Opalescent Reflections
Full House
Chapter 19
Hilton Head, North America
Terra, Sol System
15 June 3059While there was nothing unusual in the Precentor-Martial visiting Wei’s office, today it felt surreptitious. Anastasius Focht waited until they were alone before he began his report.
“If Ulric Kerensky did survive the fighting against the Zeerga, then his Clan is committing to the deception. Natasha Kerensky is behaving in exactly the way I’d expect if she was responsible for such a large force.”
Wei considered everything she had ever heard about the famous mercenary. “Losing her mind?”
“I would say so. I am surprised she accepted promotion to the role.” Focht sat down facing Wei. “I suspect she is waiting for someone with a suitably strategic mind to make their name so she can resign in their favor.”
“Then Ulric’s death may have hurt Clan Wolf more than we thought,” Wei said thoughtfully. “Which isn’t to say that they are doing poorly.”
“Given the Zeerga’s behavior towards our enclaves, I cannot fault our soldiers for volunteering to fight them, but it might have been better strategically if they had been allowed to do more damage to the Wolves.”
Wei sat back in her chair. “It’s done, there is no point worrying too much about things we cannot change. Is she serious about releasing the ComGuards?”
“The first detachment returned with me,” Focht confirmed. “Will we have any problems with the Star League Council over bringing them back? They did technically fight for Clan Wolf.”
“They never swore allegiance to the Wolves,” she said firmly. “Fighting alongside them against a common foe is not the same thing. They were contracted, as if they were mercenaries.”
“You do not have to convince me,” the soldier told her. “Granting citizenship back to Nova Cat warriors who once served in the AFFC is already causing strains. Can you convince the Star League Council that working around the stripping of citizenships is acceptable?”
“I had better. I owe these men and women,” Wei confessed. “I ordered them to remain in the enclaves, knowing that many would die or be captured.”
Focht’s one eye was merciful. “With reason. Our officers are trained to deal with leading the ComGuards into danger, and then we have to train them over again to send them without leading them.”
“Maybe I should take that class.”
The old man leant forwards. “Perhaps, but you know the core. You asked it of them only because it was needed. We train leaders to spend lives, knowing that it is a dreadful balance against the lives that will be saved and that we will not know if we have chosen well, until it is too late to take the decision back.”
Wei squared her chin. “Well, these people have been returned to us. I will not give them back.”
“And that is why so few hesitated at your orders.” He relaxed back into his chair. “Take the class if you can find the time, Primus.”
“Ah.” She laughed. “Yes, that is the problem, isn’t it? What else did Kerensky have to say?”
“She is not inclined to give assurances that our enclaves will be left alone as long as we are using them as bases against her Clan.”
“I didn’t think so,” Wei sighed. For every enclave that had been stormed by the Zeerga, there were twice as many that Natasha Kerensky had struck at to remove garrisons that complicated her efforts to hold back the Star League’s attacks. The Black Widow had been far more surgical, and Wei could not say she had done more than she had to. For the most part the enclaves had then been left alone - the goal had been the forces there, not controlling the people or land.
“With that said,” the one-eyed man continued, “She said that the remaining enclaves along the Periphery are in systems she doesn’t expect us to liberate so she is willing to leave those alone.”
“How generous.” Those were most of the remaining enclaves in Wolf space, between those liberated and those that had been disarmed by Clan Wolf already.
“Not really. Most of the worlds belonged to Rasalhague so they are less of a priority for the Federated Commonwealth. Besides that, our garrisons provide some security against pirates and other raids. With their losses, the Wolves can afford to thin their protections along that region by counting on us for that.”
Wei cupped her hands together in her lap, trying to get inside the head of Natasha Kerensky. “The khan is aggressive,” she speculated slowly. “Could she be amassing forces for a counter to our counter-offensive.”
Focht gave her an approving look. “Yes, a riposte is likely if we do not come to some terms. I believe her loremaster and perhaps the new junior Khan - whoever they are - may convince her of another strategy; but, by instinct, Kerensky will want to take the initiative.”
She moved her hand and drummed her index finger against the desk. “There is news from Crimond.” At his curious look, she continued: “The Duke of Porrima, Ryan Steiner -”
“I know him,” Focht said sharply.
“...yes. He met with an emissary of Clan Wolf, acting in his wife’s name. He appears to have struck a bargain for a Trial of Possession for Tamar. The world, not the entire region, although I imagine he would have been happy for a chance at the latter.”
“Something the Wolves are unlikely to give up,” the Precentor-Martial concluded. “Do we know the terms?”
“A trial fought on Orkney next month. Two AFFC regimental combat teams and Ryan’s personal forces, against a galaxy of Clan Wolf.”
“Foolish of him,” Focht concluded.
Wei gave him a curious look. “Victor Steiner-Davion managed to defeat Clan Nova Cat twice with similar odds.”
“Prince Victor is a leader in the mold of his maternal grandmother. He might win this, but my nephew is not half the commander. Even worse…”
“Wait,” Wei raised her hand and looked at him curiously. “Your nephew?” She knew little of Ryan Steiner’s family tree, but she was sure there was no one named Focht among the upper nobility of the Lyran Commonwealth.
The old man adjusted his eyepatch. “I… I apologize, Primus. I had assumed that you were aware, given the opening of so many records earlier in your reign.”
“Aware of what?”
“When I joined ComStar, I elected to leave my old life behind and begin anew. I had had ample time to consider my past and my mistakes, leaving them behind seemed to be the better choice. I was born Frederick Steiner, grandson of an Archon. I was even, briefly, the likely successor to my uncle.” He shook his head. “Ryan is my sister’s son, but as much as I loved the boy, the man he has grown into is arrogant and far more power hungry than even I was at his age. There is little chance of him defeating Clan Wolf.”
“So a useless waste of lives,” Wei concluded.
“Not quite. It will tie down one of the Wolves’ galaxies and they will inflict some losses. I would prefer that he had not done this,” the Precentor-Martial admitted. “But it also busy us some time for the other forces of Task Force Emerald to make repairs and prepare for the next wave of fighting.”
“That’s something.”
“Khan Kerensky did make an offer for the return of ComGuards bondsmen who had not been willing to fight against the Zeerga,” Focht said, returning to the previous topic of conversation. “It’s not within my authority to approve, though.”
Wei tilted her head in curiosity. “What does she want?”
“She suggests that we nominate Clan Wolf to join the Star League.”
There was a sinking feeling in Wei’s guts. “What?”
“I am aware that this is essentially her using our soldiers as hostages,” Focht admitted. “And the political implications are beyond my remit.”
“Why would she think I’d do that?!”
The old man exhaled. “You have something of a reputation as a peacemaker, Primus. It would also turn Clan Wolf from one of the largest of our enemies into a bulwark against Clans like the Zeerga. And…” He paused and shook his head. “Natasha Kerensky’s domination of the battlefield is not just because of her skill as a mechwarrior. She is also excellent at getting inside her opponent’s heads. It is likely she realizes that there is a strong bond of loyalty between you and the members of our order.”
Wei closed her eyes. Dangerous woman! she thought to herself. “One vote,” she agreed. “Tell her that she will have her vote. But I doubt the rest of the Council will favor the idea.”
Hammarr, Sudeten
Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
30 June 3059The shuttle that landed the AFFC commanders also unloaded three squads of battle armor. Aidan eyed the suits cautiously. They were rougher-edged than their Elemental counterparts and lacked the missile launchers, but they did not have to be as good as Clan battle armor, they just had to be good enough and built in large numbers. If there was any one lesson that the Clans had to take away from the last few years, it was that - unbound by the conventions of bidding - quantity had a quality all of its own.
The three officers who entered the terminal building to meet him were young and in good shape. Aidan had seen officers not worthy of the name during earlier actions but it seemed that some of the dross had been burned away in the fighting. Somewhat stereotypically, they were all blonds, but the leader was notably shorter and… if Aidan was reading the rank badges correctly, not the most senior in rank.
“I would welcome you to Sudeten,” he greeted them, “But I will not be insincere, we all know I would rather that you and your forces found something else to do.”
“I’m sure you would,” the one wearing a Marshal’s insignia responded. “But we are here, and we will take Sudeten from you.”
“Perhaps,” Aidan allowed, letting the sloppy language pass. “But no one can count on the outcome of a trial unless it has been fought.”
“As I understand it, the bidding is the first part of the trial,” the shorter one pointed out. “You are Khan Aidan Pryde?”
“Aff. And you are Prince Victor Steiner…-Davion.” Aidan hid his annoyance at stumbling over the name. Steiner was at least a proper bloodname, even if this warrior had never earned it the way Aidan had earned his.
“Steiner-Davion,” the prince said, as if just correcting the pronunciation. “My comrades are Marshal Adam Steiner and Leutnant-General Galen Cox.”
Aidan gestured to his own companions. “Star Colonel Kael Pershaw is our Loremaster and Star Commander Diana Pryde is my aide.”
They all exchanged greetings and Aidan gestured towards the side-room he’d ordered prepared. “Shall we begin?”
“I assume from your presence that the Gyrfalcon Galaxy will be the core of your defense,” Adam Steiner probed as they entered and took their places facing each other across the table. “After the last year, your other frontline galaxies were both shredded.”
“Not so badly as you might think,” Diana disagreed, boasting as she had been asked to. “The Peregrine and Jade Falcons are back to full strength, and Turkina Galaxy is…”
“Turkina is not being bid here,” Aidan cut her off. He looked over at the Lyrans. “However, you need not fear that we are lacking in troops to offer battle. Another year or two and we will have more forces ready than we ever have had before.”
Galen chuckled. “Then we are attacking at the proper time. You won’t have the time to finish rebuilding your units before you’ve been driven from the Inner Sphere.”
“I can see why you might think that,” Kael Pershaw grated. The cyborg reached out and rapped on the table with metal knuckles. “Our ground forces may take time to recover but our warship strength remains greater than yours.”
The truth was that other than his own Galaxy, the other frontline forces were still integrating new warriors. The replacements had less experience than Aidan could hope for and while elevating Zeta Galaxy to its new status as a frontline force had already been ongoing, the reserves of fresh omnimechs and other war machines had been almost exhausted. On paper, the four galaxies were ready for battle, but it had also meant stripping the best personnel from second line units. The touman was brittle enough that using warships might be their only chance against the Inner Sphere’s numbers.
Both of the other officers looked alarmed at the prospect, but Victor took it calmly. “Are you sure that you wish to escalate in that manner?” he asked, conversationally. “We have warships of our own.”
Aidan nodded. “It would be an escalation, and one that our way of war encourages us to avoid. But there are times, such as the recent fighting on Arc-Royal, where they are a necessary tool. The question is whether they will be necessary now… or not.”
“Arc-Royal was a defeat for you.”
“Aff,” he admitted. “You cost us quite a number of warriors, several fine officers and a considerable stock of supplies. On the other hand, only one of our warships was lost compared to three of yours.” The clash between the Snow Ravens and the ComGuards squadron had been abortive, and he had some reason to hope that they were unaware two more Snow Raven warships were beyond repair in the Inner Sphere and were already making their way towards the Exodus Road back to the homeworlds. “We have more than thirty warships available, which may be fewer than those of ComStar, the Nova Cats and your own fleet, but the ComGuards have had to divide their forces across the borders with several Clans and the Nova Cats’ fleet is currently tied down escorting convoys away from the homeworlds.”
Victor nodded in agreement. “That is true, but equally, we are closer to our repair yards. The early Succession Wars taught us how rapidly fleets can be consumed in warfare if both sides fight without restraint.”
“Our ships are -”
Aidan cut Diana off again, he would probably need to apologize to her later but she was doing her job well. “If our fleets are cut loose, then both of us will likely see those warships destroyed - after they each do great harm to both side. There is no ComGuards officer here to confirm whether they are willing to see their fleet smashed in such a fashion, but let us say that they are… that leaves Clan Wolf’s fleet, reinforced by that of the Zeerga they have taken back, and the Diamond Sharks and the Bears.” He paused. “In time you can replace those losses, but it would take time, and resources. Just as we can replace our own losses over time. You wish to face that cost, quineg?”
“It seems your honor code doesn’t mean very much to you,” Adam accused.
Diana bristled but it was Kael who spoke out. “You are the ones pushing us, do not be surprised if we push back.”
Aidan shook his head. “Calmly, everyone. It matters less how we reached this point than how we go forward.”
“Is this where we open bidding?” Galen asked shrewdly.
“I think that we already have.” The prince eyed Aidan thoughtfully. “What are you bidding for, Khan Pryde? Not just Sudeten, I think?”
“I offer an alternative to a campaign that would cost us much,” he agreed. “I am not prepared to join your Federated Commonwealth, as the Nova Cats have, but I am willing to offer a proxy trial over our interests.”
“I am listening.”
“If we win the trial, then this becomes our border up until, oh let us say 3066 - the date when the ceasefire agreed on Coventry would have expired,” Aidan suggested. “You broke that ceasefire but I cannot entirely blame you and I think the Nova Cats would restrain you from doing so again. And they hold most of our current border with you, so it would be difficult to work around them.”
“As you said, how we got here matters less than what happens now,” Victor conceded, without apologizing for the abrupt end of a ceasefire that should have had years to run.
“You’d only be ceding worlds that you’ve already lost,” Adam Steiner pointed out sharply.
Aidan gave him an amused look. “That is why it would depend on our victory, Marshal Steiner.”
“And if we lose, you leave the Inner Sphere.”
Kael Pershaw snarled, a truly horrifying look on his artificial face. “Never!”
“More than I can offer,” Aidan admitted. “However, I can offer a border much more favorable to you. Clan Jade Falcon would withdraw to Twycross and other worlds corewards of that system, in an organized fashion so that you can reclaim the worlds smoothly. And with a truce until 3066, you would have a long border against Clan Wolf, one that opens the opportunity to reach worlds like Tamar. I think this is a better offer than your Ryan Steiner had from the Wolves, quiaff?”
“Better does not not necessarily make it good enough.” But the prince sounded interested. Reports suggested that Ryan Steiner was a rival of the current Archon - not a serious threat now but at least of sufficient note that he could not easily be removed. The chance to outshine him was a useful card to play, Aidan thought cynically. Crichell’s advice of learning to play poker was paying off.
Adam Steiner shook his head. “I’m not leaving Somerset under your rule, Pryde.”
“Somerset?” A fairly minor world on the edge of the occupation zone, notable mostly for its military academy. Then realization dawned. “Ah, you are that Adam Steiner - Nikolai Malthus’ nemesis. He saw that children’s show about you and he, it was most amusing - his reactions, not the show itself.”
That got a chuckle from Galen and even the prince looked amused, although he hid it as his kinsman looked accusingly at the junior of the three officers.
“The exact borders are negotiable,” he continued. “However, Somerset is quite a way past the border. If you want that level of concession, I would want something more from you.”
“Isn’t that why it would depend on our victory?” demanded the older of the two Steiners.
“Touche. However, I am not asking you to cede back worlds like Benfled that you have recently regained. There are limits on both of us.” Aidan sat back in his chair. “I will stake additional worlds - let us say between the Nova Cat border and Wotan - if you are willing to fight under less than favorable terms.”
Adam seemed about to speak up again but Victor clasped his arm in restraint. “What trial do you have in mind, Khan Pryde. We have considerable forces at our disposal.”
“Since we are embracing restraint,” Aidan offered with a confident smile, “How about unaugmented.”
“What do you mean, unaugmented?” Galen frowned in confusion.
“Here and now, the six of us,” Diana clarified.
“I will bid away Kael Pershaw,” Aidan corrected her. “To fight with even numbers would be too unbalanced, but two on three is still better than even odds for us.”
“Are you telling me you want to stake dozens of worlds on a fist fight?” exclaimed Adam.
“Including your homeworld,” Aidan agreed. “It would be acceptable to my people, and it keeps your forces fresh to fight the Wolves.”
Victor pushed back his seat. “No weapons,” he proposed.
“That is what unaugmented means,” Diana told him contemptuously.
“And no killing anyone who can’t fight back.”
“I ought to punch you out and drag you to the shuttle,” Galen protested. “We could send for one of the escort.”
“By that logic,” Kael pointed out, “We could send our Khan away and replace him with an elemental.”
Victor started removing his uniform tunic. “No, I think I like these terms as it is.” He indicated Pershaw’s cybernetics. “I would have second thoughts if you were fighting, but three on two seems reasonable given the stakes.”
The old warrior huffed in a proud way. “Do you accept me as oathmaster for this?”
“There is no need to draw a circle,” Aidan declared. “The whole room is suitable - leaving serves as disqualification, as does use of a weapon. I accept the prince’s restraint on harming the helpless - and whatever the outcome, both sides are free to leave under hegira, so there will be no taking of bondsmen.”
“Agreed.” Victor extended his hand over the table and they shook hands.
There was a brief moment as the three FedCom officers removed their tunics for freedom of movement. Aidan and Diana removed their ceremonial helmets, cloaks and jackets as well. Meanwhile Pershaw pointedly moved all the chairs into a corner. “Improvised weapons are still weapons,” he pointed out. “Unfortunately, we are not getting the table out of here in a hurry.”
“Make sure the door is closed,” Aidan instructed him. “It would probably offend the people of the Federated Commonwealth to see their prince beaten by a Khan.”
“You assume that you won’t be the one beaten,” Victor snorted.
Aidan assessed the three opponents and then nodded slightly in the prince’s direction.
Pershaw retreated to the door and stood with his back to it. “You may begin,” he directed.
Diana was across the table like lightning and Victor cried out in surprise as he was sent sprawling.
The khan was slower off the mark and found the leap more than he was entirely comfortable with, but he managed to pivot on his hands and kick Adam Steiner in the chest with both boots.
The Marshal staggered back and Aidan managed to land before Adam was back on balance. Catching a clumsy punch with his forearm, Aidan jabbed the other man below the ribs, then caught him by the shoulder, ramming him into the table. He heard the man’s nose break and the cry of pain.
Diana was tangling with Galen Cox but the prince was back on his feet and went for Aidan, feinting for the older man’s face and then landing two blows against his ribs.
Using his greater reach, Aidan turned and delivered a side kick that hurled Victor across the room. Diana saw him coming and managed to turn a block into a throw that didn’t get Galen off his feet but did put him in the projectile prince’s path.
The two crashed into each other, the larger man on top. Aidan heaved him up and then tried to drive him face-first into the wall.
Recovering his wits, Galen threw his feet up and braced them against the wall. He straightened them sharply and the pair of them tumbled to the floor, barely missing the table. Aidan was vaguely aware of Diana stepping on Victor as she went for Adam Steiner, who was back on his feet.
Galen rolled on top of Aidan, getting one hand around the Jade Falcon’s throat. Lights seemed to flash in front of Aidan’s vision as he felt the strong hand tighten. They were under the table, he realized and got one knee up and between them.
With a sharp cry and all the breath left in his lungs, Aidan kicked and managed to force Galen up far enough that the Leutnant-General’s head crashed off the table. Wriggling free, Aidan saw that the other man looked groggy but wasn’t entirely out of the fight.
Victor took advantage of Aidan’s distraction and kicked him sharply in the side, snapping a rib.
Fighting through the pain, Aidan swept the prince’s legs out from under him and then grabbed Galen’s shoulder and upper arm. Wrenching sharply put the joint out of its socket. The man screamed in pain and Aidan hoped that leveled the numbers.
There was a yell of pain from the corner with the chairs and Aidan rolled under the table to get out and closer. He came out on hands and knees, seeing that Diana had been thrown against them by Adam Steiner.
The larger FedCom officer was about to hit her again but Aidan came up like a sprinter and cannoned into him, slamming the man against the wall with his shoulder. His ribs protested loudly, but with a scream of rage, Aidan grabbed Adam by shoulder and belt, hoisting him up onto both shoulders.
Adam clawed for Aidan’s face, but the khan had enough energy left to run across the room and heave.
Fortunately for the commander of the Twelfth Donegal Guards, they were fighting on the ground floor because the conference room windows weren’t armor glass. He crashed through it, landing on his back, out of the fight.
That was when Victor Steiner-Davion popped up and clubbed Aidan across his back with paired fists. He screamed in pain and dropped to his knees.
“Leave my father alone!”
Victor turned in time to catch a punch to the face from Diana that sent him staggering.
Aidan was left on the floor, trying to breath as the two young warriors pounded on each other. Victor’s lesser reach seemed to be offset by greater durability and both wore visible contusions before the Khan managed to get his feet under him, leaning heavily on the wall.
Seeing that he was about to be outnumbered again, the prince grabbed Diana by the front of her shirt and dragged her towards him. Two hard heads collided and Aidan saw both of them topple backwards onto the floor.
“I believe that decides it,” Pershaw declared, somewhat smugly.
“Is he out?” Aidan staggered over to the Prince. It could not be over like that, surely?
That was when Victor’s leg swung around sharply and Aidan’s own legs were swept out from under him. Fortunately he fell away from the table, but he barely caught himself on his hands.
Diana screamed something more animal than human and hauled herself upright to cannon into Victor. The short man half-caught her and spun the pair colliding with the table. Aidan saw the prince grab his daughter by the back of her head.
“Would -” Slam! “- you -” Slam! “- stay -”
The sequence was cut off when Aidan got his feet under him and drove a punch into the side of Victor’s face. He thought he might have broken a finger, but the younger man went reeling.
Diana slid bonelessly to the floor.
Aidan caught Victor by his shirt front and gave him a shake to make sure he had his attention. With the eye that was out of Pershaw’s view, he winked once and then drew back his right hand for the most telegraphed punch he could manage.
He wasn’t entirely sure if the message got through because the next moment he was doubled over in agony as the prince drove his knee up between Aidan’s thighs. Keeling over sideways it was all he could do from cracking his head on the carpeted floor.
“Any… anyone else?” he heard as if in the dim distance.
“Apparently not,” Pershaw rasped. “I acknowledge your victory. As Khan Pryde will, if he survives this.
“...am not dead,” he whispered. “Jus’ beaten.”
“Yes.” The old loremaster stepped away from the door. “I will call for medics, Prince Victor. Perhaps you could reassure your escorts.”
The prince wiped his mouth, blood coming from a split lip. “Yes, yes I will do that.”
Pershaw stalked over to Aidan and offered him a hand up, the cold metal digging into the flesh of Aidan’s fingers.
“What was that about?” he hissed. “I have seen you fight, my khan.” The title was heavy with sarcasm. “You could have finished him.”
Aidan leant heavily on his old enemy. “We could not afford to win,” he whispered. “The Council would not accept that, though.”
Pershaw dragged him out of the room and pushed him towards a bench outside. “The Council may kill you anyway. You have lost us an empire.”
“We can win another,” Aidan told him as he accepted being laid out on the bench. “Bryn Cooper agreed to help - there are periphery realms we bypassed on our way to the Inner Sphere. Conquer them and we will have the basis for an empire across a thousand light years. We will own the Exodus Road.”
“... clever,” the loremaster admitted. “You were always clever, Pryde. Too clever, much of the time. We will talk more about this in private.”
Medics entered the hallway, accompanied by the prince and two of his escort, still in battle armor. “The other guy,” Victor declared a little smugly, gesturing to Aidan.
It hurt to laugh. It hurt so very very much.
