Avalon City, New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Suns

19 July 2764

"Sir. The Minister of Intelligence is on line three for you," Owen reported.

John closed down the report on education levels along the outer edge of the Suns – for all the concerns about wars, civil or otherwise, there was still the mundane business of government to deal with – and turned to the video phone. "Francesca," he greeted her as the screen lit up. "Has something gone wrong?"

"I couldn't say, but you did ask to be kept up to date about any developments affecting President Amaris."

John straightened. "I did indeed. What have you learned?"

"It seems that he's intending to depart Terra for Apollo," the Minister of Intelligence reported. "And not for a brief visit – all indications are that this will be his first extended absence from the capital in more than ten years. His departure is expected before the end of the week."

John took a deep breath. This sounded unfortunately similar to what Hanse could recall of the events from his history. "Do we have any idea why he's decided to leave – some argument with the First Lord?"

"That's possible, sire. We know he has had sequential meetings, first with General Kerensky and then with the First Lord. Lord Cameron is reportedly quite upset about the decision."

"And Kerensky?"

"It's hard to say. His staff are extremely loyal and he went to Fort Cameron almost immediately." The minister paused. "Sire, if you have any additional information from your other sources then my analysts might be able to assemble a better picture of what's going on."

"Other sources, minister?"

"Respectfully, sire, there are a couple of times where you've been just a little too accurate in pointing us towards data for it to be guesswork – I'm assuming that House Davion have their own private informants outside of normal channels." She hesitated again. "By the writ you set up for my office, the Ministry ought to be receiving all intelligence data, whatever the source."

John laughed. "Even if the source is the First Prince, eh? I'm sorry to disappoint you, Minister, but there's no secret. Just my own personal analysis of events."

Reznick's lips twisted. "Sire, Military Intelligence have been looking for the source of some of the raids on the outer reaches of the Suns for decades, but the data that let us narrow down an approximate location of the so-called 'Dominion' was you and I can't trace it back any further." She met his gaze. "I understand protecting sources, sire, but the entire premise behind my Ministry is that we needed a wider view of events than that which MI2 was providing. If information is being withheld, I can't offer you assurance that we're giving you the best possible data."

The trouble with sharp subordinates was that sometimes you cut yourself on them, John thought ruefully. "If there were such a source, Minister, hypothetically, then let us suppose that it was something that had no material records whatsoever. And that it concerned a handful of data points so sensitive that they were only discussed in person and never with an absolute and definite need to know."

"That's no way to run an intelligence operation, sire. Hypothetically."

"Think of it as a classification that matches the old saying, Francesca. The one along the lines of two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead."

Her eyebrow arched. "I know the word is abused, but do you mean that literally?"

"I'm sure you don't expect me to answer that. You can speculate, of course, but privately."

"I… see. Or rather I don't but this will likely keep me up at nights wondering."

"Your curiosity is one of your key qualities, Francesca." John paused and coughed. "Anyway, we were discussing Stefan Amaris and reactions to his departure. Based on your Ministry's analysis it seems very likely that anti-Star League sentiment in the Rim Worlds Republic is just as strong as it is in the other territorial states, correct."

"While MilInt has limited infiltration of the Republic, our available sources confirm that."

"The insurgency movements in all three of the other Territorial States all have appear to have at least tacit support from the governments – again, nothing's proven, but it's very likely that information and even material is being provided. What's the end goal?"

Reznick considered that for a moment. "There's no hope of a military solution against the SLDF. It's just too strong. My assumption has always been that they were hoping the expense and effort of keeping the peace would force the Star League to change the policies that have been put in place. The, if you'll excuse me, the very short-sighted policies."

"You're not wrong on that last point – and I supported some of them so I can't look elsewhere for blame. Of course, the weakness with that is that the SLDF is disproportionately supported from the Terran Hegemony, so the costs don't impact the other five member-states to a great effect. A super-majority of the Council, in other words, have no driving reason to do as the Periphery lords hope. And having attended Council meetings with them, they're fully aware of that."

"So what do they hope to gain?"

"Let's look again at the Rim Worlds Republic. Why are they different from the others?"

"That's their traditional position – House Amaris were founded by a Terran ambassador to the Republic, they've always considered themselves to be at least half Terran. I believe Lord Amaris actually has citizenship in the Hegemony."

"Yes, but what's that ever got them. Their personal loyalty to the League didn't sway the rest of the Republic and even when the SLDF forced the Rim Worlders to bow to House Amaris' wishes, they didn't get treated as equals. In short, they've been treated the same as the Calderons, Centrallas and Avellars – rulers of conquered provinces, retained simply to retain a layer of legitimacy. A pretty weak layer of legitimacy."

"So you don't think that Lord Amaris is actually loyal to the Star League, sire?"

"I am speculating, I admit that. But if we accept that the arms shipments you've been trying to trace are actually going to the Periphery to support insurgencies, then someone very well connected is covering for them. And who's the most prominent representative of any Periphery state in the Hegemony?"

"Stefan Amaris." Reznick's mind was ticking over rapidly. "He's not just the First Lord's confidante, he's met practically everyone who is anyone in the upper levels of the Hegemony and the Star League's government and business circles. And even if someone wouldn't do a favour for him, all he'd have to do is drop a hint that he's acting on Lord Cameron's behalf and he'd have a lot of credibility. If he really is the Periphery's inside man then he's in position to do an immense amount of damage."

"There's no proof, of course. Suspicion is far from enough to do anything directly, and even if I had some evidence, it would need to be incredibly damning in order to convince the First Lord. We'd be accusing his closest friend, someone who's almost a second father to him. Anything short of a personal confession by Amaris would likely be rejected." John took a deep breath, "This could all be wrong, of course, but if it isn't… then why would he leave Terra?"

Francesca Reznick grimaced. "The only plausible reason in that scenario would be that they've reached a stage of operations where an inside man is no longer useful. Respectfully, sir, that's a worrying proposition."

"Oh, I can think of worse."

"I'm quite terrified to ask."

John met her worried gaze with her own. "We agree that there's no way the Periphery can defeat the SLDF as it stands, but the SLDF is highly dependent upon the Terran Hegemony. So is everything in the Star League – it was deliberately set up that way. So, how could the Periphery states eliminate the Terran Hegemony as a factor?"

.o0O0o.

LXII Corps HQ, Kaiyuh

Crucis March, Federated Suns

18 October 2764

"So that's the latest development in the house militaries," McGuinness' staff intelligence officer reported. "It's unlikely to impact on us directly, but if a Lyran formation does turn up here, remember that from the regimental level up they'll be significantly larger than unit designations suggest."

"Also unwieldy as all hell," the Corps Commander noted. "God in heaven, can you imagine trying to ship a sixty-four 'Mech battalion anywhere?"

"To be fair, at other levels it wouldn't be out of line," General Delacroix noted. "Just treat one of their regiments as an understrength brigade or a brigade as a division in all but name."

"That's just going to be even more confusing," complained McGuinness. "Probably the idea, actually, the Archon might be trying to confuse force listings when sanity breaks out and the Star League Council put some arms limitations back in place. Sooner or later this arms' race has got to hit the limits of what they can afford. Is there anything else on the docket?"

"Nothing from my office, ma'am," the intelligence officer confirmed.

"Right. Well that brings us to the immediate future." Standing, McGuinness moved over to the wall display and zoomed out until not only her own operational area but also the entire Taurian Concordat was visible. "We've had an advisory for Headquarters to draw up plans for a possible redeployment."

Delacroix smiled slightly. "My 225th, the Corps or the entire Army?"

"The army."

"Merde."

"Quite." McGuinness' face was set. "We all hoped that the SAS busting the headquarters of the TFA on Camadeierre would give the insurgents across the border second thoughts, unfortunately every other band of terrorists in the Concordat seems determined to make up for the lack of that particular group." She shrugged. "So while nothing's been confirmed, the Commanding General has given advance warning that if things continue to deteriorate he's going to reinforce Nineteenth Army and declare martial law across the Concordat?"

"Can he do that?" asked the staff legal officer. "It would need -"

"I think we can assume that General Kerensky wouldn't put it in a briefing if he wasn't sure he could," McGuinness cut the junior officer off. "General Baptiste has given us and outline and we need to be ready to move fast if the order is given."

She took a laser pointer and ran it along the Taurian border with the Federated Suns and the Capellan Confederation. "Once the order is given, the first step will be to relocate the armies in question to cantonments along the Taurian borders – secure bases for future operations. House Liao is likely to squeal, so be grateful that we're not having to deal with them. The First Prince is much less likely to object given how co-operative he is in general. My understanding is that if SLDF bases don't have enough capacity, AFFS bases may be loaned to us for the purposes."

"So we move to reinforce the 101st Jump Infantry on the border?" asked Delacroix, pointing to where the nearest of the LXII Corps divisions to the Concordat was stationed on Armington.

"Not quite. We'll use those bases as transit points, but we're just preparing them for units further away. "Third Army will be staging into those bases and as soon as they arrive we're to continue our movement and join forces with the other three Corps of Fourth Army at the spinward end of LXX Corps' usual operational area." She circled the region in question.

"Two entire armies would seem sufficient," her Chief of Staff said thoughtfully, "but that would leave half the border so I assume there's more."

"Spot on, Douglas. Our neighbours in Sixth Army will be consolidating into XXXVII Corps hunting grounds to cover the far end of the border and Seventh army will leap frog them to join us in LXX Corps sector. Added to the Nineteenth Army inside the Concordat and that's near enough a quarter of the SLDF's strength. Back in the Reunification War it took twelve divisions to bring the Taurians to heel – well now we're going to have just over a hundred."

"Now maybe they'll do the smart thing when they see what's lined up. I wouldn't expect it, personally, but it could happen. Professionally, I hope it happens. But if it doesn't… then we'll be crossing the border. We don't have any plans for that yet, although we will need them ready so that's going to be an order of business in the next few months, but the movement plan comes first."

Delacroix cleared his throat. "If we do, as you say, cross the border then will you be remaining with us?"

"I damn well, better had." McGuinness jutted her jaw out. "I know my great-grandfather served here. I know the Taurians take issue with him and by extension, with me. That's not my problem and I don't care one way or the other about the Taurians. If HQ choose to recall me, I will protest it."

"If they're trying to persuade the Taurians to stand down then you could be a bit… inflammatory." Douglas Pardoe shrugged when she glared at him.

"Maybe. I'll grant you that maybe it might have an effect. But we've tried sweet reason for a long time and I don't think the Taurians are likely to listen. But force – or the threat of force – should. And just maybe, when that happens, the lords on the Star League Council will look at it and remember that we're not just here to keep the Periphery in line. That thought could get it through to them, with a bit of luck, that they need to start thinking very hard about the decisions they've been making."

"Because if they start mobilising then we're the ones who will shut them down. And none of them, not one of them, wants to be the next one that this happens to."

McGuinness' grimly determined face reminded her staff all too well of another face, one from the historical holovids. Their corps commander's great-grandfather, General Amos Forlough, had been one of the most noted officers in the SLDF's first generation, the generation that had fought the long and bloody Reunification War. History recorded that he'd commanded both the war effort against the Outworlds Alliance and later that against the Taurian Concordat with great success… but also with unparalleled brutality compared to his peers on either side of the conflict.

.o0O0o.

New Avalon Military Academy, New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Suns

1 November 2764

The BattleMech on display this time wasn't a cutting edge prototype, or at least, not exactly. It moved with certainty and the blocky profile made it clear that this wasn't intended as a specialist unit but more for tough, frontline operations.

"It looks like a Warhammer knock-off," Joshua muttered from beside his father.

"Actually, the Warhammer was a Terran copy of it," John corrected him.

"I know, dad. But that's what everyone's going to think. And the Warhammer replaced this, so it's a knock-off."

"For those facing it, young sir, we don't mind that impression," advised the representative from Achernar. James Barrowcliffe had served twenty years with the SLDF and then another ten years with the AFFS as an instructor before the Federated Suns' premier BattleMech manufacturer had made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Or at least, he would have been mad to decline – his salary was comparable to that of a Marshal and most of all, he had a chance to play with all the newest 'Mechs in development while the AFFS had been about to retire him from active piloting due to his age and a suspicious heart flutter on his annual physical.

"But those piloting it should know better. The basic design is three hundred years old but there are still Battleaxes in secondline service in some units. And the reason the design was copied is because it's sound – you drive a Marauder, right?"

Joshua nodded. "Sure."

"So what are you complaining about PPCs in each arm for?" Barrowcliffe turned back to John. "The original had LRMs launchers in the chest, so they could alternate fire with the PPCs – the heatsinks weren't enough to handle sustained PPC fire. Well now we have modern cooling technology, the same ones used in the Emperor assault 'Mechs Star Corps sells to the AFFS, so that's not an issue. We replaced them with short range missile launchers like the one mounted up above the right shoulder to provide a cohesive short-range punch – twelve tubes in total. That's as much as a Javelin or a Whitworth."

John nodded. "I noticed that and I recall that a lack of short-range firepower was one of the reasons the Battleaxe was originally retired, but another was the armour protection."

"Sire, we are way ahead of you. This using Norse-34 plating instead of the original StarGuard X and we allocated more weight to protection as well. The chest plate section is between twenty-two and forty-five percent thicker, depending on angle, than the original. That's comparable to your son's Marauder."

"Well if it's sufficient for the First Prince and his heir, that's quite respectable," John agreed, amused at how Joshua had turned away and was counting under his breath.

"And then there's the cap de' resistance," the ex-SLDF sergeant revealed. "Don't ask me where they got this, but the electronics… I'd swear they're on par with SLDF line hardware."

"That's rather impressive." John knew exactly how Achernar had come by the electronics, but he wasn't about to discuss that in public.

Barrowcliffe beamed. "So would you like to give it a try?"

"Ah, I stay current but I'm hardly test pilot material," the prince demurred.

"You shouldn't need to be – it's fully specced for production standards. This is exactly what we'll be supplying when it's accepted for service." The older Mechwarrior grinned. "I suppose I should say if, but a little bird tells me that this demonstration is mostly for form's sake."

He was right about that. Forming the four Crucis Dragoon regiments had tapped out a lot of the available heavy and assault weight BattleMechs in stores and if the plans to double the strength of the formation went through, with the idea of maintaining them as the equivalent of their SLDF counterparts, then demand for heavy 'Mechs would spike again.

John was about to decline the offer when he saw Hanse grinning and nodding. "Well, maybe just once around the testing track," he conceded. "I do have other commitments today." I should really give it a try before asking our soldiers to use them, he justified the decision to himself.

With the academy facilities on hand it didn't take long to outfit the Prince with a cooling vest and a neurohelmet. As a jeep carried him out to the feet of the Battleaxe, he found Hanse – perched beside him – was similarly dressed.

"Eager for a ride?" he murmured, counting on the sound of the jeep's engine to prevent the driver from overhearing him.

"Yes, I am," the 31st century Mechwarrior admitted. "I can't eat or drink, my wife isn't here and you're literally the only other person I have to talk to – which is nothing against you, but riding a 'Mech, even as a passenger, is one of the few experiences left for me."

Rather than a ladder – although it was embarrassing to be treated as if he were old and decrepit, the First Prince was too valuable to risk him losing his grip and falling several metres – John was lifted up to the cockpit and clambered into the cockpit. Hanse darted past Barrowcliffe and clung to the back of John's seat, where there probably wasn't actually room for him. The Battleaxe's cockpit hadn't been designed with all the modern amenities and displays that were standardised now, and fitting them had left it a little cramped.

Still, there were worse. Family legend had it that the reason the Suns didn't build the Stinger, alongside the Wasp one of the most common light 'Mechs in use, simply because Nikolai Rostov – father of the traitorous general who had been Alexander Davion's last rival in the Davion Civil War – had been unable to fit inside the cockpit when the Hegemony manufacturers sent an example of what they hoped to export to the Suns. Perhaps that was just a myth – John had never been in a Stinger himself, but the head was certainly slim enough to make it plausible.

Barrowcliffe leaned in and went through slight variations from standard controls that the Battleaxe sported. The primary triggers on each joystick were for the respective PPCs, the secondaries for the missile launchers in the chest, while the right thumb controlled the shoulder mount – very similar to the layout of his Marauder. Assured that John was confident about what he would be doing, the test pilot pulled back and the cockpit sealed, air pressure building slightly as the environmental systems kicked in and over-pressurized in case of any external smoke or worse, any chemical agents. Not very likely on a test track, but you trained the way you expected to fight.

John pressed the activation bar on the fusion reactor and felt it rumble to life beneath him. They must have expected someone to accept the offer to try it out because instead of the usual voice print checks, the security was restricted to a pair of keys that had been the hands of Barrowcliffe and the pilot who had carried out the earlier demonstration.

"Let's go," Hanse urged eagerly.

"Hold your horses." John ran the basic diagnostic checks first, checking that all systems were good to go. It occurred to him that someone would be monitoring him on the radio and chuckled. Fortunately he'd not said anything suspicious. Who wouldn't be eager, under these circumstances?

Finally assured that he was fully prepared, he pushed down with his feet and seventy tons of metal moved at his command, striding forwards across the training ground.

Hanse cheered loudly. "I missed this, have them set up targets for you to shoot."

John shook his head but after they'd completed a half-circle of the track, a target indicator popped up anyway, simulating a hostile 'Mech – amusingly enough given his earlier musing, a Stinger. "Track control, am I cleared to fire on the target."

"Roger that, sire. Show it what for!"

"I'm surrounded by children," John said with fake disapproval and moved the joysticks to centre the crosshairs over the simulated Stinger. On impulse he closed his fingers on all the triggers, unleashing a complete alpha strike. The interior of the cockpit grew close and unpleasantly warm in response, the limbs of the Battleaxe moving sluggishly as the heat of the weapons fire sapped the effectiveness of the myomers – but the target had vanished in a very satisfying flash, just as a real Stinger would have if struck by such a tight salvo.

"Nice shooting," Hanse encouraged him. "Are you going to try to try the jump jets?"

It was an immobile target, John reminded himself. Nothing to be too excited about. "I've not jumped a 'Mech since I graduated from NAMA," he said, half to track control and half to Hanse. "I think I'll refrain from putting these to test."

.o0O0o.

Court of the Star League, Unity City

Terra, Terran Hegemony

12 February 2765

"The problems of the Periphery are problems of our making," John warned. "Some of them date back to before I was part of this Council, but I've seen some of them come to pass." He looked around the table – Minoru Kurita was deputising for his father, Kenyon Marik sat between the Combine's heir and the First Lord (who was resting one elbow on the table). Closer sat Barbara Liao and Robert Steiner.

When did I become the old man at this table – by God, it's been twenty years since I first sat here?

"Not one of you was here for the vote to remove the Edict of 2650 or to approve the Tax Bill of 2753. I can tell you now that they are among my most serious regrets." He looked across at Kenyon, partly hoping that his appeal would find some traction with the young Captain-General and partly to avoid looking at Hanse, as the redhead had wrapped ghostly fingers around Minoru's neck and was attempting to strangle the oblivious samurai. "We have a chance to rectify the mistakes that I and your forefathers made. I therefore ask for your support in removing the taxes imposed in 2753 and placing a new cap upon the military forces permitted to the Star League's member-states."

There was a pause as he sat down. He hadn't expected applause, but would someone at least respond?

Richard Cameron moved his arm suddenly. "Ah. Uh, thank you for your proposal. Who wishes to speak next?"

Had he even listened? John thought bleakly.

Beside the First Prince, Robert Steiner harrumphed. "I'm not convinced it would be fiscally responsible to overturn 2753. The League's budget has already required fresh taxes, as the First Lord put forwards eighteen months ago. Without that revenue, the various expenses of running the Star League… well, something has to give."

"Subtracting the costs – the vast costs – of the SLDF fighting a constant guerrilla war in the Periphery would more than counter-balance that. We've spent more supporting those efforts in the last ten years than we did paying for the entire Reunification War!"

"Well, if you don't adjust for inflation perhaps," the Archon shot back.

"You have an idealist's view of the Territories." Kenyon Marik spoke at last. "They don't respond to softness, only to violence. Perhaps you should turn your eloquence to the well-being of the SLDF's soldiers, Prince Davion. It's wasted on proles."

Not one of the four Territorial States was represented today. Amaris, of course, remained in self-imposed exile on Apollo, which had allowed seating arrangements to return to the traditional. The other three had cited the unsettled status of their states as reason to remain at their capitals to 'co-ordinate' with Kerensky's armies.

No one had called them on the fact that Kerensky was sufficiently convinced of their collusion with the insurgents that he had placed an embargo on any efforts to coordinate SLDF activity with local military forces or through the offices of the national governments.

"I am thinking of the soldiers – because if it does come to open warfare, they'll be paying the price for our high-handedness," John advised. "You're all aware by now that General Kerensky is planning to redeploy more than half of the SLDF out into the Periphery, barring any drastic improvement in the situation there. But you may not be aware of the opposition they'll be facing."

"The territories don't have fifty 'Mech regiments between them," the Marik reported scornfully, "And more than half of them are in the Republic where -" he nodded to the First Lord "- they needn't be considered hostile. Kerensky is taking more than thirteen hundred BattleMech regiments to the other three states, even before you consider the supporting arms. Calderon, Avellar and Centralla would be outnumbered something like seventy to one if they tried anything."

"It's closer to four or five to one," John told him. "And Kerensky will be fighting them on their home ground, which evens things out even more. He'll probably win but the butchers' bill will be a heavy one."

"You must be exaggerating," Barbara Liao said sharply. "Where would they find hundreds of regiments' worth of equipment from?"

"General Apfelbucher has had a few findings on that matter." He gestured to the door. "She's in the palace now – would you rather hear it from her than from me?"

"By all means, I'm rather sick of your voice," the Chancellor told him frankly.

It only took a few minutes for the head of the SLDF's Intelligence Command to arrive, standing in the middle of the horseshoe table where they could all see her.

Minoru spoke first. "General Apfelbucher, the First Prince has suggested that the Periphery has assembled some kind of 'Secret Army' that represents a sizeable fraction of the SLDF's strength – comparable to any of our individual House militaries in fact. Can you support this?"

"I can confirm that someone is, Lord Kurita," the white-haired woman replied politely. "And if it isn't someone at this table then that doesn't leave a long list of suspects."

"Start at the beginning," Richard told her testily.

"Of course, sir. My own command and Member-State Liaison began an investigation a few years ago. Military manufacture has been a booming industry since the days of your grandfather, Jonathon Cameron. Much of that has gone to the SLDF of course, and over the last ten years to the House militaries, but the numbers didn't seem to add up."

"What we found is a pattern of shipments that we couldn't pinpoint a recipient for. Small quantities individually, the sort of orders that might be made by corporate security forces or a mercenary outfit, but the buyers seem to be shell companies, existing only on paper. To give an example, a shipment of twelve Firestarter light 'Mechs was ordered from Coventry Metal Works in 2759, in the name of a company registered in the Hegemony. We've followed the 'Mechs as far as Alarion but as far as the paperwork shows, they should still be in a warehouse there. They aren't, of course."

Barbara Liao sneered. "A few 'Mechs here or there don't add up to Davion's alarmist predictions."

"Individually, small shipments. In total the numbers are much higher, Chancellor. Saroyan Special Production, on your own homeworld, has sold over four hundred atmospheric fighters in the last ten years to companies we've been investigating – never more than thirty at a time, but it adds up. And heavy military equipment like this is just the tip of the iceberg. The quantities of first rate infantry gear that we can't account for is even larger."

"What sort of numbers are we looking at?" asked Minoru thoughtfully.

"You're correct to compare this to the size your own forces, sir." Apfelbucher twitched a control wand and a set of charts popped up on the holo-display. "There's enough equipment here for six hundred or so regiments, perhaps a quarter of them BattleMechs. If that's split across all three of the current battle zones it would represent near parity of strength with the individual SLDF armies that make up normal garrisons. If all of them are located in only one of them, then it could be as high as sixty or seventy percent of the forces on hand if General Kerensky's proposed redeployments go through."

"Let's not fool ourselves," John warned. "If this comes to a fight then the SLDF won't have an easy fight on their hands. Casualties will be in the tens of thousands, at least. That's young men and women from our worlds, bleeding and dying because we've gouged the Periphery like pigs at a trough. There's very little opportunity left to avoid that."

"I have to disagree," Minoru said slowly. "Thank you, General," he added to Apfelbucher. "I have no further questions, but I hope you'll share your findings with the ISF?"

"We've been sharing data with all national agencies," she confirmed. "My report is available in today's classified data archive."

"You're dismissed, general." Richard waved his hand at her. In a wonder of patience he waited for the doors to close before standing. "How dare they!?"

"They -"

"And how dare you," he continued, pointing at John. "How dare you suggest appeasement? The Captain-General is right, completely. These traitors have been plotting rebellion, and you think that sweet words and tax cuts are in order?"

"I've seen war, Lord Cameron. I've begun a war once. No soldier in their right mind considers war anything but a last resort."

"And I have seen the SLDF in action," the First Lord replied. "I spent three months with General Kerensky observing the PERSUASIVE FORCE exercises eight years ago, right on the frontlines. More forces were amassed for that training exercises than everything you and Chancellor Liao committed to your so-called war. It's time for the Periphery to see that might first-hand. My lords, I call the vote on Prince Davion's proposals and I vote nay."

"Nay," agreed Kenyon Marik and a moment later Barbara Liao repeated the same word. Half of the council against, which made the decision even before Robert joined them in opposing the abolition of the taxes and of re-instatement of arms limitations.

"Lord Kurita?" asked Cameron.

"On balance, I abstain." Minoru shrugged. "I am personally as shocked as you to hear that the Periphery has built up such forces, but my father has spoken alongside Lord Davion in the feeling that perhaps some of the measures that they voted for during Kerensky's regency were less than well thought out. It would be unfaithful of me to vote against wishes of my father but nor can I sanction treason by the territorial states."

Unseen by anyone but John, Hanse Davion jumped up onto to the table and kicked Minoru full in the face. It had no effect, of course.

"Very well. The council has voted and I accept your decision." He closed the folder with his proposed legislation and set it inside. "I take it then that General Kerensky has approval to move his forces out to reinforce the garrisons in the Concordat, the Alliance and the Magistracy?"

Minoru nodded. "I suggest we approve by acclamation. Do I hear opposition?"

No one spoke. Marik nodded, as did Robert Steiner, albeit grudgingly. The Coordinator's son rose to his feet and turned to face Richard squarely. "First Lord Cameron, it is the unanimous opinion of the Council that the SLDF should carry out the recommended troop movements and be placed on a war footing."

Richard Cameron nodded sharply. "I will have my aides prepare the order for us all to sign before we conclude today's session."

I wonder, John thought, how long it will take for anyone else to realise the size of the precipice we just stepped off.

.o0O0o.

Sidebar: History of the Lyran Commonwealth

"The original banner of the Commonwealth was the Lyre, to show they're a bunch of fiddlers."

The Terran Alliance's three generations of stagnation produced a new wave of migrants as the victims and losers of 23rd century politics made an exit. However, the commercial availability of starships also provided a lure of profit. The scattered colonies desperately needed trade to survive and this offered wealth and power to those who could deliver it.

In the Coreward-Anti-Spinward sector of human space, the Tamar family had an early advantage, having an established trading network they quickly transitioned to providing anti-piracy defences after the fall of the Alliance. Before the end of the century, Ian McQuistion had transformed Skye Traders into the Federation of Skye and shortly afterwards his one-time protégé Seth founded the Protectorate of Donegal. The reformation of the Terran Alliance into James McKenna's Terran Hegemony in 2314 marked an upswing in trade, leading to increasing industrialisation by Skye (which was surrounded on all sides) and expansion of Donegal and Tamar with dozens of new colonies.

In 2339 Kevin Tamar brought the established links between the three states to a new level, proposing that they form a combined state that could compete with the much larger Draconis Combine on his border and the Free Worlds League that flanked the other two. While the basic agreement to form the Lyran Commonwealth was concluded in 2341, it took until 2346 to come to an agreement on the government structure and the merger of three distinct economies provide wildly problematic.

The original council of nine Archons also proved drastically corrupt and utterly unable to agree upon which of them should be first among equals (Archon Basilieus). In 2375, with the Tamar Pact on the brink of exiting the Commonwealth they themselves had formed, Seth Marsden's grandson Robert had had enough. Gathering evidence of his fellow Archons corruption he embarked on a tour of the Commonwealth to assess the results of efforts to stabilise the economy and secure support of planetary leaders. With this support, Marsden formally ousted his peers and became the sole Archon and absolute leader. A new constitution established the Estates General, dominated by his allies, and established a loose set of rights and responsibilities for member rules. Worlds that didn't comply were brought to heel with blockades or in eight cases by invasion. Both Tamar and Skye were among the eight.

Robert's brother and heir Alistair Marsden led the Commonwealth into the Age of War, dying victorious after the first great victories in holding back the Combine. His widow, Katherine Steiner, secured the support from the Estates-General and (to the gratitude of history students everywhere) resumed her maiden name, making the son Marsden had never known Alistair Steiner. House Steiner had arrived and while Margaret Olsen, wife of Alistair's younger son, almost repeated Katherine's feat in 2501, Robert Steiner successfully secured domination for his House after three years of civil war.

Like any dynasty, the Steiners have produced strong leaders and weak ones. Ironically the Star League has thus far posed the greatest threat to their rule. Archon Viola Steiner's absence to command the Rim Worlds front of the Reunification War exposed her family to an attempted coup and her berserk response severely damaged relations with the powerful rulers of Skye and Tamar. A generation later, the wealth and prosperity of the Star League persuaded many of the Estates-General that the Commonwealth should be disbanded with the Star League as the only government needed. Only a passionate appeal by Archon Kevin Steiner saved the Commonwealth as a unitary government.