Opalescent Reflections

Dealer's Choice

Chapter 15

CWS Dire Wolf, Unzmarkt

Clan Wolf Occupation Zone

13 July 3050

Ulric Kerensky watched the hologram of the Primus of ComStar wink out. Phelan had not known much about the woman, but Focht spoke of her with respect that was more than that of merely a loyal soldier. Given the verbal slapping she had just delivered to the Grand Council, the Khan of the Wolves admitted that he had underestimated her.

From the look on the ilKhan's face, he had made the same mistake. Well, if Leo Showers had been a fool he would not be a worthy foe.

Striking while the metal was hot, Ulric remained standing. "Khan Osis, there are many things that may be said of your conduct on Rasalhague. Some are matters for this Council, some for your own Clan Council. But there is one thing that is between you and I. You asked my consent to break your bid, quineg?"

The room fell silent. The use of orbital bombardment was detestable, and the consequences would be profound, but it was technically within the authority of a commander to use it. Breaking your bid without consent though? That was a matter of Clan law.

"Neg," Lincoln Osis admitted.

There was a long sigh from the Khans. That word alone ended Osis as a political player on the Grand Council. Ulric could ask for his execution now and probably get a favorable vote - although there might be a dangerous Trial of Refusal. However, a dead and disgraced commander would allow Clan Smoke Jaguar to escape much of the responsibility for his actions. A living one was another thing.

"Very well," Ulric conceded. "I understand that there were tactical considerations that would have made contacting me difficult. I will therefore simply assume this: that you were pre-emptively accepting any demand I made for you to resort to your second bid."

Using both the Saber Cat and two trinaries of aerospace fighters, heavily weighted with the Smoke Jaguars' new and prized Sabutai omnifighter, meant that Osis had not just resorted to the previous bid he'd made. He'd gone back to the bid before that, a choice that allowed Ulric to ask even more of him.

"As loremaster of the bidding for Rasalhague," Edmund Hoyt declared, "I claim the right to refute any truly excessive claim on this point. However… I recognise that Khan Kerensky is within his rights to demand significant compensation from Khan Osis."

For a moment, the Wolf considered demanding production rights to the Sabutai, but the Wolves were already well-equipped with heavy fighters. No, he would stick with his original plan to leave Lincoln Osis as a politically crippled reminder to the Smoke Jaguars.

"My price is this," Ulric informed the towering Smoke Jaguar Khan. "Your future. I claim your genetic legacy for Clan Wolf."

"Neg!" Osis exclaimed, eyes going wide.

Hoyt's gavel struck the desk he sat at. "You are out of order, Khan Osis. You have yielded all say on this matter."

The Khan gave his loremaster a betrayed look.

"One moment while I verify the extent of what you are claiming, Khan Kerensky." Hoyt continued. He tapped the console built into the desk, no doubt reminding himself of what Clan Smoke Jaguar's scientists had done with the genetic legacy of their Khan.

If the Khan was of Franklin Osis' legacy, then Ulric was sure his claim would have been denied. The first Khan of Clan Smoke Jaguar's descendants were the exclusive domain of his Clan and they would yield that up only over the dead bodies of much of their touman. It was about as likely as Clan Wolf giving up Ulric's own legacy and opening claims by an outside claim to the Kerensky bloodname. But Osis was one of the handful of bloodnames that was doubled - more than one of the founding warriors of the Clans had carried it. Lincoln Osis was a descendant of Franklin's cousin Terissa - and while no one outside Clan Smoke Jaguar had ever successfully claimed a bloodright in that house, the right to try had escaped their grasp generations ago.

The pause was long enough for the Khans to begin murmuring amongst themselves, hasty bargaining as they discussed what to do in the wider scale.

At last, the loremaster sat back. "No other Clan has thus far been allowed to create offspring of Khan Osis. House Nevversan have used his DNA in a patrilineal fashion, so this would impact them, but I judge the concession to be fair."

It wasn't possible for Lincoln Osis to truly pale, but he had an unhealthy pallor as he slumped into his seat.

Hoyt looked little better - Bloodhouse Nevversan would be enraged that Clan Wolf might be able to trial for their bloodrights. Most probably there would be a Trial of Grievance, followed by a Trial of Possession against Clan Wolf - to try and win those legacies back. "The scientist caste will be instructed to transfer his legeacy to Clan Wolf. What are your wishes regarding the sibkos created from his genetic material?" Hoyt continued. "Destruction?"

As tempting as it was to order them destroyed, Ulric knew that Phelan was watching. And not only would purging children destroy the trust he was beginning to get from that interesting bondsman, it would also get back to Focht and the Primus. "Neg. Have them sent to us as well. We aim for our offspring to surpass us - if Lincoln Osis' children can prove themselves wiser than he, then they may yet serve the Clans well."

"It that satisfies your personal business, Khan Kerensky, we may proceed to discuss the Grand Council's judgment, quiaff?" enquired the ilKhan sourly.

He bowed slightly and took his place. "Of course, ilKhan."

Showers stared at Osis for a long moment. "Lincoln," he said with forced calm. "Why did you not read the advisory?"

"How could I trust data provided by those spheroids?" Osis spat. "They have no understanding of honor - look at how they destroyed their HPG when it seemed Khan Weaver would take it."

Ulric shook his head. "Always listen to your enemies, Khan Osis. More carefully than you heed your allies."

Osis glared at him. "Do not provoke me, Kerensky. I have little left to lose by challenging you."

Showers raised his hand. "And then there is the decision to break your bid without obtaining consent."

"I could hardly wait! My warriors were dying! Kerensky would have spun it out indefinitely!"

Elias Crichell snorted. "So in short, none of this was your fault? How did you even become Khan?"

There was an uneasy silence and then Sarah Weaver spread her hands. "He defeated me in battle."

"There is more than that to leadership," Crichell told her.

"I am aware," the junior Khan said heavily. "The majority of the Clan Council wanted a fighter to lead us in the invasion."

"I propose that we censure the khan," offered Jocelyn Siddiq. The Burrock remained seated. "We have no right to remove him as Khan, there is ample precedent on that point. But we need not allow someone so incompetent to sit amongst us."

Edmund Hoyt tried very hard not to look interested, as well he might. For his part, Leo Showers nodded. "You are correct that Lincoln Osis has not technically exceeded the martial code… however much of a disappointment he has proven to be. Does anyone wish to speak against this motion?"

"Only to add a recommendation," Garth Radick spoke up. "The Smoke Jaguar Clan Council may wish to consider who ought to have restrained their Khan. The fact that he gave the orders does not excuse those who obeyed, or those who stood aside and allowed this to happen."

There were times Ulric was glad Radick was his saKhan, and this was one of them. While ostensibly directed at Weaver and Hoyt, it was also an oblique criticism of the ilKhan.

To his credit, Leo Showers nodded. "That is correct. And the conduct of Operation Revival is ultimately my responsibility. Khan Kerensky, your hospitality aboard the Dire Wolf has been exemplary. However, I shall move my staff aboard the Streaking Mist to provide the Smoke Jaguars with closer supervision."

"It has been our honor to serve as your command post," Ulric lied smoothly. Garth Radick smiled with similarly insincere regrets. Showers might be a fellow Crusader, but he was still a Smoke Jaguar and no Wolf clansman had enjoyed his presence on the Dire Wolf.

"Hearing no objections, I call the vote," the ilKhan declared.

Unsurprisingly, the vote went entirely against Osis and with a grimace, the man cut the feed from his location. A moment later and Edmund Hoyt's image (and part of the desk he was sat at) blinked across the chamber to occupy the space that Osis had occupied. By custom, if a khan was under censure, their place was taken by the loremaster.

"I recommend that Daskin Ward serve as interim Loremaster to the Grand Council," Ulric offered. There was no real chance that the still-Crusader-heavy Grand Council would accept the Wolf loremaster in the long run - most likely the Jade Falcons or the surprisingly effective Diamond Sharks would push for their loremaster to take up the position - but it would keep things going for now. And if Elias Crichell and Ian Hawker got into an extended contest to sit their own preferred loremaster then so much the better.

"Is that necessary?" asked Ian Hawker.

"I wish to propose a further measure," Karl Bourjon offered from where he had been sitting quietly.

Showers nodded. "Approved. Call him now."

It only took a moment for Ward to arrive and take his place.

"What is your proposal, Khan Bourjon?"

"I recommend a complete ban on orbital bombardment," the mechwarrior declared. "The Inner Sphere has no warships of their own, so our own serve no purpose but transport anyway. This level of barbarity should not be enabled."

"That is a sweeping statement," Showers observed. "Certainly it was not merited in this case."

Barbara Sennet rose to her feet. "I do not see any valid cause for the use of bombardment against cities and industrial centers. However, there may be exceptional cases where fortifications and military facilities could otherwise cost us significant losses. I oppose a blanket ban, just as I would if the idea was to ban the use of our 'mechs, our elementals or our aerospace assets."

"For circumstances like that, we have aerospace fighters," Bourjon pointed out. "And a ban would speak to the Inner Sphere of our sincerity."

"Words count for little, Karl," his saKhan pointed out. Theresa DelVillar was an elemental but one known for being much more reasonable than Lincoln Osis. "Actions are what matter."

Showers folded his arms. "Both sides have merit. Shall we vote?"

Ulric voted for the ban. The less chance of bringing the Inner Sphere to the point of using weapons of mass destruction, the better. If things became that indiscriminate, he doubted Clan Wolf would be spared as a target. Unfortunately, most of the Khans seemed to feel that Barbara Sennet had made a better point.

"My understanding is that the Saber Cat was seriously damaged during the bombardment of Reykjavik," DelVillar observed once the vote was called. "However, it remains part of the forces committed by Clan Smoke Jaguar. I propose that it should remain counted as such even if it needs to return to the homeworlds for repair."

Sarah Weaver glared angrily at the Ghost Bear. "The Saber Cat will need months simply to reach a yard, and it would be as long before a replacement arrived."

"And you'll have to fight for yardtime at Lum," Lynne McKenna warned her. The diminutive Snow Raven Khan did not appear intimidated at all. "I suspect other shipyards will be similarly reluctant to work on a dezgra vessel."

"One warship more or less will matter little as the Inner Sphere has none," the ilKhan said. "And the Saber Cat would likely be a target for further attacks. I approve of this interpretation of the forces committed."

Ian Hawker leant forwards. "On that topic… Khan Bourjon, Khan DelVillar, your touman remains in the homeworlds, quaiff?"

The two Ghost Bears exchanged looks and then nodded. "Aff, Khan Hawker," agreed Bourjon.

"I am formally requesting that as the primary reserve you deploy the three galaxies you bid to the Inner Sphere," the Diamond Shark told them. "If we have need of you, we may be in a situation where waiting months is not practical."

"Where do you propose that they stage to?" asked Timur Malthus derisively. "You will host them in your invasion corridor, quineg?"

"Aff," Sennet corrected him. For once the two Diamond Shark Khans seemed to be of one mind. "We offer basing rights on Richmond, a world we claimed in the first wave, for the duration of Operation Revival."

"We accept," DelVillar answered without waiting for her superior.

He nodded though. "The orders will be issued, Khan Hawker, Khan Sennet. Clan Ghost Bear thanks you for your hospitality."

"Do you anticipate the need for the reserve?" enquired Leo Showers.

Hawker looked reluctant, but then nodded. "Our losses have thus far been light but we are not currently fighting the best that the Inner Sphere has. That will change, and I refuse to underestimate them. In fact, I would be… interested in hearing what concessions would be sought by the assembled Khans to allow my Clan to bring their forces up to the second round bid for Operation Revival."

Ulric Kerensky could think of no word in his lexicon that would describe his fury at Ian Hawker in that moment, but inside his head he borrowed one particularly pungent spheroid term from his bondsman. Hawker, you motherfucker!

Black Pearl Base, Sudeten

Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth

21 July 3050

Sudeten's main spaceport was a hive of activity and two officers arriving without 'mechs were almost beneath notice. Victor Steiner-Davion was beginning to hope that he'd be able to avoid any formalities, when he was directed into the military annex and found a small number of officers waiting for him - three different formal uniforms representing the AFFC and two famous mercenary units.

"Victor." The first man to greet him had more gray in his beard than he had when they last met. "It's good to see you." Morgan Kell clasped the prince by the shoulders. "When I heard about Trellwan, I feared that your mother would have to go through what Salome and I have."

"I… at the time I hadn't really considered that," Victor admitted. "Has there been any news about Phelan? We know now that the Clans do take prisoners."

Morgan exhaled. "Officially, no. But unofficially, Primus Wei Rong sent Salome a private message. She said that the Clans have specifically prohibited anyone they consider a bondsman from sending messages home, and denied ComStar's request to inform families of the bondsmen that their loved ones are alive."

"That barbaric," Galen murmured. "I'm sorry, Colonel."

"No, Galen…" Victor explained, pleased for once to be the one quicker on the uptake. "The Primus would have no reason to send that message if she didn't have some information about Phelan being in their hands."

The old mercenary nodded. "Indeed. She's bending neutrality further than she should, but I cannot bring myself to complain."

Victor indicated his companion. "I'm sorry, I should make introductions. This is Kommandant Galen Cox, the man who got me off Trellwan."

"Kicking and screaming, as I understand it." The man who stepped forwards was also Victor's kinsman, though on the other side. Morgan Hasek-Davion towered above the rest of those present, his long red hair hanging over the epaulets that marked him as Marshal of the Armies - the most senior officer short of the First Prince and Archon in the AFFC.

"Screaming, yes," he allowed, embarrassed. "A dislocated arm will do that. I don't recall any kicking though."

"That sounds accurate," Galen agreed and saluted the Marshal crisply. "Sir."

"At ease, Kommandant." Victor's cousin returned the salute casually. "I'm glad to have some officers who've faced the Clans here. That experience may be badly needed."

Victor made a face. "Staff positions?" He supposed it made sense - both of them had left their 'mechs on Trellwan, and it would make them available for consultation - although honestly, it would make more sense to have hired some of the Wolf Dragoons. Their knowledge of the Clans might be out-of-date but it was far more in-depth than the few days of fighting that he'd had.

"If you'd like to spend time passing canapes and managing my calendar, I'm sure your parents would be happier," Hasek-Davion said teasingly. "I could give the company I had in mind for you to Kai instead."

"Kai!" Victor twisted to look around Morgan and recognised the most junir AFFC officer, who'd been self-effacingly hanging back. "It's good to see you again," the prince called and then looked at Morgan. "I'm not going to turn down a company, Morgan, but you know what a kicking we took on Trellwan."

"It's easier to learn from mistakes than from success," a gray-uniformed officer said sagely. "And no offense, Prince Victor, learning from your past mistakes will be cheaper for my troops than my own."

"Colonel Carlyle," the young prince offered him a salute. "It's an honor." Then he turned to the final officer, a brown-haired AFFC kommandant. "I don't think we've met?" There was something familiar about his face though.

"Adam Steiner," the kommandant identified himself and then shook his head slightly when Victor looked at him with an implicit question. "It's a distant connection, I went to the Nagelring as an instructor right after you graduated."

"And now you're here?" Victor asked, wondering if this was his new battalion commander.

The other Steiner glanced away. "I'm from Somerset. I requested a frontline assignment."

Somerset, Victor recalled, had fallen to Clan Jade Falcon even before Trellwan. It was on the fringes of the Commonwealth - known mostly for its small military academy and that the mentally ill Archon Simon Borge-Steiner had retired there after his abdication. Presumably, Adam's ancestor. "I'm sorry."

"Yes." His newly met cousin coughed, embarrassedly. "We're here to do more than be sorry. Since you made it out, maybe there's hope for my brother."

Morgan Kell nodded. "Indeed. We're here to hit back."

The other Morgan nodded. "Let me fill you in, Victor. I want both of you in the field, but in the meantime we'll be picking your brains. And yes, Kommandant Cox, there's a battalion waiting for you."

"Well, that's not something I'll turn down," Galen said. He sounded surprised though, which wasn't unreasonable. Most regiments preferred to promote up - shipping wasn't up to routinely moving officers between regiments. If a kommandant's slot was open for him, that would usually mean a hauptmann in that regiment was being passed over. Several hauptmanns in fact. "I've no 'mech though."

"Not any more," the Marshal told him. "The Archon is not ungrateful for your help, so there's a factory-fresh Hatchetman waiting for you. And unlike the one you were assigned before, this one is yours - not a loaner from the AFFC."

"Congratulations, Galen!" Owning their own mech was a big step for a mechwarrior. Almost enough to keep Victor from wondering what might be waiting for him. Almost.

Morgan Kell saw through him, of course. "You, on the other hand, lost a brand new Victor." He shook his head disapprovingly. "There's a clapped-out Warhammer in the hangar for you - but your mother says she wants it back. It's a family heirloom after all."

It only took a moment for Victor to grasp what that meant. "You mean… grandmother's mech?"

"Yeah," he said, eyes clouding over. "I think Katrina would want you to use it. Clovis Holstein came along and he's been refitting the cooling system while we were traveling. I'm almost sure he put it back together properly. There weren't too many components left over and we slapped some armor patches over the cracks. You can hardly tell the difference."

"You'll have to rush to get used to it," Adam warned. "We're leaving soon."

Victor looked over at him. "You said we're hitting back - Somerset?"

"Maybe next time," Hasek-Davion told them. "Our objective is Twycross. All the reports are that the Clans focus most of their forces in the advance, leaving fairly limited garrisons behind them. It'll be months before we have enough regiments in place to stop their advance - but the idea is to hit one of the worlds that just fell once their leading elements have moved on."

Victor considered the idea. "I see the logic… but are you planning to hold it?"

"Pulling the Jade Falcons back to fight for Twycross again might take some of the pressure off their advance," Kai offered, with his characteristic caution. "But the main goal is to gather information, maybe some salvage… and to evacuate tooling from the factories."

"That makes more sense. You've been in on the planning, Kai?"

"A little," the other young heir admitted in his usual self-deprecating manner. It was hard at times to remember that Kai was son of the First Prince's left-hand man and heir to the St Ives Compact - which might have been the smallest state in the Inner Sphere, but it was still a sovereignty in its own right.

"Our main concern is that the Jade Falcons may resort to using one of the warships," Colonel Carlyle warned. "Even all our forces combined don't have as many aerospace fighters as there were at Rasalhague."

Victor hunched his shoulders slightly. If there was anyone in the Inner Sphere who hadn't heard of the bombardment of Reykjavik, it was because they were avoiding the news. ComStar had spread the word - along with imagery of the aftermath, and the last data they had received from the destroyed HPG station. Although he'd left Terra before the news arrived, it had overtaken he and Galen on their way to Sudeten.

"Our orders there are clear," the Marshal told them. "If any Clan warship is encountered, we'll open communications and deliver an ultimatum directly to them: if any warship approaches bombardment range of a planet, we'll consider ourselves free to engage with nuclear weapons. And we won't be sending up a single squadron carrying them. Our task force will be taking enough to give a missile to each and every aerospace fighter we take, if that's what it takes. Whether they're a House Regular or a mercenary."

Victor bit back a whistle. Deploying nuclear weapons as a precaution wasn't unheard of, but they were very rarely placed in the hands of mercenaries. Then again, there weren't many mercenaries as trusted as the Kell Hounds or Colonel Carlyle's Gray Death Legion.

"Trellwan's not far from Twycross," he said instead. "I know it's asking a lot, but if any of the Twelfth Donegal Guards are holding out…"

It was Adam Steiner who replied. "Our last report is that they have barely any 'mechs left, but they haven't given up yet. If all goes well on Twycross, which is a big if, then I'll take a jumpship and a small force to try to extract as many of them as we can."

"If you're…" Victor paused and looked at Galen, who was giving him a forbidding look. "Alright, don't break my arm this time."

"Don't tempt me." The kommandant shook his head. "I feel sorry for whoever winds up in charge of you this time."

"Self-pity does not become you," Morgan Hasek-Davion told Cox. "I'm not breaking up a winning team."

Victor made a face. "Well, I wouldn't want to have to break in a new kommandant."

Galen shook his head sadly. "I should have known the Hatchetman was a bribe."

"You see what you're getting," the Marshal told Kai wryly. "This is your new chain of command."

"Tenth Lyran Guards?" Victor asked. "I heard you requested them over the Davion Heavy Guards, Kai."

"I'm in Echo Company," Kai confirmed. "We're short several officers. There was… well…"

"Quite a considerable quantity of the supplies and equipment that should have been in service with the Tenth turns out to be mysteriously absent," Morgan Kell said bluntly. "And a number of the officers and enlisted were found to have significant amounts of money in ComStar bank accounts. Much more than their reported income would support. If Frederick Steiner was still alive he'd probably have torn them limb from limb, but as it is the Judge Advocate General's office has taken charge of them."

The younger Morgan nodded. "Normally I wouldn't send a unit in that state out again, but we can't wait for another RCT to arrive. I've rolled what's left of the Seventeenth Skye Rangers into them. They're… not exactly happy that Francis Bissell refused to send jumpships to get them off Barcelona. I can see his point, but it's playing badly in Skye. Fortunately one of Transport Command's officers took his ship in against orders, but it's going to be challenging for you."

Victor nodded. The Boys of Summer were about as good a unit as any the AFFC had, but they were also tied very heavily to Free Skye. "If it gave me another shot at the Clans, I'd take a company in the Marik Militia right now - although maybe not the Red Lancers." Although he might be safer in the lead unit of the Capellan Confederation than a unit filled out by Skye Rangers with a chip on their shoulders.

"Consider it a mark of my faith in you," his cousin told him. "At least on Twycross there will be an outside enemy for them to focus on."

CDSS Terror of the Deep, Hanover

Clan Diamond Shark Occupation Zone

1 August 3050

The meeting chamber on Terror from the Deep wasn't as crowded now. Ace and the other Alpha Galaxy star commanders were present, but Gamma Galaxy and Omega Galaxy were represented only by Barbara Sennet and Bikendi Vewas respectively.

Ian Hawker entered the room last and glowered around. "The Grand Council have delivered their verdict," the Khan told Ace. "In exchange for releasing the additional three clusters of our previous bid, they wanted me to cede all of our enclaves on Tathis and New Kent."

Ace ran his hand through his hair, thinking. He'd never been to Tathis but it wasn't a particularly large colony. New Kent, on the other hand, had the valuable mines at Eagle Crater that he'd defended from Clan Steel Viper early in his career.

"We should accept," Barbara Sennet informed them without hesitation.

Still settling into his seat, Hawker sat up straight. "There are millions of our Clan's workers in those enclaves."

"Just under three million," she confirmed. "What of it? We are orbiting a world with a population of half a billion. If even one in a hundred embraces the Way of the Clans then it leaves our Clan stronger than all the civilian castes on both those worlds." She paused to let that sink in. "Naturally we should remove the most valued workers from the enclaves first - anyone directly supporting the touman, or who might be useful in administering our new domain in the Inner Sphere."

"Tathis' main value to us is as a shipping hub," noted Vewas. The galaxy commander was very familiar with garrison roles across the homeworlds. "But if we're also giving up New Kent then we have less need to ship in and out of that part of the Kerensky cluster and our shipping lines are strained supporting our operations here. Consolidating would let the merchants focus on other routes."

Hawker turned and glared at Ace. "I suppose you also support this idea."

"I am powless to challenge saKhan Sennet or Galaxy Commander Vewas on their arguments," Ace admitted. "The economics of our Clan are something I am still learning of."

Hawker snorted and sat down. "The Clan Council will have to decide," he told them rather petulantly.

That would likely lead to a vote in favor of the trade, Ace thought. Hundreds of warriors had been brought to the Inner Sphere in the guise of Provisional Galaxy Clusters but they and 'reserve' warriors who had retired to the civilian castes also provided a pool of replacements. Given the chance to join the invasion fully, there would be an immediate bloc within the bloodnamed warriors in support of the idea.

He supposed it would seem odd to some Clans that the Warden Sennet favored a shift of focus to the Inner Sphere while the Crusader Hawker was opposed, but that just proved his own belief that those terms were becoming obsolete - if they had ever been anything but a gross oversimplification in the first place.

"This opens the opportunity for other Clans to do the same," Vewas pointed out. "The Smoke Jaguars' second round bid wasn't much lower than ours but everyone else was more conservative. The Jade Falcons could bring in two additional galaxies - I have to wonder what would be demanded of them for that."

"It would be more interesting if the Ghost Bears did that, although I find it hard to imagine our cousins giving up sizable territory." Sennet pursed her lips. "They would be able to commit double their final bid, making them the largest part of the invasion."

"And meanwhile Clan Wolf, who did not have to bid at all…?" asked Ace thoughtfully. "Their third wave is pushing well ahead of any of the Clans."

Sennet smiled thinly. "Given the irregular spacing of worlds, simple range decides nothing. I have confidence in your plan, Star Colonel. We cannot control what other Clans do, only our own actions."

Hawker nodded and then speared Ace with another look. "You have updated your plan, quaiff? Where do we begin?"

"You intend to adopt it?" Vewas sounded surprised.

"Aff," the Khan said flatly. "Without Polcenigo as a stepping stone it would be inconvenient to try to claim worlds along the anti-spinward side of the Rasalhague Rift. Let the Smoke Jaguars take those worlds and we will use the rift as a natural boundary between us. Once we are past that obstacle, if a gap remains then we can request the deployment of Clan Ghost Bear to fill it. I spoke of the possibility with Theresa DelVillar when settling the details of their basing rights and they would be very interested." He gave Sennet a slightly smug smile. "I am not incapable of playing at politics, Barbara."

"Excellent. With both of our support, the Clan Council will be favorably inclined," she said.

Ace took control of the display. The notional line marking where the Diamond Sharks had expected to be at this stage of the invasion was somewhat behind reality - three worlds below it had been taken in the third wave. Ace focused in on the irregular oblong formed by the theoretical goals for the fourth and fifth waves. Pesht hung just outside this area, almost touching the line delineating the flank of the Clans' invasion and parallel to the fifth wave goals.

"Gamma Galaxy continues the advance up to the expected targets for Wave Four," he said, indicating the next three worlds - Byesville, Wolcott and Marshdale. "The shipping and supplies that we could use to keep pushing up towards the Wave Five line will instead be shifted Spinwards."

"McAlister, Hyner and Maldonado," Vewas observed. "Perhaps Herndon as well - staging areas for an assault on Pesht."

Ace shook his head. "Neg, Galaxy Commander. Our intelligence says that four DCMS regiments are concentrating on Pesht, fresh troops joining units that managed to withdraw ahead of us. These are District Regulars, above average in their quality and equipment. Pesht may already be better defended than Rasalhague. So we strike now."

"I like it!" Hawker exclaimed, sounding surprised by that fact.

"The details?" enquired Sennet.

"We will bypass McAlister and Maldonado," Ace explained. "You are correct that Herndon is desirable," he added to Vewas, "Taking that world and then Unity would solidify our flank, but we will have no forces to spare. One of the Omega clusters will take Hyner while Alpha Galaxy - using the same supply route - moves on directly to Pesht and we commit all four clusters." He borrowed Sennet's trick of a small pause. "We are not bidding against another Clan so rushing below cutdown is not necessary, quiaff?"

"You may consider this our bid from Alpha Galaxy," Hawker told the other two galaxy commanders. "If you believe you can take Pesht with less, say so."

Neither spoke up. The losses on Rasalhague had been sobering. Even without the sickness that had disabled the Nineteenth Striker Cluster, the Smoke Jaguar forces had taken combat losses that would leave all three Clusters out of action until the fifth wave.

Hawker nodded. "So, we take Pesht. And then?"

Ace indicated the map, shifting slightly rimwards. "For the fifth wave we sweep onwards and seize the eight worlds indicated here. I would like to add Meinacos and Unity, but that ambition would exceed our resources. Two targets for each galaxy, if we gain approval to activate another galaxy."

"Kappa Spina?" asked Hawker, studying the unit designations.

Ace shrugged. "A provisional designation. Three clusters is the normal size for a Spina Galaxy. If you prefer those clusters added to the existing galaxies then it makes no real difference to the plan."

Vewas nodded. "A Spina Galaxy would be useful." Traditionally straddling the line between a frontline and garrison force, the Diamond Sharks' Spina Galaxies were rapid reaction forces. "And Kappa is as good a designation as any."

"I take it this is to blood the new Galaxy?" asked Sennet. "Forming new units requires more than simply bringing troops and equipment to one place, quiaff?"

"Aff." Ace indicated jump routes from Pesht. "Our primary goal for Wave Five is Cyrenaica. Alpha Galaxy will reach that star system via Irece."

"Are you pandering to my ego?" asked Hawker sarcastically.

"Alpha Galaxy is both the best placed and the best Galaxy, quiaff?" asked Ace rhetorically. And then he indicated one single system that lay beyond Cyrenaica. "And for the sixth wave we strike here."

Hawker frowned. "One world? Our entire sixth wave is committed to one world."

"It is their Strana Mechty," Ace told him simply. "House Kurita will defend it with everything that they have and it will take our full strength to break them. We may even need to commit warships for tactical bombardment, which runs a high risk of nuclear weapons being used against them. But if we break the Combine's strength here we have shown that we can break them anywhere." Just not everywhere, he added privately.

Vewas hissed. "You saw how bombardment turned out on Rasalhague," he warned.

Sennet nodded. "You are not discussing striking at cities or factories, quineg? Those are goals to be acquired for the Clan."

"I would prefer not to risk a warship at all," Ace clarified. "The only justifiable reason would be to break through fortifications that would otherwise cost unsustainable losses to take. Firing on civilian targets would be wasteful."

The three galaxy commanders exchanged looks and then the saKhan nodded. "The use of warships will be kept under tight control," she proposed. "Precise targeting will be required and since we can hardly confer with the entire Clan Council during a battle, only the agreement of all three… no, there will be four Galaxy Commanders. All four Galaxy Commanders must approve their use. Not even a Khan should have the freedom to employ them without restraint."

Hawker sat back in his chair. "We are in agreement. I will be very satisfied if we never need that contingency. I will not be a second Lincoln Osis." He indicated the world in the map. "Very well. I approve this plan, what do you call it?" He studied the display and found the file identifier. "Operation Black Pearl?"

"It's our target's nickname," Ace admitted. "The black pearl of the Draconis Combine: Luthien."

This concludes Book 1: Dealer's Choice

Opalescent Reflections will continue in

House of Cards