Busan, Tok Do
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
28 April 3029
"That was... cold."
"Had to be done," Theodore said. "You heard our officers complaining about putting a Davion in charge--"
"--I meant what you did to Candace," the Keeper of the House Honour said, stepping from the shadows. "You used her."
Theodore laughed without a sound. "We're all using each other, cousin. It's what the Great Houses do."
"So ka."
Theodore felt Ninyu Kerai roll his eyes. "No comment, oh flame-haired one?" Theodore asked, pouring himself a drink.
"Only that you were laying it on pretty thick," Ninyu admitted, snatching the glass from Theodore's hand and drinking the amber liquid in one gulp.
Theodore smiled as Ninyu coughed. "Apple juice?" he asked incredulously then snatched the bottle from Theodore and refilled the glass.
"That is cold," the ISF agent said as he downed the second glass.
The Coordinator poured himself another drink, shaking his head as he offered it to Constance. She accepted demurely and he poured the rest into his glass and sat. The mansion had many indoor gardens to gather in, but Theodore preferred this one. His son's toys still littered it.
His two advisors sat to his side; Ninyu cross-legged, Constance on her knees, careful to stay below him.
"Tomoe's favourite," Theodore began. "She drank a bottle a day, when she could. The servants thought we both drank it, so they've been bringing it out every morning... since."
He took a sip. "I hate apple juice."
"Hohiro hated it too," Ninyu volunteered. "When I was visiting them on Marfik, he complained to me; he said, it made Tomoe gassy--"
"--Hahahaha!--" Theodore laughed, choking.
"He managed to steal half of the bottles and hide them around the house, the garden, and so on," Ninyu said shaking his head in amusement. "I taught him how to sneak about and showed him better places to hide. Zeshin would sit down on a couch and crack a bottle or three"
Theodore nodded, still laughing, in thanks. He finished his glass and rolled it in his hands.
The doors to the garden slid open, and Yorinaga Kurita strode forward, careful of where to place his steps. He bowed deeply to Theodore, Constance, then nodded to Ninyu who waved back cheerfully. Yorinaga's frown stiffened.
"The Capellans have retired for the night, tono," the samurai said. "I placed guards around Justin Xiang, as you ordered."
Constance looked at him then, and Theodore shrugged.
"You are right, Keeper," he said. "It was heartless of me to prey on Candace's naivete as much as Justin is." He held up a hand to forestall her argument, knowing full well how much he was emulating Takashi. "Yes, I know you still believe him to be a Davion spy without proof. I do not agree. But I did still listen to your wisdom, didn't I, cousin?"
"Hai, tono," she replied meekly as she bowed.
It was Theodore's turn to roll his eyes.
Constance blew out a breath. "Fine, Theodore. If you believe he isn't a spy, then why follow my advice?"
"Because it seemed wise."
"And?"
"And what do I owe Justin Xiang? I confided in you two that I sense a kindred spirit with him; I do not know why. He is a traitor to the Federated Suns and somehow has managed to find his way to the top in the Confederation." He looked at both in the eyes. "Which Kurita would be comfortable around a traitor?"
Ninyu was listening and nodding as he deftly pulled out a flask and filled his glass. Theodore held out his and was rewarded with a splash of clear, aromatic liquid. Yorinaga humbly accepted a glass, sampling it with careful sips while Constance still worked on her first apple juice.
"And?"
"And Candace Liao needs to be friendly with the Draconis Combine. To me," the Coordinator said, tasting his drink. "We couldn't get Janos Marik on board if it was Justin Xiang heading up the CCAF in Tikonov."
Yorinaga nodded. "Either because Xiang is too competent, or because he shares the same fears as you all do."
"Then he is wise--"
"--or has wise advisors--"
"--but you are leaving Candace Liao exposed."
"Actually," Ninyu said between gulps, "it is pretty isolated. It is a wonder that Pavel Ridzik hasn't used this opportunity to break away, what with a border with Skye..."
Theodore paused to consider that. "And what of the treacherous duke?"
"Lestrade? Still short and ugly--"
"--the other treacherous duke. Michael Hasek?"
"All the Capellans are telling us is that they're holding him. Apparently, the Chancellor changed his mind at the last moment and stopped your friend Justin from Samsonov-ing him."
Theodore chuckled. "Wise."
"I think Mad Max just wanted to torture Hasek," Ninyu admitted with a shrug.
Constance leaned forward. "What are you planning, cousin?"
"We can help Candace retake Tikonov, even form one solid front against the Federated Suns. But the Fox has gouged out most of the Sarna Commonality, and not even the Interdiction will slow that down."
"And that would leave two Capellan states," Constance said, nodding.
"No one wants that, it'll just get confusing," Ninyu added.
"So we offer a trade. An ultimatum, really."
Theodore looked at both of his advisors, his friends. "The Capellans will return Michael Hasek, alive, in exchange for the worlds taken from the Capellan Confederation."
Ninyu sputtered. "Haha, there's no way--"
"--Exactly."
Constance frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Hanse Davion cannot admit Michael Hasek is a traitor. That would undermine the Capellan March and the Hasek family. He cannot back down either; this 4th Succession War is his after all. So he'll do two things; either negotiate which worlds he'll keep, or he'll let Michael Hasek die on Sian."
"Or he could launch an attack to retake the fool and sack Sian in the process," Ninyu said. "He is the Fox you know."
"Why?" Constance asked. "What would it get us?"
"Plenty," Theodore confided. "We can secure Tikonov, and it is in our best interests to make sure that it exports materiel to us and the first treacherous duke next, and then to the dying Confederation."
"What is it about dukes anyway?" Ninyu asked in a whisper.
"They have so much power, but not enough," Constance answered knowingly.
Theodore tried not to crack a grin as the two smiled at each other before each remembered the organizations they represented. They looked away, awkwardly.
Yorinaga was kneeling quietly, considering his words.
The samurai raised his head. "The Captain-General has agreed to your plan?" Yorinaga asked as the other two exchanged looks.
"Plan?" they asked at the same time.
"The Capellan Confederation is doomed. But it can still be of service. The Combine and the League both need a secure bridge, and we will both assist in rebuilding the Tikonov Commonality, sundered as it is from the rest of the Confederation."
Theodore stood. "Janos Marik has even agreed to haul parts from Tikonov to the rest of the Confederation; right now, much of the Sarna Commonality is compromised and we can expect the Fox to swallow the rest.
"That would leave him with a border to the Free Worlds League... an undefended border," Constance said slowly.
"Undefended?" Ninyu asked. "Janos Marik doesn't have that kinda power to order all the FWLM regiments around; he called in a lot of favours to pull in garrison troops one jump back, at most."
Constance's eyes fumed, but she didn't direct them at him.
"It would have been foolish to do so, after all, we made that request after the renewed invasion," Yorinaga provided, soothing the Keeper.
"In reality," Theodore continued, "the Fox only has two real options: admit Hasek is a traitor and let him die, or say nothing and let him die. Either will undermine morale. A rescue attempt is unlikely to succeed; I would assume that if the Fox could do that he would have eliminated Max Liao a long time ago. In the unlikely event that Hanse gives up the worlds his men and women have died taking, even just some of it, the AFFS will be disillusioned."
"So the Fox will just continue his assault," Ninyu intuited.
Constance nodded too, then glanced at Theodore, and he shared a bit of his plans to her, a glimpse with his chi. She didn't recoil.
The Capellans are mortally wounded. We need them, still. With Marik arms, Kuritan training, they can maintain a dangerous front to bleed the Federated Suns even as we keep their best worlds for ourselves.
Candace responded, sharing her emotions. Millions have died. Millions more will?
Theodore dipped his head. The briefest of moments passed during their exchange.
"And then Duke Hasek will die?" Yorinaga was asking.
"Iie," Theodore said, shaking his head. "Then he'll escape."
