Opalescent Reflections

House of Cards

Chapter 11

Huntsvil, Camlann

Benjamin District, Draconis Combine

1 August 3051

Moving the remaining Clan forces back from Camlann would take time and there was a certain lethargy to the process. There was no hurry… and of course, it meant that the units were moving away from Terra.

In addition, the Grand Council was convening to discuss the important question of what to do now. Khan Ulric Kerensky had offered to host the gathering in Huntsvil, the 'high water mark' of Operation Revival. The second city to fall to Clan Wolf, the greatest success out of any Clan on Camlann.

Everyone knew that the Wolf Khan was showing off. But he had won. He was allowed, almost expected, to do so.

With jumpships arriving to ferry Diamond Shark clusters away, it had been relatively easy for Ace to travel from Luthien to Camlann. It was still eight jumps in as many days, bracketed by dropship voyages but it was possible. He was feeling the aftereffects and from what he had heard, once he was older he might find himself feeling that sort of thing in ways that would not be cured by a night's sleep under more comfortable circumstances than a dropship's bunk.

Ace didn't stagger down the ramp from the dropship, but he definitely felt less than presentable and more in need of a drink and a bunk than of meeting Khan Sennet. Alas, the Clan was a demanding master and no sooner had he stepped aside to let a trinary from one of the Omega Galaxy clusters march their 'mechs aboard, than he was found by the Khan, sat behind the wheel of a jeep.

"Get in," she said.

Hiding a sigh, Ace walked over and tossed his bag into the back before climbing in next to Sennet. "I am - in." The pause was because she'd thrown it into gear and slammed her foot on the throttle pedal, the little truck taking off like a startled Fire Moth. "Are we in a hurry?" he asked, grabbing for the seatbelt.

"We have less than two days before the Kurultai," Sennet told him. "Fortunately, some of the other Clans were electing Khans or you would be too late."

"If Clan Wolf had decided not to continue fighting alone, I would have also been late," Ace pointed out.

"In that case we probably would not be having the Kurultai here." The Khan took a corner with two wheels leaving the ground briefly. Ace wondered where she had learned to drive and concluded it was probably the combat vehicle basic training that he had missed by joining a sibko so late.

While Huntsvil itself was a wreck after centuries of neglect, and the buildings might still have toxic residues, the Clans had set up tents and pre-fab buildings in open areas. Clan Wolf had marked space for each of the seventeen Clans, leaving them with plenty of room to keep a safe distance. The ten Clans not participating in the invasion were set up in what had once been a zoological garden. There might be some irony to that, Ace wasn't sure. What had once been broad paddocks for the larger animals were now marked by the comparatively tiny entourages.

The jeep made short work of what had once been avenues for visitors to walk down, reaching one of those compounds - one whose banners showed the familiar coiled totem of Clan Burrock. As Sennet parked the jeep, Ace was relieved to see no faces familiar from his previous experiences with the Clan.

An unarmored elemental emerged from one of a circle of prefabricated buildings. "Khan Sennet," the woman declared in recognition, offering a salute. "Our Khans are waiting for you."

"Then let us not keep them waiting." Sennet dismounted and and returned the salute. Ace fell in behind her, leaving his bag in the jeep.

"Your aide?" the towering guard asked mildly.

"He has Burrock ancestry," the Khan said, which wasn't an answer but could be taken for one.

The two of them entered the building and found it furnished mostly with field gear, though a Burrock flag hung across one wall. Ace supposed it made sense - the Burrock Khans were traveling almost alone, having brought only a single jumpship, just enough to comply with the ilKhan's requirement that all the Khans accompany the invasion, to cut down on the chances them leading their Clans against each other or against the homeworld enclaves of invaders.

Trials were still taking place in the homeworlds, of course, but keeping the Khans out of it was at least keeping the conflicts from growing too large.

"Welcome!" There were only two people inside, evidently the Khans. It was the woman who spoke - Jocelyn Siddiq.

Orrel Polcyzk, the saKhan didn't offer any verbal greeting but he did fill four glasses from a bottle and offer them around. The man paused as he saw Ace though. "Enders?" he asked, a little sharply.

"Ace Enders," he confirmed, bowing slightly. Perhaps Combine manners were rubbing off on him, Ace thought.

The Burrock frowned and shook his head dismissively, handing over the glass anyway before returning to one of the chairs. "You would not have brought him along as an insult," he told Sennet. "What are you after?"

"Do not be so grumpy," Siddiq chided him. "Sennet is just showing off her wares. Unfortunately, we do not have the forces I would want to bid for possession of the young Enders. But he is a credit to his bloodhouse."

Polcyzk chuckled, somewhat reluctantly. "Well, you have good taste in battlemechs, Galaxy Commander. I use a Stormcrow myself. I do not think there is a better battlemech in any Clan."

"The scientists keep developing designs," the Burrock woman disagreed. "The Stormcrow is a fine 'mech, but there are others. I like what I have heard of your new Mongrel omnimechs," she added, turning back to Sennet. "We may take some off you."

"Trade or trial," Sennet replied crisply. "Whichever you choose, we will meet you."

Siddiq took her own seat and the visitors followed suit. "But that is not why you are here," she concluded. "We all know Leo Showers' time as ilKhan is over and I do not think you are here to speak for him."

A slightly derisive smile crossed Sennet's lips and she shook her head, then lifted the glass and took a sip. Her eyes widened appreciatively. "This is new."

"A local gain," Polcyzk noted. "They make it from peaches - a fruit I do not know. I think it may not have made the transition to our homeworlds."

Ace sipped from his own glass and found it to be sweeter than he preferred. And strong. Still, he was a guest.

"Alright," Siddiq noted. "Do you want the ilKhan's throne, Barbara? I do not pretend I am a contender myself, but that is not the same thing as casting my vote for it."

Sennet drank again. "Who says that we need an ilKhan?"

"The truce aside, we are still at war," warned Polcyzk.

"How much use was Leo Showers?" Ace asked him.

"Hmm." The saKhan rubbed his brow and then drained half his glass. "Leading the grand council is no small feat. Without him, there might be no invasion." He exhaled slowly. "Well, we need not decide now."

"With Revival over, we can bring more forces in," Sennet told the Burrocks. "The bidding no longer binds us, and it is clear the bids were all too small." She was insulated from fault in that, since she had not been Khan at the time. "We must expand our presence quickly, to take a secure hold of our new domain or it will be taken from us."

"By the Smoke Jaguars?"

Ace shook his head. The question had been expected. "The Draconis Combine is not broken. I expect raids and if they manage to gather the forces, they will try to take worlds back from us."

Sennet drained her glass. "We are in a better position than some of the invaders, but to provide satisfactory garrisons we will need to draw heavily on the homeworlds. Not just for warriors, we are also drawing experienced civilian leaders away to lead the new governments. We are using bondsmen but that is proving more problematic than it is for those who are already Clansmen. It will be a generation - not a warrior's generation, I mean decades - before they adjust to the way of the Clans, so we cannot rely on them alone."

Ace winced at the reminder of the situation on Luthien. The bondsmen responsible for the infiltration had been executed, but it didn't solve the basic problem that most bondsmen had family loyalties and the Combine was willing to use those in ways that he'd not considered. And Omiko Kurita's departure had not slowed the resistance down at all - if anything, reports suggested that they were getting worse.

"I think I see where you are going with this," Siddiq observed. She smiled slyly. "You cannot stretch to control so many worlds here and also your enclaves in the homeworlds."

"Not now," Sennet admitted frankly. "We are expanding our manpower, but it will take time."

Siddiq's smile broadened. "And you know that we already contract troops to help the Cloud Cobras to control the Tanite worlds, in exchange for a share of their resources."

Ace frowned. He wasn't entirely sure what the Tanite worlds even were.

"The idea has crossed my mind," Sennet agreed. "But not quite what I am thinking."

The Burrock Khan sat back and held out her glass to Polcyzk for a refill. "That is a shame, I would like access to the resources here. Perhaps I can convince you."

"Perhaps." Sennet set down her glass. "My Clan has evidence that Clan Burrocks Khans have been dealing with the Dark Caste."

Polcyzk dropped the bottle, which didn't shatter but did spill half the contents on the floor. Siddiq swore, but not because of the peach brandy. "That would be treason," she protested. "We would never do that!"

Sennet's smile was toothy. "My saKhan and various others have the evidence, in case you are feeling tempted to have an accident happen."

"When you say evidence…" Polcyzk observed slowly, "What are you talking about? You must have misinterpreted something - I do not accuse you of fabricating it of course." Then he turned and looked at Ace. "Well, perhaps not you, Khan Sennet."

Ace shrugged. "I had no part in the investigation."

"But you were the loose string we pulled followed to find evidence," Sennet continued. "Shipments. Information leaks. This is nothing new, Khan Siddiq. I cannot pin it to you specifically, but it has been going on for far too long for the Khans not to be aware of this. This is not individuals, this is a continuing policy going back to…" She paused. "Well, I would not be surprised if a little more digging took us right back to the founding of the Clans."

Siddiq's geniality slipped away. "You know what the Grand Council will demand if you bring them that evidence."

"That is part of my calculations."

"Then why not do that?" demanded Polcyzk. "Why come to us?" His eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to bluff some sort of confession out of us?"

Sennet produced a datapad. "A sample."

Siddiq accepted it and started checking, while her fellow Khan glared at the two of them. "You did not answer me, Sennet. Why are the two of you here. You could take this directly to the Grand Council and we would be lucky to walk out alive."

"How would that profit Clan Diamond Shark?" the dark-skinned Khan asked curiously.

Polcyzk scowled at her. "Diamond Sharks! Should I be glad that you aren't taking that datapad to the Blood Spirits."

"That assumes they would even talk to us," pointed out Ace drily. Clan Blood Spirit was deeply isolationist. There were only two other Clans they had regular contact with. Their Khans hadn't even attended the Grand Council for years before the invasion. "And what could they offer us?"

"For the chance to destroy our Clan?" asked the Burrock, sarcastically.

Sennet shook her head. "Clan Blood Spirit is in no position to give us what we need."

Siddiq threw the datapad over to Ace. "I did not even know all of this," she admitted. "I have been trying to cut off these ties. This is not something that my Clan needs any more. I told you it was a dagger at our throat, Orrel."

Polcyzk grunted unhappily. "I did not disagree."

"Alright." The Burrock Khan gave Ace and Barbara an icy look. "So you now hold that dagger. Are you going to drive it in? Or is this where you make demands?"

Barbara Sennet met that icy anger with a warm smile. "When the Grand Council meets in two days, this information will be presented to them. If I tried to hide it, then it would simply implicate us as conspirators. I do not want to pass my eventual successors the problem that you inherited, Jocelyn."

"So what does that leave us?"

And then the Khan of the Diamond Sharks leant back and steepled her fingers. "Let us make a deal…"

Hilton Head, North America

Terra, Sol System

2 August 3051

Wei would have preferred a more informal venue after her trip back from Camlann, but that would have been disrespectful under the circumstances.

As the First Circuit gathered, holographic displays in front of each window were scrolling through lists of names, casting shadows across the chamber and the Precentors. Few of the men and women looked easy as the names continued to roll and roll, a macabre list of the dead and wounded.

"In summary," Wei informed them, "Precentor Martial Focht believes that we can bring six divisions back from Camlann, although it will be some months. He believes at least one should remain to oversee salvage and recovery efforts until the end of the year - and bringing one back to guard the solar system is just good sense. The exact deployment of the other four will be open to discussion - most likely in the form of Level III deployments to our larger enclaves."

"Do we have an estimate for how long it will take to rebuild the rest of our strength?" Joe Murphy asked. His posting of Tharkad was below the line marked by Camlann, but not by much.

Wei spread her hands helplessly. "Three to five years, assuming we can fund the recruitment, the training and purchasing of supplies. If we do not fund them, perhaps longer. There is at least a case to suggest that our previous strength will have alarmed the Great Houses. But at the same time, we needed that strength badly upon Camlann. Only four cities fell, but it could have been eight and then we would be relocating our headquarters and most likely you would have been voting on my replacement now."

There were close to a hundred thousand names on the casualty list. Enough people to populate a city had been killed in less than a month. Wei Rong had thought, after her studies of the Second Succession War, that she was ready for that. But what she had read then had been distant statistics, less immediate than what had happened on Camlann.

She sighed heavily. "And moving along from Camlann, there are the events around St Ives. Precentor Mu, if you would be so good as to brief everyone."

Elswick Cameron took over the podium and control of the central display, which he set first to display Duchess Candace Liao and her husband. "For those unfamiliar, on the twenty-eighth of last month an operative planted within the St Ives embassy on New Avalon entered the royal apartments and opened fire on Duchess Liao and Secretary Allard with a high powered laser pistol. The two were in bed at the time, and according to the official releases both were mortally wounded. One or the other lived long enough to shoot back, killing the assassin outright. It is possible that the Duchess slept with a sidearm at hand, but currently we believe Secretary Allard used the laser known to be built into his prosthetic. Emergency services responded and all three were pronounced dead at the embassy's medical wing."

The display switched to a starchart mapping out the St Ives Compact - a C-shape of seventeen olive coloured stars surrounded on one side by the gold of the Federated Commonwealth and on the other by the green of the Capellan Confederation. "Under any circumstances, suspicion would fall on Chancellor Liao. She had a long-standing feud with the Duchess even before the Compact's secession, and of course Secretary Allard's actions as a double agent contributed massively to the Capellans' defeat in the Fourth Succession War. Both have been marked for death repeatedly."

One of the green stars next to the Compact began to flash. "In this case, we believe the obvious source of the assassin is accurate with the specific motivation lying here. Gei-Fu's planetary government has rebelled against the Confederation and appealed to join the St Ives Compact. Whether or not Duchess Liao would have accepted is now a moot point, the possibility would most likely have been sufficient."

Joe Buckley cleared his throat. "While it's hard to say what the Fox is thinking at any point, I find it hard to believe he would risk the Lyran Commonwealth for one world even if Candace Liao requested it. However, with the current truce and the Capellan March's defenses largely intact, he may have the opportunity to act."

Cameron switched the display again, this time portraying a handsome young man of asiatic descent. "With his mother's death, Kai Allard-Liao is now duke of St Ives. Currently he is a Hauptmann in the Tenth Lyran Guards, traveling to Terra with Prince Victor Steiner-Davion and Lady Omiko Kurita. Expedited HPG communications to his waypoints have allowed him to be informed of the attack and messages have been exchanged discussing the options available to the young duke."

Precentor Sian shifted awkwardly, "What options is he offering? I know that the CCAF is moving one of the Warrior Houses to put down the rebellion on Gei-Fu."

"The First Prince does not appear to support a military response," Cameron continued, "Although he did say that an operation was underway. However, when Duke Allard pressed for military action, Davion conceded. In the short term, the AFFC will support the defenses of the Compact, while a regiment of the St Ives Armored Cavalry is being mobilized to support the rebels on Gei-Fu. A command circuit is being prepared to carry the new duke to St Ives immediately when he arrives at our jump point."

"I cannot say that I'm surprised," Wei noted. "So I suppose that I will only be meeting with Omiko Kurita and Victor Steiner-Davion."

"It is possible one of his sisters will substitute for him," Precentor St Ives offered. Trent Hone had spent much of his career on the world, working his way up the HPG command chain. He'd been deputy head of the station when his superior died in 3046 and Wei had been happy to keep him on. "They're young, and they've spent much of their lives on New Avalon. It would be a way for the duke to raise their profile in his realm."

"We'll deal with that if it happens," Wei decided.

"What do we do if the war widens?" asked Orchard. "It's all very well if this is settled with just one world, but both sides have a vote. And if the Free Worlds League gets involved…"

Wei pointed to the displays at the windows. "What do you think we can do, Rachel? We have no military options in that area right now. If we find anything to suggest that this is someone else's work, then we can release that information but for now all we can do is look to the security of our enclaves in the area. We can add that to the priorities for sending the ComGuards once they have recovered sufficiently but that is weeks away and I believe that rebuilding our garrison here on Terra takes priority."

There were nods from the predictable faces, the precentors who generally supported Tiger Lily when it came to putting Terra above all other priorities.

Cameron cleared his throat. "While there's been no definite decision so far by leadership, our expectation is that if Allard-Liao decides to attack further targets then it is likely the New Sagan salient will be prioritized. The five worlds are broadly in the same area as Gei-Fu and two of the worlds are industrially significant. Cutting the salient would also shorten the Capellan border, which would likely be supported by the Capellan March and Sarna March. We don't believe that it's realistic to see a push for Sian or even for Capella while the bulk of the AFFC is still orienting towards the Clans. Most probably, Hanse Davion will simply transfer the contracts of mercenary regiments in the Capellan March to bulk up St Ives while house regiments simply remain on the border as a threat that the Chancellor has to honor."

"I don't think anyone here will weep for Romano Liao," Joe Buckley concluded. "Did anything else come out of these messages?"

"Not relevant to the St Ives situation," Cameron told him. "In the broader sense, we've had confirmation that Lady Kurita has been given credentials as an ambassador-at-large to the Federated Commonwealth. It appears she'll be going back to New Avalon with Prince Victor."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Buckley admitted. "If they quarrel, it'll be bad for the alliance, if they get along too well then the Draconis March will be in flames."

"I suppose I will have a chance to check their chemistry in person," Wei noted. "Who thought that dynastic politics was a good idea?"

"James McKenna," someone shot back and Wei had to admit that it was a good answer. The first Dictator… uh, Director-General of the Terran Hegemony hadn't founded the neo-feudal order that now dominated the Inner Sphere but he'd certainly made it possible when it became clear that his successor would have to be a relative.

Huntsvil, Camlann

Benjamin District, Draconis Combine

3 August 3051

The building had been built in an antique style by the Star League, and it was structurally sound even after centuries. A half-circle of tiered seating faced a stage, intended for performances of some kind, and Ulric had set workers to cleaning it thoroughly to rid it of any residue of the weapons unleashed here by House Kurita and House Steiner. It was impossible to say if they were completely clear, but it was safe enough to use today.

Banners had been laid out marking pairs of seats for the Khans, electronics had been placed to record the kurultai and to allow them to display data as needed. And most importantly, the great window of armor glass looking out on the city had been cleaned. Despite a few cracks it let the Khans look out at the ruined city of Huntsvil, with Clan Wolf's banners flying above it. It was a poignant reminder of the ruin that war brought and that Ulric's Clan had triumphed over those challenges.

A single seat was placed on the stage and Leo Showers marched up to take his place there, doing his best to seem confident even though it must have been entirely clear to him that his reign was down to its last hours, perhaps minutes.

"I convene this Grand Council and I note to you that we are still under the Martial Code handed down by Nicholas Kerensky. We are at war, and we shall conduct our business as befits that circumstance."

"Are we at war?" Ulric asked silkily. "The terms that this Council agreed to bind us for fifteen years."

It was Elias Crichell who rose to the accusation. "We are at war, Khan Kerensky. Operation Revival is over, but even if we cannot approach Terra for fifteen years, fighting above the Camlann line continues."

"We should renounce the agreement," Christopher Ahmed proposed. The new saKhan of Clan Steel Viper looked around. "We are so close to Terra!"

"I don't think you're a good judge of how easy it is to fight the Inner Sphere," Natasha Kerensky shot Ahmed down from where she sat next to Ulric. Her casual speech left the other Khans bristling, but there were a few barks of laughter as well. Promoted from Alpha Galaxy, which had not participated in fighting on Camlann, Ahmed lacked any experience at all in Revival.

"The vote to approve the battle here was a large majority," Karl Bourjon added. "Any Trial of Refusal would face long odds. Five to one, before any bidding to see who defends the Council's decision."

There was a long silence as everyone looked around, wondering if anyone felt that they were willing to take that risk. Ulric was fairly sure that the ten homeworld Clans had no reason to back such a measure since it didn't benefit tehm. Any Trial of Refusal would come from an invading Clan… most of whom were bleeding and battered by the fighting here.

"IlKhan Showers," he said when no one seemed likely to speak up. "You oversaw the invasion so far and you oversaw the planning for what we faced on Camlann." Such as there had been. "By my reckoning, that makes you responsible for the outcome."

Showers stood slowly, deliberately. However angry he was, he did not let it show. "It is rare for us to agree, Khan Kerensky. But we have always had a strong idea of where the other was aiming. Let me cut short your arguments: I was elected ilKhan with a mandate to oversee the invasion. While Khan Crichell is correct that the war is not over, the invasion has been placed on hold for fifteen years. It is not reasonable for me to cling to this office in anticipation of that happy day. I therefore offer my immediate resignation."

There were sudden intakes of air. Ulric was also surprised. He had thought that the ilKhan would fight to hold onto his position.

"A new direction is needed," Showers continued. "And it is the duty of the Grand Council to provide the ilKhan with that purpose for them to pursue. I recommend that you find such a goal before again electing a new leader."

Soberly, the Smoke Jaguar walked away from his throne, leaving the chamber without looking left or right. His back was straight, his face confident.

Ulric hid a grimace. By standing down, Showers had been cannier than usual. He had not waited to be burdened by responsibility for the defeats, and by stepping away now he left the opening to return in the future if he found another cause to rally the Clans to. He could, after all, argue that as a former ilKhan he had rare experience in directing multi-Clan campaigns - and a Council quarreling over what to do now might rally to even a deposed leader if he came back with a compelling purpose for them.

Natasha laughed again. "Well that was easier than I was expecting. Maybe he was just dodging out on the work."

He gave her a dry look but then reconsidered. Maybe she had a point. Much of what the Grand Council dealt with now would be contentious and there would likely be hurt feelings and feuds. By absenting himself now, Showers would be outside of that, an edge not shared by the sitting Khans who would likely be rivals for claiming the ilKhan's throne in the future. "Perhaps."

Barbara Sennet rose. "I must bring a matter before the Grand Council."

"What's this about?" Natasha muttered.

"Manpower, I believe." Ulric knew that Clan Wolf wasn't the only one reaching for new warriors. Phelan was only one of scores of bondsmen who had been groomed for admission to the warrior caste - the most prestigious, but not the only one. The losses on Camlann had been the final argument to convince the Clan Council to approve giving them their trials of position as soon as possible. "They will need to pull units from the homeworlds and may want some kind of assurance that they can do so. I doubt they will get it."

"Doesn't seem likely." the old woman agreed cynically as the Council fell silent.

Barbara Sennet walked up onto the stage, where only Kael Pershaw remained after Showers had left. She passed a datapad to the loremaster and then folded her hands behind her. "I accuse Clan Burrock of long term collaboration with the Dark Caste," she said flatly. "We have evidence that previous Khans of the Clan have given bandits information, supplies and even weapons in order to direct them against other Clans."

Ulric leant forwards sharply, gripping the arms of his chair, barely biting back a shocked exclaimation.

The Dark Caste weren't a serious threat to the Clans, but they were also essentially the only external threat they'd faced until now - and of course, by definition the bandits had chosen to reject Kerensky's new society.

"Treason!" shouted Karianna Schmitt. The Khan of the Blood Spirits rose to her feet. "The Burrocks have always been the scum of the Clans and now their perfidy is made apparent."

"You have not even seen the evidence yet," Elias Crichell noted sardonically.

Christopher Ahmed stroked his beard. "I doubt Khan Sennet would present evidence if she was not sure."

Ulric frowned. Perigard Zalman and the previous Steel Viper Khan, Natalie Breen, had despised the Diamond Sharks - particularly given the Sharks' part in blocking them from joining the invasion - but he knew Ahmed had been talking to Barbara Sennet. Both Clans would need to replace substantial losses now - and sharing resources might make that easier. Ulric doubted that it would occur to Sennet to hold a grudge if there were benefits to her Clan.

Jocelyn Siddiq rose to her feet, curiously calm given the accusations. If anything, she seemed almost relieved. "I cannot attest to exactly what data Khan Sennet is providing, but the facts of what she has described are accurate."

Natasha whistled. "Ballsy."

"You just admit your crimes?" Schmitt exclaimed.

Siddiq shrugged. "As Khan Sennet said, previous Khans. I have never participated in such deals and never will. But I am aware that some of my predecessors did so. Since the evidence is now being presented what point is there in denying it. Instead I can only point out that these are crimes of men and women now dead and that under my leadership, the Burrocks have abandoned such practises."

"All well and good," Cassius N'Buta rumbled. The Khan of Clan Star Adder shook his head. "But that does not change the fact that these crimes were committed. For how many years - how many generations - have our clans been targeted by bandits serving the interests of your Clans? There can be no pardoning of such a persistent failure to adhere to the Way of the Clans."

"I agree," the Khan of Clan Coyote said in a weak voice. Robin Steele looked like hell - her health was said to be poor, but so far she was clinging tenaciously to life, to office and to warrior status. "I…"

"Clan Diamond Shark calls for the Absorption of Clan Burrock," Barbara Sennet spoke across Steele. "Since they have admitted their guilt, there is no need for evidence to be examined - though it is open to all of you."

Kael Pershaw looked around the room. "Khan Sennet calls for Absorption. Does anyone wish to delay the vote."

Ulric frowned and then shook his head. This was unprecedentedly fast, but as she said, with guilt admitted the only question was whether the crime merited it… and the Burrocks had no real allies. Their long history of being flexible in seeking short-term advantage had never really served them well.

"Very well." The almost-crippled Jade Falcon raised his hand. "The absorption of a Clan is no small thing. I remind you that if even one Khan outside of Clan Burrock opposes the measure then it will fail."

"I'm almost tempted to," Natasha confided. "Blaming the whole Clan is too much. It can't have been that many of them, or someone would have figured this out sooner."

"Do not do that," Ulric told her. "If the Burrocks had dealt with this themselves, you might have a point but even those like Siddiq who knew about it just tried to hide the truth. No one will trust them in the future."

"No one trusted them anyway."

"Besides," he continued. "Two less Crusader votes. They have been consistent about that for twenty years."

The redhead considered that and shrugged. "You're the boss. Don't blame me if this blows up on you."

Each Khan stood in turn as they were called to vote. Natasha and Ulric both voted for absorption and as vote after vote was cast, no one spoke up for the Burrocks. Only Orrel Polcyzk and Jocelyn Siddiq opposed, and everyone knew the outcome before Kael Pershaw made it official. "By a vote of thirty-two to two, the Absorption is confirmed."

"Loremaster," Polcyzk said formally, "We call for a Trial of Refusal, as is our right."

"That is indeed your right."

And how could any Clan accept their own dissolution, Ulric thought. This would always be the result - the Widowmakers had fought, Clan Mongoose had fought and inevitably so would the Burrocks. Would they win? Well, it was always possible. After all, no Clan could muster the preposterous seventeen-to-one numerical advantage that the vote allowed. Indeed, bidding would inevitably mean that the Clan chosen to fight for the right to absorb the Burrocks would be using a smaller force.

"How strong are the Burrocks?" Natasha asked.

"Seven Galaxies," replied Ulric as Kael Pershaw invited bids for the honor of defending the Council's decision - and the lure of absorbing the Burrocks' territory. While the Burrocks only had enclaves on five worlds besides Strana Mechty, they were quite wealthy holdings - compact and easily secured by the modest touman.

Natasha tsked. "A bit of a large bite for the invaders," she allowed.

At least she saw that without any prompting, Ulric thought. Really it came down to which of the nine other homeworld Clans felt they could risk it. Even in victory they would take significant losses, so it would be necessary to offset with their gains. It would almost be amusing if the Blood Spirits won the bidding, since their hatred for the Burrocks would probably make the entire matter self-destructive.

The Fire Mandrills, Snow Ravens and Cloud Cobras all elected not to bid at all. That left six Clans with bids, all having offered forces approximating the Burrocks full touman. The Hell's Horses and Goliath Scorpions pulled out as bidding dropped below six galaxies, and then the Ice Hellions elected not to continue in the following round.

For a moment there was a pause as Cassius N'Buta and Karianna Schmitt gauged each other's commitment - neither seemed to take Robin Steele seriously as a contender.

"I also wish to bid," a quiet voice cut through the silence.

Ulric turned in surprise, seeing Barbara Sennet was the speaker. What was she thinking - it was theoretically possible for her to make a bid in this range but the Diamond Sharks were already stretched. She would be leaving her enclaves almost unguarded in the homeworlds and most of the forces she had available were garrison units.

"You offered no bid before," objected Steele.

"Nor did I state I was withdrawing from bidding," Sennet told her. "If you assumed that my Clan would not, given our other commitments, that was an error. Understandable, perhaps, but an error nonetheless."

"Khan Sennet is in order," Pershaw admitted. He indicated the holographic displays marking out the three bids that had been offered. "Please submit your bid now." The three constellations of colored stars marking the current contenders split, opening room for another bid to appear between those of the Coyotes and the Star Adders.

Sennet touched a control, sending the data directly to the holo projector.

For a moment, Ulric thought that the file had not loaded. That nothing had changed. And then he saw it, one small red star in the middle of that space. Where the others were bidding clusters and trinaries, Sennet's bid was absurdly tiny.

"Khan Sennet," the old Jade Falcon asked, "This is an error, quiaff?"

The Diamond Shark smiled and Ulric knew that a trap had closed. "Neg. I bid Alpha Galaxy's Twenty-First Assault Cluster's Alpha Trinary, Alpha Star's First Point: Galaxy Commander Ace Enders."

Karianna Schmitt slammed her fists against the arms of her chair. "You cannot be serious! You are making a mockery of this?"

Natasha snickered. "I don't know what Sennet is doing but…"

"She has cut a deal," Ulric agreed.

"Enders is good, but he can't fight an entire Clan."

If the Burrocks send an entire Clan against one warrior they would look weak, Ulric thought. It would suggest that they felt they needed that advantage. If Sennet just wanted Enders dead there are easier ways, and why give the Burrocks an out…? Besides Enders is here in the Inner Sphere and there are only a few dozen Burrocks here. "He does not have to," he answered out loud.

"Are you trying to let the treacherous Burrocks escape justice?" demanded Schmitt.

Sennet looked at the Blood Spirit and feigned surprise. "If I wanted that, Khan Schmitt, I could have simply not presented evidence of their crimes. I am bidding for right to absorb Clan Burrock."

Robin Steele coughed. "One warrior is ridiculous," she objected.

"Clan Wolf bid a single bondsman - not even a warrior - to conquer Gunzburg."

All eyes went to Ulric and he feigned indifference. "Phelan Wolf has been welcomed into Clan Wolf as a warrior, but he was a bondsman at the time. We would be fools to refuse a warrior who can take a world single-handed, quiaff?"

"Does it matter how low I bid?" Sennet asked rhetorically. "I have confidence that my bid is sufficient. The lowest bid must win - currently that is me. Do you wish to bid lower?"

Cassius N'Buta shook his head. "Neg," he said flatly and sat down. After a moment, Robin Steele did the same without further comment.

Only Karianna Schmitt still stood, trembling in rage. "You are supposed to champion the Council's decision, not subvert it! This is not a valid bid."

"I have every intention of absorbing Clan Burrock," Sennet told her. "Bidding below cutdown has always been acceptable if you have the confidence."

After a moment, Schmitt turned on her heel and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her. All eyes went to Daryl Keller, the other Blood Spirit Khan.

"We withdraw from bidding," he said flatly and then rose to his feet. "Since Leo Showers is no longer ilKhan, his dictate that all Khans must be present for the invasion is no longer in effect and we are free to depart." The door slammed again behind him.

Kael Pershaw struck his desk with a gavel. "Clan Diamond Shark wins the bidding to Absorb Clan Burrock, with a bid of… one battlemech point."

Jocelyn Siddiq stood. "A Khan must be responsible for their Clan's deeds. Khan Polcyzk and I will personally fight to Refuse the Absorption and we choose to fight tomorrow - a circle ten kilometers in diameter, equally placed between Huntsvil and Colliervil. I am sure Khan Kerensky will not object."

Ulric folded his arms. He'd pushed to host the Kurultai and by tradition that did make him responsible for overseeing any trials fought during it. "I will have a circle of equals marked, if the Council is willing to accept me as oathmaster for this trial." If there was any irregularity, he wanted the chance to observe it personally - absorbing the Burrocks essentially intact would give the Diamond Sharks the largest touman - they might be able to field as many as fifteen galaxies!

"Keep your head down," Natasha warned. "Enders likes PPCs and you remember what happened to the Founder."