anti-spinward from Oshika’s star system. The rift, a region where no inhabited worlds had survived the Succession Wars, occupied what had once been the point where Pesht, Galedon and Benjamin Districts met. Now it was a network of well-mapped but barely policed systems that would let raiders strike deep inside the Diamond Shark Dominion.

The shipyards at Midway were the hub for the patrols that tried to close that gap, and Oshika was the ideal staging area for an attack on Midway. Thus, when the DCMS struck, someone had to respond.

A volley of LRMs arched across the sky and hammered into a Tokugawa tank as it raced to plug a gap in the lines of the Eleventh Legion of Vega. The tank’s armor panels shattered under the impact of more than forty missiles from Shiro’s Phoenix Hawk - it might be far larger than the one that the aged mechwarrior had fought in under the Dragon banner but he had adapted well.

More importantly, he showed no hesitation in turning its weapons on soldiers who had once been his comrades in arms. That was always a difficult test for a bondsman. Ace had been warned when he removed Michel’s bondcord that he should still watch the man carefully until they saw if he could cope with fighting against Steel Vipers. Other Clans and the Inner Sphere were always easier than the clan of one’s birth.

(Given that Michel now boasted the Bukannon bloodname, defeating at least three Steel Vipers to obtain it, Ace was going to mark that hurdle as passed).

The tank’s armor might be broken but it had done its job, protecting the crew, weapons and mobility. The Tokugawa’s main gun spat fire back at Shiro defiantly, tearing chunks out of the assault ‘mech’s thick hide.

In response, the old mechwarrior fired his jump jets and eighty tons of battlemech rose up into the air on a majestic arc. The tank driver must have realized what was about to happen and tried to evade, but Shiro feathered his jump jets expertly and the Phoenix Hawk came down squarely on the forward hull of the tank, crushing it underfoot.

The gunner swiveled the turret, the long barrel of the autocannon smacking into one of the Phoenix Hawk’s legs and then fired its SRM launcher, missiles carving divots out of the shin as they exploded. With contemptuous ease, the ‘mech raised its other foot and slammed it against the turret, caving it in.

Ace could have intervened at any time but instead he focused his attention on an elusive light ‘mech that was trying to help plug the gap as the Ivory Skate’s command star punched into the formation of retreating DCMS ‘mechs. The battle computer marked it as a Spider but with surprisingly low certainty and marking anomalies that would need to be reported back to the Watch - this might be an upgraded model or something new that just looked like a Spider.

The Legionnaire danced the fleet little ‘mech away from Ace’s first shots, something that hadn’t happened for a while. Credit to them and Ace would be glad to claim the mechwarrior as a bondsman based on that skill alone.

It wouldn’t save them in the short term though - Ace had a measure of its mobility now and when the jump jets flared to life to lift the quasi-Spider up and into Shiro’s vulnerable rear, he was waiting. The Huntsman’s PPCs fired as one, aimed along the trajectory of the ‘mech. The mechwarrior twisted far enough to avoid one of the bolts but the second blew through the left side of the chest and smashed through the bank of jump jet thrusters.

Deprived of half it’s thrust, the light ‘mech spun briefly out of control before intersecting with the ground, barely catching itself on knees and hands before the left arm gave out - no longer sufficiently braced to carry the weight it collapsed and spilled the ‘mech over on its side, temperature spiking as reactor damage and ruptured coolant lines overwhelmed heatsinks already trying to cope with the heat of the jump jets.

For a moment Ace thought that the mechwarrior would shut down their reactor but instead the head blew open as the mechwarrior ejected. Huh. Spiders didn’t have an ejection seat, it was one of the design’s biggest deficiencies.

A moment later, the reactor shielding finally gave up and the fallen ‘mech was the center of a blue-white fireball as the awesome heat of the interior met cold air, oil and whatever else was accessible. That would certainly cut into what could be discovered from the wreck.

The mechwarrior themselves hadn’t been thrown vertically by their ejection - they had barely managed an angled ascent and the parachute opened too low to fully absorb the velocity they had been thrown out with. Ace saw them moving, but it was clear that the Legionnaire would need medical treatment. He took a moment to mark their location for pick-up before looking for another target.

Julian’s trinary was exchanging fire with the combine mechs to the left of the gap, the Legion of Vega giving almost as good as they were getting. Many of the ‘mechs were unfamiliar, this operation might be to test them out. Light ‘mechs from the Sixtieth Striker Cluster raced through the gap Ace and his command star had opened for them - Adders, Kit Foxes and Mongrels using their speed to slash around and into the enemy rear.

The Legionnaires to Ace’s right - the enemy left flank collapsed immediately. For a moment he thought that it was disorder but a moment later a new order emerged - slower, heavier ‘mechs and tanks were forming an L-formation that retreated grudgingly, the shorter leg of the L engaging the breakthrough force while hovercraft and faster ‘mechs - Dragons, a handful of Tora and some of the less familiar designs - raced for the dropships.

A rearguard sacrificing themselves, Ace thought. These are good troops.

That didn’t stop him from turning on a DCMS Archer that opened up on him with both of its LRM launchers. He darted behind one of the hillocks that dotted the edge of the Combine dropzone, some of the missiles tracking into the ground and others picked off by flechettes from his AMS. A few ran the gauntlet but that was less than a tenth of the salvo and his Huntsman’s armor was more than up to the handful of impacts.

Ace emerged from cover and hammered at the Archer’s frontal armor with both PPCs, the bolts of charged particles savaging the heavy plating. He’d hoped to hit the low-slung cockpit but all he managed was to inflict blackened scars across the red-and-gray Archer’s chest. It wasn’t enough to breach but he would have been surprised if it was, Archer’s were notoriously durable.

Rushing forwards, Ace was almost able to get inside the minimum range of the Archer’s missile launchers before it fired again, each footstep of his Huntsman kicking up divots of dry soil - the grass too thin to hold it together. A mass of missiles vomited from both launcheres and Ace hammered the jump jets, angling them for minimal elevation and maximum forward thrust.

Propelled like a rocket itself, the fifty ton Huntsman crashed through the missiles with its AMS blasting holes in the volley as it went. Some missiles were unable to track and most of those that hit failed to detonate, the warheads having not reached their minimum arming distance. They still caused damage, including one that sent  a spider web of cracks across the armorglass of Ace’s cockpit, but it was far less than the devastation of their full fury.

The Archer backpedaled, raising its blocky fists like a boxer guarding himself. The limbs weren’t large enough to give full coverage though and Ace was able to draw a bead on the broken armor from one of his earlier shots.

His right arm’s PPC discharged at a range of under a hundred meters and the shot crashed home, sending armor panels the size of a man flying away, tearing away structural ribbing and opening the munitions storage and loading mechanisms for the LRM launcher to view.

Reflexively the Legionnaire shifted his mech’s arm to block the breach but this exposed his cockpit and while Ace didn’t generally accept ‘too close to miss’ as a definition, he hadn’t stopped closing in and the PPC in the Huntsman’s left arm discharged into the cockpit’s armor glass from a distance that was almost literal knife fighting range (a distance he could have thrown a knife across, if without any great accuracy).

The Archer toppled backwards, flames visible through what remained of the cockpit. The other Draconian ‘mechs and tanks were for the most part still putting up a fight, helped in part by Ace’s orders for his forces to stick to strict zellbrigen unless provoked. He didn’t think many of them would last long, but they were stalling the bulk of the Ivory Skate and Sixtieth Striker forces he’d brought with him to relieve the garrison.

“Thomas, Sasha, with me!” he ordered sharply, seeing that the pair had also finished their opponents.

The two had no problem catching up with Ace as he took up the pursuit, weaving to avoid fire from members of the rear-guard that objected to him breaking past them. Their Vapor Eagles fell in on his flanks.

“We cannot defeat them all without support,” Sasha warned - the Eleventh Legion still had the bulk of two of their mech battalions intact, not to mention the hover-tanks and the infantry mounted in personnel carriers.

“Keep them running and make sure they have a good look at us.”

“Is this why we are wearing the wrong unit markings?” Thomas asked - sensibly using a tight-beam rather than something that could be detected.

Ace felt his lips draw back. “They didn’t come to this world because of its food. They want information and I want them to take back a load of garbage.”

Shots came back at them - tanks turning their turrets to the rear and ‘mechs twisting to point one arm directly backwards, which also covered their thinner armor. Ace saw one unfamiliar heavy aim a pair of autocannon back towards him and ducked the Huntsman aside before twin streams of depleted uranium could crack his armor - or obscure the proud badges of Beta Galaxy that he was displaying.

The trueborn sounded pained. “It seems dishonorable.”

“They offered no batchall and did not identify themselves,” Ace pointed out. “We had to work out who we were facing from observations. Why make it easy for them to do the same?” And if the DCMS believed that Beta Galaxy was deployed here then they would be more cautious. With the potential of being stabbed in the back by other Clans, that caution might save the Diamond Sharks from fighting enemies on two fronts.

He raised his arms, firing the PPCs one at a time casually after the withdrawing ‘mechs. He didn’t actually expect to hit but one shot smacked into the back of a hunched over medium ‘mech that dodged when it shouldn’t have. The particle beam punched through the shoulder and sent one arm flying.

Ace tagged that for recovery as well. “Make sure you get your battleROMs in for analysis - there are too many unknown ‘mechs here.”

“We have to survive for that,” Sasha grumbled. “Sooner or later they will realize that there are only three of us.”

“I hope so.” Ace checked their distance from the rest of the Diamond Sharks. Some were beginning to move closer, getting past the rear guard. “It would let us drag some more back to take out in detail. But they are probably disciplined enough to understand that. We will give it until the next ridge - that should be outside of the range of their dropships.”

“Well I am hoping that they do not regroup and try again,” Sasha observed. “We might have to try eating some of the local cuisine and I have heard bad things about the goji.”

“We are working to fix that,” Ace assured him. “Until then, this world will be a fertile source of recruits: the prospect of being assigned to another world has students competing ferociously for places in the warrior and scientist castes. If we can find the equipment and if we have the time, we can recruit another galaxy of warriors from Oshika alone.”

[drakensis]

Thonburi, Krung Thep
Periphery March, Federated Commonwealth
14 September 3057

Victor heard a familiar voice outside his watchpost and it took him a moment to place it. Then both of his eyebrows jerked up - Kai rarely raised his voice out of irritation. Pushing his chair back, he crossed to the opening of the tent he was using and looked outside.

Kai Allard-Liao was standing outside a staff car, wearing AFFC uniform and arguing with three military police officers, none of whom seemed impressed by the fact they were speaking to a foreign duke. Then again, Victor had picked them for their exacting devotion to duty rather than respect for rank so this was his fault.

“Sergeant!” he called to the senior of the trio.

The man backed up a step before turning. While his subordinates had hands on their nightsticks (though they had yet to draw them, he had been reaching for his radio already. “Sir?” the man barked.

“Hauptmann Allard is with me,” Victor explained. “Unless you’ve decided to join the local militia, Kai?”

Kai exhaled, visibly calming. “The local climate does not tempt me.”

“I didn’t think so.” Victor waved for him to come over. “Sorry about the misunderstanding, carry on sergeant.”

There was another “Sir!” from the military police sergeant and he hustled his trio back to where they had been overseeing quite a number of junior officers and senior NCOs that were engaged in unfamiliar manual labor.

Kai loosened his uniform jacket as he saw that Victor had done the same, exposing an undershirt already damp with sweat. “Victor?”

“I thought you’d be in St Ives uniform,” he apologized, waving for Kai to enter the shade of the tent. “Or I’d have alerted them to look out for your name. Sorry about that.”

“I was trying to be incognito,” the heir to the St Ives Compact explained. “I suppose I overdid it. What are you even doing out here?”

“This far from Tharkad or this far from the drop-port?” Victor asked drily. He went to a small cool box and produced a sports drink, passing it to his guest.

Kai accepted the drink and nodded before cracking the lid and taking a long draught from the contents. It looked like it hit the spot because he relaxed further and took the seat facing Victor.

“A lot of these worlds haven’t been under serious threat since the Second Succession War,” he explained. “Even the arrival of the Clans hasn’t really woken up their planetary militias so Aunt Nondi sent me out to make some examples.”

“I thought you preferred leading by example,” Kai observed.

“Tried that,” Victor said flatly. “When the local militia were ordered to make a base ready for your arrival they requested additional funds to ‘make good’ some deficiencies in the base out there.”

Kai frowned, leant back in his chair and looked out of the tent’s opening. “That’s a militia base?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I have Raymond’s Armored Infantry and their supporting brigade arriving in forty-eight hours. Roughing it in the field is one thing, but if that’s their base of operations for the next six months then they may riot.” He considered the view for a moment longer and then lowered the chair back onto all four legs. “I’d join them.”

Victor chuckled darkly. “Which is why you and your troops will be operating out of the militia base near the capital and they will be moving out here. To the base that has had an annual budget for routine maintenance and a larger sum every six years for major works and improvements. One of them since the Clan Invasion.” He bared his teeth. “Would it surprise you to learn that quite a number of the officer - commissioned or otherwise - have very nice houses and cars?”

Kai’s eyes narrowed. “Disappoint, yes. Surprise… well, there are jokes about the LCAF.”

“And where there is smoke, there is fire. We know the money got this far and currently every officer ranked Kommandant or higher is having an interview with a tax official rather higher placed than the one who did two days a month as a Leutnant-Colonel in one of the infantry regiments.”

That got a whistle. “An example indeed. And the work-crews outside?”

“Every member of the militia above the rank of corporal has ‘volunteered’ to make good the deficiencies out of their own time,” Victor replied. “They’ve also donated to hire the skilled workers where they don’t have them already and will be providing grunt labor - we’ll feed them, but it doesn’t count towards their other obligations. Which is probably doing them no good in their regular employment. It may impose some military discipline.”

“And they accepted that?”

“Taxman,” he answered bluntly. “Being fair, some of those who objected have been cleared of wrong-doing. They get to be called up on the AFFC’s dime to be your liaisons. The leutnant in charge of that knows the planet pretty well, even if he occasionally has trouble getting onto his feet without a ‘little drinkie’.”

Kai shook his head. “Not exactly what I’d expect from the AFFC.”

“We shaped our expectations on New Avalon and Tharkad, then sharpened them on the frontlines. Things are a bit different in backwaters unless we keep a sharp eye.”

Kai finished his drink. “Sounds fun.”

“And how are you?” Victor asked, recalling the raised voice earlier. “It’s been a while since Sarna and letters…” He shrugged a little guiltily. He’d been so busy that he didn’t recall exactly when he and Kai had last exchanged correspondence.

“You know I went back to Ares?” Kai asked.

“Yes.” He’d encouraged the decision, even if Candace hadn’t officially allowed it. Kai was the duke of the world, after all, and what was his mother going to do? Formally exile her eldest son? “How did it go?”

“Political partisanship is alive and well inside the St Ives Compact,” his friend answered. “There’s a reason we’re getting Raymond’s Armored Infantry and Aleisha’s Mounted Fusiliers rather than regiments of the St Ives Lancers.”

“Enlighten the political idiot over here,” Victor requested, hoping he was misreading this. The two were storied units, mercs that had joined the CCAF during the Succession Wars. They hadn’t been entirely happy with the breakaway of the St Ives Compact and while neither had backed Romano Liao, they had made it clear that they would serve Candace Liao as mercenaries rather than a formal part of the St Ives Armored Cavalry.

Kai sighed. “Officers who are too opposed to the Capellan Confederation are being encouraged to leave the Lancer regiments. Many of them are joining merc or militia units instead, letting mother stack the Lancers with officers she feels are less likely to ‘provoke another war’.”

Victor squinted at him. “Are we talking about her forming pro-Capellan units?”

“She’s not going that far,” the dark-haired mechwarrior assured him. “Arguably what she’s doing is weeding out the hotheads… the ones who think we should have taken Capella.”

“The ones who like you more than they do her.”

“With a bit of distance,” Kai said darkly, “I can see where she was coming from. I’m not sure she’s right about some of her predictions, but if taking Capella had triggered Thomas Marik or even just some of the border provinces to jump in then we could have wound up with a three or four sided war tearing the Confederation apart. Not what we needed when the Clans were on the move again.”

“I don’t think Thomas Marik would have jumped,” Victor said after a moment’s thought. “Mind you, the border provinces are another matter. Duke Halas would be hard to stop if he called all his province’s forces together.”

“We’ll never know,” Kai agreed. “And for what it’s worth, Sun-Tzu isn’t as bad as his mother.”

“I can’t say the same for his sister.” Kali Liao was certifiably mad, bad and dangerous to be around according to intel. Her mother had leaned into the claims of her divinity by the thuggee sect out of vanity and for access to their fanatics, but Kali seemed to actually believe it.

Kai grimaced. “Anyway, mother said those regiments are ‘my men’ and therefore my problem. Having them far away from the Capellans means less chance of provoking another conflict.”

“And you said…?” probed Victor.

“As long as Sun-Tzu kept his head, literally and figuratively, I don’t think a war with the Capellans is wise.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, Cassandra jumped in with both feet about what to do if that didn’t happen.”

“This was on St Ives.”

“I visited a few times. It’s not far from Ares.” Kai rubbed his head. “Kuan-yin tried to calm things down and thankfully Quintus knows when to keep his mouth shut. Anyway, Cassandra was ordered off St Ives ‘until she grows up’ and she’s with Khorsakov’s Cossacks now. Meanwhile mother decided to mention that she considers Treyhang to be just as much a candidate to succeed her as any of us.”

Victor frowned. “I don’t really know him,” he said dubiously. Treyhang was Kai’s other cousin - son of Tormano Liao, who milked a living off the ‘Free Capella’ movement and possibly the man most disappointed by the decision not to take Capella away from the Confederation. He’d been regent, briefly, over St Ives until Kai returned from Luthien to take over the war effort.

“He doesn’t get along with his father much these days,” Kai told him. “So when I told her he’d be a better choice than Tormano, she hit the roof. I am also now unwelcome on St Ives until I show some responsibility - preferably by marrying and giving her some grandchildren.”

“...”

“Oh don’t look at me like that,” Kai complained. “You have Omi.”

Victor grimaced. “Which, as much as I might wish otherwise, is not necessarily going to go anywhere. Minoru is in a precarious position already. She isn’t going to do anything to weaken his position, and honestly I’d think less of her if she did.”

“We should offer him membership.”

“A society of people being pressured to marry?” Victor asked and chuckled. “Great House problems, they would call that. Are you seeing anyone?”

Kai shook his head. “It would serve my mother right if I went to Solaris and started picking up groupies. I was thinking of doing that for a while - Solaris, not the groupies. I own Cenotaph Stables, dad left it to me. But not when we’re sending men and women to war.”

“Speaking of which, I will be sure to be on hand when your troops land.” Victor told him. “How is their equipment? I can twist some arms if you need to fill some gaps.”

“That won’t be be necessary,” he was assured. “Mother may have chosen them for political reasons, but she didn’t stint on supplies. Colonel Raymond’s regiment is a little above full strength and almost every ‘mech has been upgraded. That includes a full company of Gunslingers.”

“Impressive,” he allowed. “Arthur has one and showed it off to me on Tharkad. I wouldn’t give up my Warhammer for it but it’s an impressive design.”

“It’s almost terrifying how fast technology is moving,” Kai agreed. “I expect to wake up one day and my Hellhound will look as out of date as as Yen-lo-Wang would be.” His father’s old Centurion had been destroyed too early in the Clan Invasion to benefit from upgrades.

Victor nodded and then frowned. “Just as long as the Clans don’t spring ahead of us,” he said seriously.

[PsihoKekec]

It just fits that ace would turn information gathering raid into disinformation gathering raid.

[Giovanni Blasini]

Yen-Lo-Wang was lost?

[Daryk]

They want information and I want them to take back a load of garbage.

That's exactly how Ace rolls! :D

[drakensis]

Yen-Lo-Wang was lost?

Yes, Kai blew it up on Twycross in the Great Gash rather than a borrowed Hatchetman.

[Daryk]

Did Yen-Lo-Wang have a detachable head? ???

[PsihoKekec]

Normal ejection, there was no explosives in the canyon.

[Wrangler]

Sounds like early Operation Bulldog like expedition is about to happen, while the renegade new clan causes trouble.

[DragonKhan55]

Wait, Kai Allard-Liao drives a *Hellhound* now? Is it the Mechwarrior 4 version that was canonized as the *Hellcat*? Or is this a different custom design?

[drakensis]

It's a Conjuror - I used the Inner Sphere code name by mistake

[DragonKhan55]

Ah gotcha. Less overall punch than the YLW's AC-20 but much faster, and that battery of lasers essentially gives Kai a IS PPC and two IS LLs to work with. I wonder if he would modify the LPL to a Clan ER PPC to get back the headcapper ability.

[drakensis]

Opalescent Reflections

Full House
Chapter 8

Dali, Tamar
Clan Wolf Occupation Zone
12 October 3057

A globe depicting Rasalhague’s surface spun lazily in the command center, but Ulric gave it little attention. Updates of data from the fighting there were coming back steadily and the Khan of Clan Wolf had long since absorbed the last messages. He was there in anticipation of the next HPG message and it wouldn’t arrive for several minutes.

“I think the Coyotes are right to invest in new weapons,” he informed Evantha Fetladral. The towering elemental officer had not been bid for the fighting on Rasalhague, giving Ulric a chance to see how one of the Wolves’ future leaders was shaping up and what was being talked about by the younger warriors.

The redheaded woman folded her arms, not defensively but more to cover for her taking time to think through the answer to her question. Ulric was not one of those to assume that the infantry genotype were slow of wit, he knew Evantha was simply one of those who measured her words and actions carefully. “They are not under the same pressure to maintain volumes of production of war material that we are,” she allowed after giving the matter consideration. She did not sound entirely convinced, to Ulric’s ear.

He leant on the rail for a moment, eyes flickering to the globe as the familiar black mark of Rasalhague’s former capital swung past him. Reykjavik had been savaged from orbit more than half a decade ago, but the Smoke Jaguars had seen no reason to try to hide the evidence of the atrocity or to encourage rebuilding. “The Inner Sphere is deploying new generations of war machines against us,” he told his small audience. “We have seen little of them because the worst that we have faced are minor raids, but other Clans have seen more of them. The Draconis Combine appears to have mastered the production of most of the SLDF’s technology and reports claim that the Federated Commonwealth may have pushed past that level.”

Eventha frowned. “Most reports of those I have heard sound more like excuses from the Clans involved.”

“That may be the case, but there is substance as well. Unfortunately there are few samples: the AFFC has mostly deployed it to achieve victories which prevents the acquisition through isorla.”

“Still, we are far more advanced than the Star League was.”

“Not so much as you might think,” Erik cut in. The loremaster was working at a console, using the waiting time productively.

Catching his sibkin’s eye, Ulric gestured for him to continue.

Lowering the stylus he’d been using on the console’s screen, Erik stretched slightly. “The majority of the weapons used by the Clans today were developed in the Golden Century, many of them based on work the SLDF had commissioned before even the first Exodus. It took decades to put into production, and there were often iterations over time but most of our weapon systems are only marginally changed over the last two centuries.”

“We have new battlemechs,” pointed out Evantha. “The Dire Wolf was developed in your lifetime and we have even newer models entering production, quiaff?”


“Aff, but I am speaking of more fundamental issues. Have we taken extended range weapons and given them more range than they had in the twenty-ninth century? Can our ‘mechs carry more armor than a comparable chassis built in the Inner Sphere?”

“Exactly,” Ulric agreed. “Our newer ‘mechs are formidable but they are the result of working with the existing technologies, not pushing the boundaries to create new ones. Clan Coyote is pouring resources into their Scientist Caste in the hope of an advance such as the omnimech, that will give them a qualitative advantage to offset the increased resources available to the Invading Clans.”

“Except, of course, that someone will win those technologies from them in trials of possession.” Erik picked up his stylus again. “Perhaps not easily, but their advantage will be transitory. Useful, of course, but only a short-term advantage.”

“What may be more important is building up a staff of scientists used to thinking in such ways,” observed Evantha slowly. “Technological breakthroughs are not a production line but with a significant number of scientists working at research, they may manage more than one breakthrough, leaving us constantly behind.”

The loremaster chuckled darkly. “There is an obvious solution to that, the one that plunged the Inner Sphere into a dark age after the Star League fell.”

Evantha gave him a questioning look, but it was Ulric who answered: “Target the scientists. Rather than seeking to acquire the fruits of their work, strangle the ability to innovate. And if we do not, the chances are good that someone will.”

The woman’s face wrinkled with distaste. “If the Inner Sphere is beginning to match our advantages in technology, then perhaps we should aid the Coyotes. Our warriors’ skill may be superior but it would be naive to say that it was our only advantage during Revival.”

Ulric gave her an approving smile. “Negotiations have been opened. We were always a wealthier Clan than the Coyotes and the invasion has given us new sources of material. Naturally, Khan Koga does not wish to give up exclusive control of her scientists’ work but she is a practical woman and if they lack the resources to complete development then all the investment so far will be for nothing.”

“Pride can make for poor decisions,” Erik warned and then pushed his seat back, looking over towards the globe. “As Khan Showers may be learning.”

Ulric turned and saw that the unit markers dotting Rasalhague had moved. He focused first on the Smoke Jaguars and saw that what remained of the garrison was moving back towards the drop-port that was the center of their presence on the former capital of the Free Rasalhague Republic. Venturing out to contest Clan Wolf’s offensive had not only exposed them to Clan Wolf, they had also given the insurgents a chance to strike back.

Direct resistance rarely went well for the resistance, although it did force the Smoke Jaguars to expend time and munitions fighting against them. More effective was more subtle sabotage - cut communications, damaged supplies - in one case two broken bridges that was forcing half a cluster to take a longer route on their retreat, exposing them to be cut off and destroyed.

“Who took out those bridges?” Evantha enquired. “There are no markings for air strikes.”

“Local civilians I suspect.” Ulric rubbed at his beard. “Convenient for now but less so if they turn the same tactics against us.”

While Natasha’s own Clusters were sweeping across the main continent, a second force was on the other side of the planet - moving almost as quickly across the Ystad jungles. No galaxy icons marked the units although Ulric supposed he would have to assign one after this victory.

“Phelan’s doing well.” Evantha exhaled with some relief. “I was concerned he had misjudged his warriors.”

“He is growing into a capable warrior,” Ulric agreed as he studied the advance. The targets here were not the Smoke Jaguars - they had rarely sent forces out of their stronghold except on punitive raids. No, here the Wolves were fighting for the hearts and minds of the Rasalhaguians.

Four out of five warriors under Phelan’s lead were Spheroids - bondsmen alongside trueborn and freeborn warriors out of the homeworlds but also entire binaries of infantry, ‘mechs and armor recruited from worlds like Gunzberg. Men and women who had accepted the challenge to do more than maintain order on their homeworlds.

“Liberating Rasalhague from the Smoke Jaguars is a rallying cry,” the khan continued with a sigh. “One that could still backfire if the people of Rasalhague conclude that we are no better.”

The elemental choked off a laugh. “Best not… ah…” She shook her head.

Ulric gave her a questioning look.

“I was going to say that we should not send Vlad,” Evantha admitted. “Two years and still it is hard to remember he is no longer a Wolf.”

The saKhan of the Zeerga had risen from the same sibko as Evantha. They had known each other their entire lives only to be divided by Ulric’s decree. That it could as easily have happened due to battle did not take away that such tragic gaps in the circles of friendships and rivalries that bound the Clan were his work.

“I do not think he would have relished such a role,” Ulric agreed. “Though he might well have enjoyed fighting to drive the Smoke Jaguars from their prize.” The globe spun back to the primary battle fronts and he assessed the strengths of Beta Galaxy’s clusters. There had been losses, but nothing like those that were depleting the Smoke Jaguars’s numbers.

“They bid too low,” concluded Erik. “If they were going to only put up a token fight, rushing two extra Clusters here was pointless but it isn’t enough to hold onto Rasalhague.”

“Rasalhague is too important for them to give up,” Ulric told him. “It is their grand prize, no matter that their control extends no further than the range of their guns. Losing it will embarrass Leo Showers when he is trying to build up his credibility once more as a leader of the Crusaders.”

Evantha asked the obvious question: “Then why not send more?”

He reached for the rail once more. “Good question. Show me the Smoke Jaguar occupation zone.”

The hologram of Rasalhague vanished, replaced by the familiar map of the Inner Sphere. Smoke Jaguar space lay spinwards of the Wolves - slightly narrower but also far less densely settled through most of its area.

“Most of their best units are deployed here,” he indicted the rimwards edge. “Facing the Draconis Combine and controlling the majority of the worlds.” The stretch between Skandia and Trolloc Prime was the only part of the occupation zome that had worlds paced together as closely as most of the Wolf occupation zone. “Still, there should be three galaxies at least to cover the region between Alshain and Rasalhague. They could pull units from the DIamond Shark border easily enough, Khan Sennet’s forces are overstretched as it is - they are unlikely to launch serious attacks across the Rasalhague rift.”

“Then what are those troops doing?” Evantha indicated the map. “Fighting the Ghost Bears - we would have heard! Pushing into the Inner Sphere?”

“ComStar would have ensured everyone knew that.” Ulric dismissed the idea. “They could be patrolling supply lines, but the only really likely option is that they are being massed to attack someone and Leo Showers was too focused on that to send enough of his reserve to Rasalhague.”

“At this rate he will lose New Bergen and Hermagor as well.” Those two worlds weren’t strictly necessary to reach Rasalhague but Natasha Kerensky had taken them anyway as a prelude.

“It is either us or the Sharks,” Erik concluded. “If it is us, well we are prepared for that.”

“And if it is the Sharks then it is to our benefit.” Ulric smiled thinly. “Whichever of them claims victory, both will be weakened. I can live with that.”


Yamashiro, New Samarkand
Diamond Shark Dominion
29 November 3057

The great hall, twice the throneroom of the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, fell silent as Ellison Enders entered through the double doors. Finding himself surrounded on both flanks by a number of formally-clad Diamond Shark warriors, all giving him their full attention, the Goliath Scorpion barely blinked and he swaggered towards the dais where Ace was waiting.

“If I had known this was a formal occasion,” he drawled, indicating his black jumpsuit. “I would have brought my leathers.”

“If I had told you ahead of time, you might be in your Rifleman,” Ace replied sardonically. “Or halfway to the jump-point.”

“I am ambushed!” Ellison cried out, spreading his arms melodramatically… but there was a spark of anger in his eyes.

Betrayed, really. Ace liked the older man - even if he didn’t trust him not to stir trouble. But his duty to the Clan came first. They might have a bloodhouse in common, but that wasn’t the strongest of bonds. “Star Captain Ellison Enders, I offer you formal challenge,” he declared, rising to his feet. “There are twelve of your Clan’s Seeker within our Domain, each at the head of a binary of warriors. I lay claim to those warriors and all of their equipment for Clan Diamond Shark - with what will you defend them?”

The older warrior chuckled and shook his head. “You have misdirected your challenge, Galaxy Commander. I am one Seeker among many - a mere Star Captain, not a Khan or even a Star Colonel. You should direct your challenge to my superiors.”

Ace rolled his shoulders. “That may be your rank, but you did not say that they are not under your command, not that you lack authority.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“You are being very careful not to lie,” Ace told him. “All of those Seekers are in contact with you by HPG. We may not be able to read those messages, but they go through our HPGs. And almost every message sent back to the homeworlds is via your dropship - even before you arrived on New Samarkand.”

Ellison shook his head. “Supposition.”

“All you need to do is tell me that you are not in charge of the seekers,” Ace offered. The Goliath Scorpion could try to lie, but the Clans generally despised such dishonesty. Clever words to mislead and misdirect, that was fine - in fact, it could be very important when bidding. Actually giving false information though? That was another matter - much like breaking one’s bid, it was a substantial dishonor. Ellison might face no formal consequences, but his Clan’s trust in him would vanish.

“You are a quick learner,” the seeker admitted. “I liked it better when you turned your tongue against the Burrocks.”

“I am sure that you did. So, will you answer my challenge?”

“As the officer charged with leading all the seekers sent to the Inner Sphere, I acknowledge your challenge for possession of us,” Ellison said deliberately. “As for answering it…” He shoved his hands into his hip pockets and glanced around the room. “Firstly, I am sure that the honorable Diamond Sharks would not seek to exploit their numbers - so I propose that we settle this between just the two of us. You and me.”

A full battle would probably wreck at least Ellison’s own force, perhaps more if he called on the other seekers to fight as well, destroying what Ace was trying to gain. “Bargained well and done.”

“Not done, not yet. I have another condition: you are demanding over a hundred of my Clan’s warriors if you win. I must ask that you offer a suitable forfeit for when you lose.”

Ace paused. That was not always expected for a Trial of Possession… but it was hardly unheard of. “That is fair,” he agreed, thinking about what he could offer.

Ellison seemed to pick up on his uncertainty. “Well, what do you offer?” They’d met several times since they met on Jordan Weis and the Goliath Scorpion knew him well.

…wait. That was it! “I am claiming twelve Seekers so I will offer thirteen worlds,” Ace declared. “If you defeat me in this challenge then I will surrender all the star systems we have taken from the Outworlds Alliance.”

Several of the Diamond Sharks looked shocked. “Galaxy Commander,” Steven Hawker asked, stepping forwards. “Are you sure you have the authority to do that?”

“I’m in charge of this sector of the Dominon,” he replied. “I have at least as much authority over those worlds as the Star Captain has over his fellow Seekers. And Khan Sennet would probably be at least as angry with me over losing as Khan Suvorov will be when we take the Seekers.”

For his part, Ellison now looked uncertain, sensing a trap.

“Is that acceptable?” Ace asked him. The other Clans were beginning to realize the long term possibilities in controlling a swathe of the Inner Sphere. He suspected the Goliath Scorpions would be ecstatic at the chance to control even the relatively poor worlds involved… and they would look poorly on refusing the chance.

The old Star Captain pulled his hands out of his pockets. “Aff, I accept those terms.” He held up a coin - it might have been the same damon he had asked Ace about previously. “We will decide the terms with this coin,” he proposed. “You will call heads or tails, Galaxy Commander. If you win, you can choose the means of battle and I choose the location. If you lose, it will be the reverse.”

“Agreed.” He stepped down from the dais to face Ellison on even terms. “I will call when the coin is in the air.”

“Seyla,” Ellison declared solemnly. He extended the coin, turning it so everyone could see the sides - one with the face of the long dead Khan Damon Clarke, the other a diamond shark. His hand flickered and the coin tumbled up in the air, the hall falling entirely silent.

Ace did not take his eyes off those of his adversary. “Tails,” he said quietly.

It was so quiet that Ace heard the coin land in Ellison’s right hand and the slap of him placing the coin on the back of his left hand. Slowly, the Goliath Scorpion lifted his hand and both of them looked down at the coin. The diamond shark looked back at them.

“Your choice of arms,” Ellison conceded. Then he smiled slyly. “Like Felipe, I choose here and now. I do not wish to face you in a battlemech.”

Ace glanced up at the roof of the hall. While it was not a small chamber, it certainly was not large enough to admit battlemechs. “Felipe underestimated me,” he warned. He had killed the former head of their bloodhouse in a sword duel.

“I will not…” Then Ellison’s eyes narrowed. “Or have I, already, quiafff?”

“You tell me.” The galaxy commander reached out and took the coin from the other man’s hand. “We will do battle with this.”

“You stravag,” hissed Ellison as the room exploded with exclamations from the audience. “Are you trying to kill me with laughter?!” he added, keeping his voice down to hide it in the background reactions.

“Whatever works,” Ace mouthed and then held up the coin as high as he could, waiting for the Diamond Shark officers to fall silent.

“In war there are only two qualities that matter,” he declared loudly once most had stopped speaking. “Skill… and luck!” He tipped his head slightly towards Ellison. “I recognise you as my equal in skill, so all that remains in luck. Why should we complicate the matter further? Make your call: if you win, the worlds are yours. If you lose… then you and your warriors are mine.”

“I should call edge and make this a total mockery,” Ellison whispered before raising his voice. “I accept your terms. As you did, I shall call when the coin is in the air.”

“Seyla.” It was not Ace alone who said that, everyone said it.

He drew his arm down and then threw the coin up into the air. It glittered as it spun in the air, all eyes upon it.

Over and over as it rose.

“Heads,” the other man declared.

Over and over as it fell.

Ace watched it all the way and then snatched it out of the air. Like Ellison before him, he slapped it down on the back of his hand, leaving it covered until he had caught the other man’s eye.

“So, show me,” the Goliath Scorpion demanded.

Slowly, he moved his hand away.

Once again, the diamond shark was on top.

Ellison’s eyes narrowed to slots. “You… win…” he acknowledged slowly. Then he held out his hand, palm up. “Can I have the coin back before you make me a bondsman?”

Ace handed him the damon. “Welcome to Clan Diamond Shark. Rest assured, I will not waste your talents as a mere bondsman. We need warriors and officers, Galaxy Commander.”

“W-what?” the older man exclaimed, composure broken at first. “Galaxy Commander?”

“Of course, I told you that I recognised you as my equal,” Ace told him, somewhat smugly. “Your first mission for Clan Diamond Shark is to form your seekers and raw warriors from our newest sibkos into the new Tau Galaxy - which will be charged with defending our flank against the Outworlds Alliance.”

“What would you have done if I had won?” the newly promoted officer demanded.

“Who else could Suvorov appointed to garrison those worlds?” was Ace’s rhetorical reply.

Ellison threw his head back and laughed wildly for a moment. “Congratulations, I was defeated from the moment that you made your bid. Spectacular,” he admitted after he was done laughing. “You think those worlds are under threat.”

“Most likely. I think this alleged Star League will need to make some attempt to show their members in the Periphery that they are not simply fighting for the sake of the Inner Sphere. You have made a study of how the Outworlders defended those worlds from the SLDF. You may need to use similar tactics.”

“To hold the worlds if I can. If not, to tie down their forces and buy time for you to secure the rest of the Dominion,” the new Diamond Shark concluded. “A thankless task. Do I at least get a vote on the name of my new Clan?”

“Of course,” Steven Hawker stepped forwards to join them in the center of the hall. “Everyone will have their chance to vote - the date is early next year.” He offered Ellison Enders his hand. “Welcome to our ranks, Galaxy Commander Enders.”

“That still sounds wrong!” Ellison whined.

“You get used to it,” Ace assured him.

[drakensis]

CSS Anchorage, Deep Space
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
24 December 3057

The passageways around the command briefing room of CSS Anchorage were packed with high ranking officers. Volume aboard warships was always at a premium and frequently shaped more by engineering needs than the ergonomics desired by the crew. What slack there was for comforts went into the quarters for the crew who might have to live aboard for years and combat efficiency. Places like briefing rooms had to be fitted in wherever they could be.

In this case, that meant inconveniently far from the shuttle bays and officers from every detachment of Task Force Topaz were trekking up the many decks separating the two locations, frequently forming long and disgruntled queues at chokepoints like elevators. Having spent most of a year aboard one of the Anchorage’s sister-ships, Tyra knew enough short-cuts to get most of the way without problems but the last stretch had no such options and she had to slip into line behind a powerfully built man in AFFC uniform.

They reached the front after a wait that her watch shamelessly claimed was only a few minutes, despite evidently being a near eternity and Tyra discovered that the problem causing the queue was a security checkpoint, where everyone’s identity card was being checked against their face and computer records.

Fortunately the man in front of her had his card ready and Tyra found hers quickly, not wanting to stall the higher-ranked officers behind her.

The guard accepted the Feddie’s card and ran it through his machine, then looked up at it’s owner. “Thank you, uh… your highness?”

“Please,” the man said with far more cheer than Tyra felt at this time, “No jokes about my height. I know I’m too large for these passageways.” He turned slightly as he went past the guard, showing some profile that would have been enough on its own to give away his identity: Peter Steiner-Davion, third in line to the two thrones of the Federated Commonwealth.

Tyra almost fumbled her own ID, so surprised she was at accidentally getting into arm’s reach of royalty. Fortunately, the guard was very nearly as surprised. It took him two tries to swipe her card. “You’re clear uh…” The young man paused. “Kapten?”

“I know,” she agreed, “I’m still ordered here.”

The guard ran the list again, while behind Tyra there was impatient muttering from the queue, all of whom were battalion commander or senior staff. She ignored them - what they were going to do, try to beat her up like Smoke Jaguar technicians?

After making sure, the guard let her through and it was the turn of the man behind her to hold up the queue as apparently he hadn’t got his identification card ready.

The briefing room itself wasn’t all that large and the seats were fairly obviously going to those with rank. Not even trying to get involved in that, Tyra slid along the wall to join the other junior attendees. In the dim light it took her a moment to reveal that she had found herself standing next to the prince again.

“Something wrong?” he asked genially, noticing her surprised look.

“I’m pretty sure no one would argue over you getting a seat, sir.”

“I’m young and fit,” Peter told her, “Chairs are for the old and busted.” Someone snorted in the dim light. “Besides, can you imagine someone my height crammed in there? I’d have my knees up beside my ears!” Now there were actual laughs from those leaning against the walls.

“Fair point,” Tyra agreed and turned her focus back to the small stage at the front of the room. It was only intended for one briefing officer, but currently there were three people on it, talking quietly among themselves. Well, at least the mission commanders weren’t off drinking coffee while everyone else got herded in here.

The room was warm with the number of people inside by the time the doors closed and the screen to the side of the stage lit up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, your attention.” Everyone fell silent as Marshal Marguerite McCaffee spoke up. The commander of the largest contingent in the expedition and also the entire Task Force was no taller than Tyra and she hadn’t raised her voice. She hadn’t needed to.

“I know we’re all crammed into tight quarters with little to do but wait, you should be used to that by now,” the Marshal told them. “Fortunately, our objectives are now in sight. I am sure that rumor proceeds me, but we have now confirmed that we are picking up radio traffic from both the Pentagon - the original worlds settled by Kerensky’s Exodus - and the Kerensky Cluster, which is the heartland of the Clans.”

At last, Tyra thought. From the look on the faces she could see, that seemed to be the general sentiment.

“So we can attack now?” someone asked boldly.

“A few things we have to do first,” McCaffee told them. “First, all the troops have been crammed into dropships for months. Physical conditioning isn’t shot, but it could be better, and there has been no realistic training for all that time. Secondly, we need to pinpoint our precise target. Precentor-Legate Beresick?”

Beresick edged past McCaffee to the front of the little stage and glanced at the screen, which was displaying star field. “Right now, we are here,” he said without pointing. A golden halo popped to life and pulsed rapidly for attention around one of the stars. “The Pentagon worlds are approximately here,” a region of space encompassing perhaps a dozen stars lit up in crimson. “And ahead of us is the Kerensky Cluster.” More crimson, around a much larger region of space.

“The stars between the two regions can be assumed to be heavily trafficked, which means we have to avoid them to avoid being identified and losing our advantage of surprise,” the ComGuards officer pointed out. “Our escort of Explorer Corps jumpships are going to lead the way as pathfinders, if you will. They’ll make several deep space jumps into the Kerensky Cluster. By avoiding star systems, the odds against them being located are literally astronomical but charging their drives without jumpsails will require that they use up a lot of hydrogen, thus the tankers we’ve been carrying will be going with them.”

“The third jump will take them into the cluster and the fourth is expected to take them into the center, probably near Strana Mechty itself. From here they will gather electronic and astronomical intelligence to let us reach a suitable target. Ideally, this will let us find the Smoke Jaguar capital of Huntress, the one world we have the most intelligence on thanks to Kapten Miraborg,” Beresick announced, gesturing towards Tyra. “Failing that, we believe that the Jade Falcon capital of Ironhold is also in a central location. Either of these will let us strike at an invading Clan, without sparking a confrontation with other Clans. We believe it is unlikely that either Clan would permit their neighbors to help them fight against us, as it would be a loss of face for them, limiting our opposition.”

“Over the two months of this phase of operations, Task Force Topaz will move to this system, which has been assigned the name Fisher.” A new golden light sprang to life on the edge of the Kerensky Cluster. “One of the Explorer Corps ships scouted the system and identified that it has a marginally habitable world - codenamed Topaz, in honor of our task force - with no Clan presence, probably because it isn’t suited for colonization.”

McCaffee tapped Beresick’s shoulder and took the lead. “As much as I am sure many of you want to launch the attack now, we want to carry out our mission at roughly the same time as the other counter-offensives, meaning we must wait at least one month. In addition, our troops need to get their edge back. On Topaz, we’ll carry out an exercise to blast some of the rust off. At the same time, we’ll be using Topaz’s limited surface water to obtain hydrogen to top up the fleet’s reactor mass. Entering the Kerensky Cluster will rely on deep space jumps just like our pathfinders, so we want to have enough hydrogen to completely replenish our tankers. Once that is done, we expect the actual attack in late February.”

“So before April?” Peter Steiner-Davion asked loudly.

“I see you have learned how military operations work, Kommandant,” the Marshal responded drily as chuckles swept the room. “The schedule may indeed slip, but we only have one shot at this so we are going to do this right. Speaking of which, Colonel Masters?”

Paul Masters stepped forward, the commander of the Knights of the Inner Sphere looking slightly uncomfortable at sharing the tight confines with the other two. “Landings on Topaz will be a rehearsal of our planned landings for the real operation,” he advised. “For these purposes, the plan is modeled around our information on Huntress.”

The screen moved to display a standard diagram of the orbital battlespace around a planet. “We will jump into the proximity point formed by Topaz and its star, less than thirty hours transit from the planet. Warships will go in first, to clear any defenses with the Flying Drakons providing cover against the Davion Guards fighters deployed ahead of them, and two destroyers will remain on guard over the jumpships and the tugs intended to move them to stay within the jump point as it circles the star. The other four destroyers will escort the dropships to Topaz, where the Davion Guards aerospace fighters will support them in engaging simulated orbital and surface to orbit weapons against resistance from the Flying Drakons.”

The display focused in on the planet’s surface. “From here, we will land on the coast plains. As much as it would add realism, we will not carry out an orbital drop of ‘mechs to secure the LZ as this could lead to genuine casualties, weakening our forces for the actual attack. Once on the ground, there will be two rounds of ground combat, firstly with the Knights of the Inner Sphere and supporting elements engaging several simulated Smoke Jaguar bases and facilities guarded by the Davion Guards, followed by the Guards carrying out a withdrawal under fire to the dropships, pursued by the Knights acting as a Smoke Jaguar relief force.”

The FWLM Colonel smiled thinly. “Once we have carried out all of that, there should be some time for R&R. While Topaz is a barren wasteland, it does have beaches and I am reliably informed that we are not yet out of beer. I’m sure our soldiers will make heroic efforts to correct that situation.”

“Does that mean our first objective on Huntress is a brewery?” asked some joker hidden by the dim lighting.

“Smoke Jaguar beer is terrible,” Tyra told him. “We want the warehouses where they store imports from the other Clans.”

“You see the advantages of bringing along someone with on-the-ground information,” Masters said drily. “However, before we jump to Topaz we will be celebrating Christmas. I would remind those of you who do not consider that a time for religious observance that it is because of those who do that you get to have parties, so please do not disturb the chaplains or their services.”

Tyra was surprised to be nudged by the prince as the briefing paused for a moment to let the operations officers take over the stage and begin a more detailed outline of the exercises. “Do you have any plans, Kapten? For Christmas.”

“No,” she said, puzzled. Her squadron would probably have plans but she hadn’t thought to enquire. She probably should have - what if they thought that she had planned something? She wasn’t particularly devout - when she was younger, Christmas had meant social obligations for her father and only limited time for a private family celebration.

Peter Steiner-Davion nodded. “We’re throwing a party on the White Storm,” he offered, naming one of the Overlord-class dropships carrying the task force’s ‘mechs. “You’d be welcome - I’m sure our aerojocks would like being a little less outnumbered.”

Is he asking me out on a date? Tyra wondered. He was several years her junior… “Is that open to my squadron?” she asked.

“The more the merrier,” he confirmed before the screen changed again and the briefing resumed.

[PsihoKekec]

Tyra and Peter? Totally shipping them.

Galaxy Commander Enders

So now all who hate the Galaxy Commander Enders have it in stereo.

[Daryk]

I think her squadron is going to ship them HARD! :D

And in stereo indeed! ;D

[Wrangler]

Topaz been confusing me. I tried looking the world up on sarna and not found it. Is this a fan made Clan world?

[smdvogrin]

Topaz been confusing me. I tried looking the world up on sarna and not found it. Is this a fan made Clan world?

It is an uninhabited world, named for the taskforce:

“Over the two months of this phase of operations, Task Force Topaz will move to this system, which has been assigned the name Fisher.” A new golden light sprang to life on the edge of the Kerensky Cluster. “One of the Explorer Corps ships scouted the system and identified that it has a marginally habitable world - codenamed Topaz, in honor of our task force - with no Clan presence, probably because it isn’t suited for colonization.”

(emphasis mine)

[drakensis]

Opalescent Reflections

Full House
Chapter 9

Hilton Head, North America
Terra, Sol System
10 January 3058

Wei had written ‘the die is cast’ in the margins of her notes for the speech. She wasn’t sure where the phrase came from, probably some obscure military reference since she had heard it from Anastasius Focht. She recalled planning to look it up but she had never got around it.

“Are we ready, Nasty?” she asked him as preparations went on around the room. The idea that this was a historic moment had struck Sigma and Tau divisions, and they had insisted that her speech was to be recorded for posterity from every conceivable angle. It wasn’t as if ComStar was in the habit of losing records of formal speeches by a Primus, but this was getting out of hand.

The white-haired man looked up from where he was talking to Emma Centrella. “We are not getting any readier,” he said solemnly. “It is time.”

Wei looked at the clock and decided that he was speaking metaphorically, since the speech wasn’t due to begin for a few more minutes. She knew that ‘not getting any readier’ applied only to the ComGuards, because elements of Task Force Emerald and Task Force Opal were still arriving on post and would need weeks before they were ready for the planned operations. “Are you ready?” she asked the Magestrix, half-hoping for a denial. The plans had called for another month of preparation but the Clans had given the ideal provocation and the Star League Council, when polled, had decided it was better to move now than wait.

“If I had known that being voted in would mean staying longer on Terra, I might have declined it,” the Council Chair told her.

“I know the feeling,” Wei agreed sincerely. She’d felt Emma out on a bit of a tryst back when they were on Canopus a decade or so back, but - perhaps because her mother had been a particularly flamboyant New Hedonist - the magestrix claimed to be sincerely monogamous. Kyalla Centrella would probably have been more fun, Wei thought regretfully. On the other hand, the woman had enthusiastically invaded the Capellans back in the 3030s so she wouldn’t have been so politically reasonable.

You win some, you lose some, Wei thought philosophically. Perhaps she could slip away to Rio for a few days once she had delivered the speech. It wasn’t as if she could do much in terms of the military operations.

“Primus, one more minute,” one of the techs alerted her.

Where had those minutes gone?

Wei took the podium and a staffer rushed over to adjust the hang of her robes. “If you’re going to keep touching me like that, I should buy you dinner,” the Primus joked. The man backed off, blushing and then there were just seconds left.

The lights dimmed, leaving just Wei visible, standing at the podium with the banner of ComStar behind her. The signal light went on and the auto-prompter displayed the first lines of her speech.

“To all those who are listening, I am Wei Rong. Primus of ComStar, guardian of Terra and elected leader of all those who follow the Word of Blake.” She paused. “I stand here today to deliver a message to all of humanity, but particularly to those who lead the Clans of Kerensky and most specifically to the Khans and Council of Clan Steel Viper.”

“It has been the tradition of my Order since the time of the First Succession War to announce and decry acts that we deem atrocities. To speak for those whose voices have been silenced by war crimes and the acts of tyrants. It is also our tradition to remain neutral when it comes to the politics of the Inner Sphere. We document and we communicate, but it is very rare for us to do more than report on even the most serious of evils. This is not something to boast of, it is a matter of practicality: to survive we have been forced to compromise over and over. Worlds have burned, peoples have been oppressed, but I could count on these fingers the time that ComStar has spoken these words: ‘no more’.” She raised her hands.

“On the third of this month, a crime was committed upon the occupied world of Kowloon. Not, I am relieved to say, a deed of such infamy as the burning of Reykjavik, but a crime nonetheless. One that violated our neutrality and beyond that, any good sense. It was a pointless act of brutality, and has too often been the case, I brought the matter to those responsible - Clan Steel Viper and the Grand Council of the Clans.”

Wei took a deep breath. “The most polite response that I received stated that my protest was misguided,” she declared. “Other responses suggested that I should mind my own business, that they were shocked I would put my order’s neutrality above an order given by ‘Blake’s superior, Kerensky’; and most directly from Khan Perigard Zalman, that he would be delighted to dispense with ComStar’s services at the earliest opportunity.” She paused. “We will come back to that last.”

Wei took a sheet of paper from the podium and held it up, although it would take a very high definition display for anyone watching to read it. “The Steel Viper’s saKhan was good enough to inform me that the officer who marched into our hospice and murdered a patient in cold blood was carrying out Aleksandr Kerensky’s orders to eliminate the entirety of House Amaris.”

After letting that sink in, she nodded. “We will come back to that as well. In the meantime, the patient killed in our hospice was a certain Mr Richard Thurston-Moray, born on Apollo in 3021.” An admittedly rather poor quality hologram of a somewhat pudgy man in his mid-twenties appeared next to Wei. “Mr Thurston-Moray owned a small business on his homeworld, a recording studio established by his mother and catering to local music acts. After the Jade Falcon invasion in 3050, he appears to have sold the business in order to pay a smuggler to carry him off world to safety, arriving on Kowloon the following year with what remained of his savings. The fall of Kowloon more recently left Mr Thurston-Moray no similar means to escape.”

“On the seventeenth of December last year, Mr Thurston-Moray was taken into protective custody after he attempted to beg outside a post office claiming to be Stefan Ukris Amaris VII, a direct descendant of the original raising funds for a military campaign to expel the Clans and re-establish the Rim Worlds Republic. House Amaris is not thought warmly of on Kowloon and the sum total of donations received were fifty-three pfennig and a stick of chewing gum. Upon evaluation by the local judge and medical authorities, Mr Thurston-Moray was deemed unfit to stand trial for the minor misdemeanor of vagrancy by reason of clinical insanity.”

“Two and a half weeks later, one of Clan Steel Viper’s officers concluded that this justified the execution of one lonely and sad man who lost himself in delusions after losing everything of value in his life. If he had claimed to be the lost heir of Napoleon Bonaparte or to be the reborn Alexander the Great, it is likely that it would have passed without notice and he might have one day been able to come back to his senses and rebuild his life.”

She banished the image of the poor victim. “Let us return to the matter of House Amaris. The SLDF conducted a purge in the 2770s and 2780s on the order of General Kerensky, executing everyone bearing that family name, in an act of reprisal for the extermination of House Cameron by the Usurper. Records left to us indicate that Kerensky deemed it a distasteful obligation to his feudal lord and that he considered the matter fully resolved with no other members of the family left by the time of the Exodus.”

“Clan Steel Viper appears, with the approval of the other Clans, to consider this an open-ended order to eliminate anyone with any blood ties to Stefan Amaris. Their orders - not a secret, something they have openly announced - are for a systematic search across their occupation zone for anyone with the slightest blood ties to Stefan Amaris.”

“Everyone,” she said solemnly, “Every relative of the Usurper, no matter how distant, has been condemned to death. The Clans claim to have mastered genetic science but they would seem ignorant of the basic fact that every human being in existence has at least some blood connection to every other, even if that may be beyond any means of tracing due to thousands of years of separation. In issuing this decree, Clan Steel Viper has declared their intention to commit genocide against all humanity… including the other Clans and themselves.”

“The absurdity of this seems lost on Khan Zalman and since not one of the other Clans has chosen to restrain the Steel Vipers.” Wei leant heavily upon the podium. “Were it not for the innocent life lost, I would view this as comedy… but the consequences of this are tragedy.”

“Given their declarations of support for Clan Steel Viper’s violation of ComStar’s neutrality, I hereby grant Khan Zalman’s request to all of the Clans. As of receipt of this message, all ComStar HPG stations upon worlds occupied by the Clans are ordered to close their doors.” Somewhat theatrically, Wei lifted a pen and signed a document on the podium. “On my authority as Primus and with the support of the majority of the First Circuit, the Clans are hereby subject to Interdiction.”

The lights went out, leaving Wei in the darkness.

Just as billions were now left isolated by the removal of HPG service to their worlds, over a decision they had had no say over. The Clans had their own HPGs and would no doubt manage to provide for their own needs to some extent.

And hundreds of garrisons, ranging from platoons of less than forty troopers to entire combined arms battalions were being left cut off with the order to hold until relieved. DRUM analysts suspected that the Steel Viper Khans welcomed this confrontation; that they wanted ComStar to break off ties so that their warriors, frustrated by the Nova Cats and Jade Falcons’ decision to accept a truce, could take revenge for their previous defeat on Camlann.

The Steel Vipers might be prepared to strike. The troops of Operation Sapphire might be just in time - or they might be diving into a firestorm. No one knew.

Wei rested her elbows on the podium and as the cameras cut out and curtains were drawn back to allow natural light back into the room, she felt the sting of tears rolling down her cheeks.


Yamashiro, New Samarkand
Diamond Shark Dominion
5 February 3058

Ace wasn’t complaining, but if the team who’d broken into his office had been using guns then this would have been over by now.

Three men and one woman were trying to surround him, swords flashing as he parried urgently with his wakizashi and its scabbard. The ivory on the latter was cracked and cut, but fortunately the metal underneath was holding out. The two facing him were using longer blades - not quite katana length, which meant he couldn’t really reach their bodies with a riposte - but a katana would be less than ideal in the low ceilinged office.

The other two were trying going around his aide’s desk, which had been shoved into the middle of the room. Thomas was on the floor behind it, swearing - his right arm had taken a nasty cut in the first moments of the attack. All that stopped the pair from getting around to finish off Ace and the young trueborn was Shiro. The limited space didn’t seem to bother the old swordsman and he was keeping the two handily in check as well as threatening enough of the desk that climbing over it wasn’t feasible.

Ace fumbled a parry with a blade glancing off the scabbard (causing another nick) and had to jerk back, seeing the silver gleam of one swordsman’s blade pass within inches of his eyes. He backstepped, getting his balance back and driving a cut from the other attacker aside - the man had to draw his weapon back rather than get entangled in the desk.

Another cut that Ace managed to parry came closer to the wall and he twisted his shorter blade, trying to catch the man’s wrist. Unfortunately the swordsman recognised the move and shifted back to avoid the attack.

All three of them were breathing heavily and paused - swordplay like this was exhausting - and the moment drew attention to the cry of the man facing Shiro, a curiously frothy sound that was explained by the blood pouring from his throat. The man tried to staunch the flow with his free hand but it clearly wasn’t working.

Shiro hadn’t managed it unscathed though - in extending for the cut he’d opened his guard enough for the woman to make a cut and while the mechwarrior’s wound was less serious than his foes - two fingers were missing from his left hand - any injury could be debilitating enough to change the tide of the fight.

The taller of Ace’s assailants seemed to be in charge: “Help her with the old man!” he barked.

“But he is Ace Enders!” the shorter one protested, demonstrating a complete inability to recognise who was the better swordsman.

“Do as I say!”

The junior man did so but was apparently so sulky that he missed the first sign of Thomas returning to the fight. Grabbing a heavy paperweight, the trueborn threw it left handed into the face of the leader.

The projectile lacked the accuracy it might have but none of the force - at this range, the power of the throw was barely abated as the ornamental stone disk smashed into the man’s jaw, breaking it.

The swordsman staggered back against the wall for an instant and Ace lunged forwards, dropping his scabbard to catch the man’s right wrist in his left hand. A moment later and his wakizashi was buried in the assassin’s chest.

“Hikaru!” last man exclaimed, turning back to Ace. Much to his own alarm, the galaxy commander realized that getting his sword out of the ribcage was going to be harder than getting it in had been.

There was a boom and the locked door to the office - one of the assassins had had the presence of mind to secure their rear in the first seconds of the attack - was violently unlocked by means of a shotgun. A heavy boot opened the door the rest of the way. “Thomas! Down!”

The trueborn dropped to the ground at the sound of a shotgun’s pump action and the swordsman had just enough to half-turn before Sasha fired the gun a second time, catching his left shoulder, throat and jaw with a load of buckshot. The shoulder and jaw might have survived but the throat didn’t and the half-decapitated swordsman dropped to the ground, evidently dying.

The last assassin screamed and tried to get over her last comrade at Ace. “For the -”

Her raised blade scraped the ceiling as she leapt over the dying man, sending her stumbling. Ace snatched the shorter sword from his victim and thrust it forwards, opening the woman’s belly.

Guts spilled out, adding a foul odor to the smell of blood, and her mouth opened in silent agony, lungs emptied by the earlier warcry. Before she could refill them, Ace swept the sword back around on reflex and her head left company with her shoulders.

“Blake’s blood,” Sasha muttered, looking around the office. “All the blood.”

Ace followed his gaze and nodded. He’d need a new office… but first things first. “We need a medic. Has anyone else been attacked?”

“Not this time, that I know of.” Sasha looked at the fallen bodies. “No guns?”

“It is a matter of honor,” Shiro said solemnly, face losing some of its color as adrenaline faded. “Ace Enders served as the second to Hohiro Kurita. It would only be fitting that he die by the sword rather than a gun.”

Ace looked at his borrowed sword, which had what seemed like screw holes in two places along it. “Or they could not smuggle guns past our security. I would be fascinated to learn how they got these in.”

“Both are possible,” the old man allowed.

“Thomas, Shiro,” Ace ordered, “If there’s no other attack then go to the medical section - you have both done well.” They’d saved his life and he was not going to forget it.

“Yes sir,” Thomas acknowledged. “Come on, old man.”

“Yes yes, do not rush me.” Shiro wiped his sword clean on his sleeve before sheathing it.

“Are you hurt, sir?” asked Sasha.

Ace checked that he hadn’t missed anything. “No,” he confirmed. Dropping his borrowed sword on Thomas’ desk, he went back to the leader and with both hands he managed to retrieve the wakizashi. There was a cleaning kit for the swords in his own desk and he opened the drawer so he could clean the weapon.

Hitting the button for the security desk, Ace pinned the head-set between his ear and his shoulder so that he’d have both hands free for the cleaning cloth and wakizashi. “Security!”

“Security desk,” an accented voice confirmed. “Is this… ah, reporting Galaxy Commander!” she added, obviously having read the caller ID.

“Is that Karrin?” Ace asked, recognising the accent. “Good, I need a forensics team and a guard for my office. Four assassins got past our security and I want to know how.”

“Yes sir,” the woman replied, dread behind her business-like tone. Understandable since that reflected a failure by the security while she was on the desk. There was a bleep over the comm. “Point Commander Harry has the first reaction squad, I will call forensics next.” She was probably more familiar with the process than he was - before being recruited for aerospace training, she had been attending a Combine police academy.

“I just need one guard, not a full squad.” He examined the sword blade and then folded the cloth to wipe it again.

“There could be a second squad waiting for our guard to go down, sir,” Karrin told him firmly. “The rest of the squad can sweep your wing of the palace to make sure.”

“Fair point,” Ace allowed. “Tell Harry that Thomas and Shiro are on the way to the medical section.” The elemental and Thomas were often found together. He wasn’t sure why and it wasn’t really Ace’s business, but he figured Harry would make sure the other two didn’t get sidetracked before their wounds were treated.

“Will do, sir,” the woman promised.

“You are not going to keep working here?” Sasha asked as Ace retrieved the handset and dropped it back in the desk.

“My desk is just fine,” Ace pointed out - the room was L-shaped with the aide’s desk taking up the shorter leg and partially blocking access around the corner to where Ace worked.

The mechwarrior gestured to the mess and then sniffed illustratively.

“I suppose you are right.” He was about to pick up the comm unit to arrange another office when it pinged to indicate an inbound call. Putting sword and cleaning kit down, Ace lifted it. “Enders.”

“Sir, you have an HPG message from Khan Sennet.”

“Live, quineg?” he asked, incredulously. New Samarkand had its own HPG under Diamond Shark control, so losing the ComStar station to the Interdiction wasn’t so bad here, but there wasn’t even a single chain of stations left around the Draconis Rift, much less the double chain needed for realtime comms.

“Neg, sir. Relayed by jumpship to Charity.”

“Send it through.” The interdict wasn’t a small problem, it was wreaking havoc with organizing the flow of both trade and military supplies across the Dominion. What was worse was that every world Ace had heard from had an insurgency group going active as soon as ComStar cut services. Whether it was coordinated or just opportunistic didn’t really matter: half of Epsilon Galaxy was spread out helping to put the uprisings down.

This assassination attempt was the third attempt on the palace this week, and the first not to kill at least one warrior. Progress, technically.

“News about the vote?” suggested Sasha lightly as the comm unit’s screen lit up.

Ace gave him a sour look. The interdiction had also interrupted the voting over the Clan’s name. While each world could count it’s own votes, without HPG comms it would take months for that count to be relayed and at least one rebel group was proclaiming that the entire interdiction had been ordered by conservative Diamond Sharks to cover up a result they didn’t like. The fact that New Samarkand and at least six worlds nearby had strong votes for the Sea Fox name and associated policy only gave that claim credibility.

Damn the Steel Vipers!

Barbara Sennet’s face appeared on Ace’s screen. Perhaps it was his imagination but it looked as if she had new lines on her face. “Galaxy Commander Enders,” she declared without prelude. “The Dominion has been attacked from two directions.”

Ace slammed his fist against the desk. Of course the Combine was attacking now!

“As anticipated, Clan Ice Hellion and Clan Hells Horse have made appearances along our periphery border,” the Khan continued. “Attacks have been as far apart as Richmond on the border with the Smoke Jaguars and Gravenhage, near Qandahar. Gamma Galaxy was already on the way to the region to deal with ComStar enclaves but I must now lead Alpha Galaxy to join them - garrison and Spina forces are buying time but we will need massed frontline forces to face them.”

The khan paused. “Analysis of Chatterweb messages in the homeworlds has allowed us to make a solid estimate of the supplies available to the two Clans. Solid resistance now has a realistic chance of exhausting their logistical support before they dig in, but I am estimating six to twelve months. Fortunately the Ice Hellions have already attacked one ComStar enclave, so they have made themselves an enemy now. For now, I am ordering a halt in attacks on ComStar enclaves: there are no reports of their garrisons taking the offensive so we can afford to wait.”

“No reinforcements,” whispered Sasha.

Ace nodded in agreement. Without Alpha and Gamma Galaxies, it would be down to Epsilon Galaxy to back up the rest of the forces all along the border.

Sennet rubbed her face. “The second attack hit Itabaiana and Labrea.”

Ace jerked upright in his chair. Where?! Those worlds were well behind the frontlines.

“Leo Showers has led two galaxies of Smoke Jaguars across the Rasalhague Rift,” the khan continued. “Based on the timing we believe that this was coordinated with Khans Fletcher and Taney, or at least planned with advance knowledge of their attack. If he continues to advance, he threatens the core of our holdings here.”

“Luthien,” Sasha guessed.

“Pesht and Irece are also in that area,” Ace reminded him. Not to mention other industrial worlds - there were two jumpship yards within jump of Luthien.

“As much as I would like to use Alpha Galaxy to face Showers, Gamma Galaxy alone will not be able to stop the Horses and the Hellions. In the worst case we could lose them and the entire corewards half of the Dominion. I have ordered Omega Galaxy reinforced with every warrior we can find and they will buy us time: you are to assemble a relief force and cross the Dominion to face the Jaguars. I am aware that this exposes the worlds on your side of the Draconis Rift to risk but we can afford losses there more than we can elsewhere.”

Sennet closed her eyes for a moment. “Your acquisition of Tau Galaxy and masquerading as Beta Galaxy have angered many of the Clan Council, but they may stave off disaster. We have no reports yet of Inner Sphere attacks on the Dominion, so they may have not been ready to take advantage of the Interdiction. Clearly that will not last, so the Jaguars need to be repelled as quickly as possible. You have my complete confidence and I am authorizing you to take command over the other Galaxy Commanders regardless of seniority.”

Then her eyes snapped open and she was all shark: “Kill Showers if you can - their saKhan is in the homeworlds so she cannot control commanders here. But whatever you do, it must be quick and decisive. What we lack most is time.”

The screen went dead and Ace exhaled slowly. “This could not be worse.”

“Well, clearly it could. At least the Combine is not attacking,” offered Sasha.

Ace opened the folder still lying on his desk from before the assassins reached the office. Inside was a single short message, written not typed. A Diamond Shark jumpship had reached Tabayama the previous day and its HPG was one of the few that had been patched up with available parts, undoing ComStar’s sabotage. New Samarkand was just barely in range to pick up HPG messages from there. Ace showed it to Sasha.

“FWLM and AFFC dropships on approach to Jordan Weis,” Sasha read quietly. “Escorted by Outworlder fighters. Send help. Ellison Enders, Tau Galaxy Commander.” He dropped the paper back on the table. “Oh.”

Ace nodded. Failure to respond would reveal that the Clan no longer had a reserve in the area. But they could not afford to leave Showers free to claim what had once been the industrial core of the Combine either.

“What are you going to do? Khan Sennet ordered us to reinforce Omega Galaxy, so we must comply, quiaff?”

Ace studied the ceiling for a moment and then… a smile crept across his face. “Neg… she ordered me to reinforce Omega Galaxy.”

[drakensis]

Imperial City, Irurzun
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
19 February 3058

The great hall dwarfed even the throneroom of the palace (which was in an entirely different building), intended for ceremonial events where everyone, including the Coordinator, might need to move around. Today, for the first time, Minoru thought that it might be packed with a banquet for over three thousand guests (and around half that many servants in or nearby.

With so many people, it couldn’t possibly have been intimate and the reception line had been a major struggle, with several people ‘pre-emptively’ greeted the day before on the understanding that they wouldn’t have much chance of actually meeting the Coordinator or his most important guests on the day itself, even to exchange bows.

At some point between that unreasonable scale of events, the necessary ceremonies had been carried out and Minoru had found (by virtue of only limited time to eat earlier) that he had quite an appetite. Unfortunately, even this was scheduled and even if the staff hadn’t been making pleading looks, the increasing sound as guests imbibed more wine than they did food would have been a hint.

Minoru wasn’t exactly reluctant as he turned to Atsuko and lifted her hand so that he could kiss the back of it. The young lady blushed demurely and her father gave Minoru a pleased look. He probably should be pleased: in addition to the informal advantages he had just accrued, he had been granted courtly positions that granted him the right to enter the Imperial City at his own recognizance (not assured even to the nobility) and immunity to prosecution except by the Coordinator.

It would be a public embarrassment for the Coordinator’s father-in-law to be brought before any court, so while Oda Hideyoshi could still be detained by law enforcement, any consequences would now be for Minoru alone to decide.

The chair was heavy and a servant discreetly pulled it back from the table so Minoru could stand. Just in case someone missed him doing so (the back of the hall was quite some distance away), the man at his right hand also stood up from his much more manageable chair. “Noble gentlemen and virtuous ladies of the Draconis Combine,” Franklin Kurita announced by way of a discreet microphone. “Hearken to the words of Lord Kurita upon his wedding day!”

Accepting the microphone from his… brother - and an encouraging nod from his sister, who sat between Franklin and the tai-sa who was Franklin’s plus one for the occasion, Minoru turned back to the hall and felt a slight surge of stage fright. It would have been nice, he thought, to have ‘forgotten’ his contact lenses and been able to pretend he was looking at a blur and not a crowd of thousands. Alas, someone would have noticed him squinting.

“Loyal sons and daughters of the Dragon,” he greeted them. “Though today is a marital occasion, it gives me pleasure to acknowledge the brave soldiers who have done my wife and I the honor of returning the world of Tok Do to the Draconis Combine, after years under the paw of the Ghost Bears. As our noble samurai win victories upon worlds as far removed as Shirotori and Cerberus, the Clans have been forced to bow in acknowledgment of the dynasty of Kurita, to whose numbers Atsuko Kurita is added this day.”

Hoping that would satisfy the militants, Minoru lifted the glass in front of him in salute. “Though it is an abiding regret that my parents are unable to attend today, nor to take my lovely wife into their embrace, I have no doubts of their approval. Indeed, my grandfather would no doubt be pleased that I am not keeping my wedding a secret for over a decade.” If anyone else had mentioned that it would be a faux pas, but as a means to invoke the revered Takashi Kurita, it would serve from Minoru’s lips.

“Though I am young in years, I benefit today not only in my beloved wife but also in her wise father,” he continued. “Wounded upon the sacred soil of Luthien, Marquis Oda Hideyoshi nonetheless survived and returned to us as so many have, pouring his time and energy into recovery not only for himself but of many others.” Certainly there were political reasons behind Hideyoshi’s open support for wounded soldiers, both those able to return to the battlefield and to those who could not… but had been needed and the marquis had provided.

“Like my new father, the Combine has suffered reverses, but undaunted it rises once again,” Minoru declared. “A toast to my father-in-law!”

He sipped from his glass and everyone else did likewise - though some gulped rather than sipped. He, on the other hand, did not want clouded wits.

“I have many words for my dear wife,” the Coordinator said, looking down at her for a moment. “But I will save most of them to be said in private. For now: ten thousand years of good fortune to Lady Kurita!”

“Ten thousand years!” almost half that many voices called, a wave of sound that washed over Minoru as he finished his glass.

A servant pulled Atsuko’s chair during the toast, since she naturally wasn’t drinking to her own good fortune. Minoru extended his hand to her and helped her to his feet, then offered her his arm. She threaded her arm through his, a pleasantly warm pressure against his size.

The marquis accepted the microphone and offered a toast of his own, to the happy couple. Minoru was barely listening and simply waved in acknowledgement as more cheers went up.

A few steps back from the table and curtains were pulled across to screen them from the hall. For a brief moment, Minoru was alone with Atsuko - not in public or chaperoned. Then three others slipped through the curtains, removing that privacy.

“Don’t glower at us, brother,” Omi chided mildly.

“I’m not glowering.”

“I have one or two words of advice for my sister-in-law,” she told him. “You come along as well, tai-sa.”

Lainie Shimazu looked quite startled to be pulled aside as well - the commander of the Ninth Ghost Regiment was fairly well born from certain points of view but she was only acceptable as a guest at the wedding due to her military rank and Franklin’s support. Either alone would have not been enough.

Minoru and Franklin looked at each other, speechless for a moment. The younger brother arched an eyebrow but refrained from asking if the two were serious directly.

For his part, the illegitimate brother shrugged slightly. He looked more like their father than Minoru, not quite an image of the young Theodore but too close to deny the kinship. “Is Omi always so quick to take charge?”

“When she feels it is her obligation,” Minoru told him ruefully. “She is keeper of the house honor, after all.”

Franklin frowned. “Do I want to know what she is saying?”

“Probably not. I imagine it will either end your relationship with the tai-sa - whatever it is, and I will not pry - or solidify it.” Minoru felt a smile tease at the corners of his mouth at Franklin’s outraged expression and fought it back. “She has an important responsibility: House Kurita may rule the Combine but it is the Keeper who must make the rules for House Kurita. If you are serious about Shimazu then she will also be Omi’s charge one day.”

“I am older than her.”

“I can tell that you are inexperienced with sisters.” Minoru glanced at the curtains and took a peek through them rather than focus on his sister’s whispered conversation. Through in the banquet hall, decorum was still holding but more drinks were being served along with desserts that likely wouldn’t soak up the alcohol.

Franklin was looking at him when he looked back. “Do you have any more instructions for me?” he asked.

Minoru shook his head. “No, you know what to expect from Li Dok To.” Franklin would be traveling with Shimazu’s regiment to the border - officially to reinforce the border against counter attacks but also to be ready for the proposed attack on Galedon. “He is enthusiastic to reclaim Galedon V, but he knows that risking you will do him no favors.”

“Even when I am not your only heir?” the older man asked lightly.

“Even then.” Minoru paused and then added: “Losing one brother was dreadful, do not put me through that again… brother.”

Franklin paused and then patted Minoru’s shoulder. “Likewise. I may be safer away from the court than you are.”

“Hopefully not. The factions in court know how dire our state will be if we do not remain divided.”

“For now,” Franklin said slowly. “But if that pressure is removed…”

It was a fair point, Minoru allowed privately. But the ladies were back with them now and thus their conversation was over. A moment of farewells and then Minoru led Atsuko out of the antechamber, leaving his siblings behind. Both would be leaving early the next morning - Franklin for Galedon District and Omi back to the Federated Commonwealth.

A small limousine was waiting for the married couple, whisking them across the palace in minutes. Although the driver and the Otomo trooper in the front were both discreetly quiet, their presence still felt repressive to Minoru. He looked at Atsuko and found her looking back at him. She flushed again and lowered her eyes. He saw her feet shift awkwardly in the footwell.

“Do your feet hurt?” he asked her quietly.

“A little,” she admitted embarrassedly.

“You can take off your shoes,” he offered.

Atsuko looked bemused. “But won’t we have to walk into yo- into our rooms?”

“I believe it is traditional for the groom to carry the bride across the threshold,” Minoru suggested, smiling.

The tips of her ears, only visible because she had her hair up, went red. “Let’s not,” she said shyly.

The limousine pulled up at that point and Minoru got out first, taking Atsuko’s hand and trying to match his pace to hers as they entered the residence. There was an outer layer of rooms with traditional paper and wood construction, mostly used for guests. But the core of the building was more solidly built, in token of the need to protect those inside from the risks of their royal station. Only three doors led into the two adjoining suites, all guarded and with access tightly restricted.

“My wife and I can manage from here,” Minoru ordered as servants came to attend them. “Leave us.”

The little squad backed off obediently and he closed the door firmly before looking over Atsuko. “I’m not actually entirely sure I know how to help you out of the dress,” he admitted, “But we’re both clever people and there is little enough privacy in my days. I may need your guidance.”

She offered him a small smile. “It will be our first task working together, my lord.” There was a little emphasis to the ‘my’ that he rather liked.

In the master bedroom, Minoru escorted her formally to sit on the bed before going to the side table and popping out his contact lenses. It only took a moment to replace them with his glasses. “The vanity of my office,” he explained in a light tone. “The Coordinator’s vision cannot be seen to be imperfect.”

Atsuko nodded slightly. “I think they suit you better,” she said after a moment. “You look more the scholar… but perhaps you are right about public perceptions.”

“Now,” he asked, “Where do we begin?”

In reply, she lifted one foot off the floor and started to kick off her shoes.

It took several minutes before they were free of their outer layers. Sometimes the process was playful, sometimes awkward. Minoru concluded after his shirt was off that Atsuko’s increasing hesitance was nervousness. She was still wearing her undergown, with her hair loose down her back. His fingers itched to go back to stroking it’s silky length,

“Would you like to sit a while?” he asked, indicating a couch against one wall.

“I think so,” his wife agreed softly, then yelped as he lifted her in both arms and carried her the short distance, sitting her down gently at one end.

Stepping back for a moment to admire her, he found his own seat at the far end of the couch, sitting at an angle so that their bare feet were almost brushing each other. “We will be learning about each other for years,” he offered quietly. “Is there something you would like to ask?” A ‘married life’ guide book he had found suggested that exchanging confidences would help with the relationship.

Atsuko swallowed. “My… Minoru? Why did you marry me?”

Oh. Minoru blinked at the directness.

“I’m not unhappy,” she exclaimed, apparently realizing how it sounds. “It’s just… why me of all women? You could have married anyone.”

Not quite anyone, a little voice whispered and he drove the idea from his head. Minoru had spent enough time soul-searching over whether he was approaching her as a substitute for… another. He had decided that he was not, and this was not the time to second-guess himself.

“I courted you,” he stressed the verb intentionally. “Because you are beautiful, socially acceptable and politically advantageous.” Then, before her face could do more than fall slightly, he reached out for her hand. “I married you, because having courted you I felt you were someone I wanted to grow old with.”

Her eyes went wide. And her fingers closed around his.

For a moment they sat in silence. “Is there something you would like to do, as the Lady Kurita? There are formally expectations, but there is plenty of precedent to reach out beyond it. My grandmother was a patron of the arts… I’m not sure what mother would have done, she might have continued to serve in the DCMS.”

“I’m not sure,” the young woman asked. “I have managed father’s household since… for several years, I think I could do the same for you, although it’s on a grander scale.”

“That would help.” He agreed. “But that can’t be everything.”

“I… I’d like to travel? Not as far as your sister. I admire her for going into the Federated Commonwealth alone,” Atsuko confided, “but I rarely get the chance to leave home.”

His sister had an entire embassy to back her up, so she was hardly alone. This probably wasn’t the time to explain that though. “That can certainly be arranged. We can go to Terra together for the next Star League Council meeting,” Minoru suggested. “And there will be other opportunities.”

Her face brightened. “I’d love that!” He was very conscious that her chest was… not very contained by the undergown and had to pull his attention away. There was a brush of skin against his foot and then it was withdrawn.

“Minoru,” Atsuko said cautiously. “My father is likely to give me advice to pass on to you.”

That was inevitable, he thought. The man would have plenty of chances to advise him directly, but that obviously wouldn’t be enough for him. “You can give me your own advice, you know…”

“But what if I gave advice that you hated?” she asked warily. “I… not that I’d want to, but I’m not educated the way a man would be.”

“I doubt many people agree with me on everything,” he told her reassuringly, running one thumb gently over her knuckles. “It’s possible there isn’t anyone at all. I could still get plenty of advisors who agree with me on everything, but they would be doing so to ingratiate themselves not to help me.” He leant forwards and raised her hand to his lips, dropping a gentle kiss on the knuckles. “Your mind is one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”

“One… of them?” Atsuko asked, leaning forwards to meet him.

“Shall I tell you about the others?” He slipped one hand behind her head to caress her hair.

They found other things to do with their lips, thereafter.

[Daryk]

If any one person could take down Showers, it's Ace! ;D

[PsihoKekec]

It would be another step towards the title Ace of Khans.

It looks like his deception tilted the scales towards DC going after Bears. With Comstar shutting down the HPGs in the occupation zone, how long will it take for the Star League to learn about the tripartite invasion of Shark zone?

[The Wobbly Guy]

In OTL, Hideyoshi was a member of the Black Dragons.

I wonder how long Minoru can last once Atsuko gives birth to a heir.

[Evil Imperial]

Only on Kowloon...

[Sir Chaos]

In OTL, Hideyoshi was a member of the Black Dragons.

I wonder how long Minoru can last once Atsuko gives birth to a heir.

This time around, he´s in a position very close to Minoru, closer than any Black Dragon in OTL, and Minoru trusts him, more so than OTL Theodore trusted him or any of the other Black Dragons. He might feel that being able to mold Minoru and his heir is preferable to risking exposure in a plot to murder Minoru, successful or not.

Plus, right now (unlike during the OTL attempt on Theodore in 3058) the Combine is against the ropes, so he might not want to risk a civil war against those rallying behind Omi (and/or Franklin), or even just purges of likely Omi/Franklin supporters in the military.

[Cannonshop]

Only on Kowloon...

hey, 57 Phennigs AND a stick of gum...That's like hardcore Charity right there.

[Sir Chaos]

Only on Kowloon...

Mister Richard Thurston-Moray is "Stefan Amaris VII" of Star Lord fame... so, no, not just on Kowloon.

And the fact that Dawn got reinstated as a warrior, and later earned a bloodname, after presenting his head to the Steel Viper clan council, suggests that he may indeed have been a descendant of the original Stefan Amaris.

[Cannonshop]

Mister Richard Thurston-Moray is "Stefan Amaris VII" of Star Lord fame... so, no, not just on Kowloon.

And the fact that Dawn got reinstated as a warrior, and later earned a bloodname, after presenting his head to the Steel Viper clan council, suggests that he may indeed have been a descendant of the original Stefan Amaris.

Yah, but see, even a Kowloonese would point out, "Even the Rimjobs stopped after the third generation".  HOW many generations has it been?

[Daryk]

VI at least... ;D

And I too was amazed at how much he had collected! :D