Opalescent Reflections
Full House
Chapter 7
Imperial City, Irurzun
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
2 August 3057
The display in front of the DCMS High Command showed the results of probing attacks against the Clans. "We have little time left to decide where to attack with the forces being sent by our allies," Minoru reminded the warlords.
"With Task Force Opal already committed to assist the Outworlds Alliance, using Ruby to liberate adjacent worlds would concentrate both task forces against a relatively limited part of the Diamond Shark's forces," Li Dok To advocated. "Galedon V is only a short distance behind the truce line and we could reasonably hope to reach New Samarkand."
"I don't doubt that you could," Boris Petrov agreed mildly. "But that would put a preponderance of forces facing just one end of the border and even if the Diamond Sharks were entirely focused on you," Which was not something to count on, "It leaves the Ghost Bears and Smoke Jaguars free to attack us and we would have limited forces available to contain them."
"Sixteen 'mech regiments," Daniel Sorenson said grimly. "We could call on Task Force Emerald to reinforce that, but that would take time. I think that would pose an unacceptable risk to Benjamin… and possibly to Irurzun."
"If we push somewhere else, the Diamond Sharks could move on the Davion border," Li Dok To pointed out.
"Possible, if somewhat unlikely since they would be the nearest reinforcements for their forces in the Outworlds Alliance," Petrov allowed. "In that case, I think we can safely say that the Federated Commonwealth would guarantee not only Task Force Emerald but their remaining reserves from the Draconis March to support us."
"My sister would certainly twist arms to that effect," agreed Minoru, examining the data displaying the confirmed and theorized strength and readiness of the Clan forces on worlds that had been raided. "Since we cannot be strong everywhere, that leaves us two basic options: the central option, striking at the Ghost Bears and the Diamond Sharks, or the anti-spinwards option, targeting the Ghost Bears and the Smoke Jaguars."
He had tried not to indicate a preference, but from the way Petrov looked apologetic as he said: "As much as I would like to advise otherwise, the anti-spinwards option seems better. The Smoke Jaguars have significantly more of their forces tied down dealing with local resistance and are far less likely to coordinate with the Ghost Bears." He had apparently seen through Minoru's feigned indifference.
"That is true but any serious advance into that region would be surrounded on three sides," pointed out Li Dok To. He indicated the central option. "Here, we would have the potential for follow-up operations to connect with the liberated Outworlds and perhaps push all the way to the Draconis Rift!"
Reaching the Draconis Rift would not be the challenge, Minoru thought. At its nearest, the edge of the rift was only a jump away from the truceline. That would, to an extent, cover the flank of a central advance. "There are valuable industrial worlds in that part of the Diamond Shark's occupation force," he observed, trying not to look at Luthien, which was temptingly at the far end of the most optimistic hopes for progress of the attack. The much more densely packed worlds of the anti-spinward option would mean slower progress but also less exposed flanks.
"That may be so, but we would have to succeed in liberating those worlds, Tono," Sorenson pointed out respectfully. "The Diamond Sharks know of their importance and we know at least one of their frontline galaxies is operating out of Luthien, in addition to what they describe as 'Spina' units in some degree of strength acting as response forces along the front, on top of second line and garrison units. It is unlikely that they will be overcome before reinforcements arrive from deeper in the occupation zone."
Petrov nodded. "And while the Diamond Sharks don't appear to have more frontline galaxies here than the Smoke Jaguars, their units have a larger paper strength and are generally closer to full strength."
"Then we should prioritize them for destruction." Li Dok To pressed his hands together.
Ninyu Indrahar cleared his throat. "The key phrases are 'don't appear' and 'here'. Interrogation reports indicate that the Diamond Sharks have five frontline galaxies, when no other Clan has more than four. Continued flow of reinforcements may indicate that another frontline force will be arriving and it is unlikely to be less capable than the others."
Minoru rested his hand on his chin. "Can you confirm that this is so?"
"Not so far," the spymaster admitted.
The Coordinator looked at the map, seeing the icons indicating worlds that had not been attacked recently. "One more rounds of raids to gather information and seed insurgent teams," he ordered. "The ISF have until then to investigate further. If the Diamond Sharks do have four frontline galaxies then it would be best to rid ourselves of the Smoke Jaguars and Ghost Bear distractions before we focus on the Sharks. If not, we will focus on the central option."
All three warlords dipped their heads in compliance.
"In the event that we do strike at the Smoke Jaguars and that the Diamond Sharks refrain from launching an offensive, it occurs to me that an attack on Galedon V may lead them to anticipate a larger offensive there," offered Li Dok To. "If they respond in sufficient force to make a retreat necessary, then those forces are not committed across the truceline. If they do not… well, we would have retaken a district capital."
Minoru rubbed his chin. "There would be limited forces available to you."
"Three 'mech regiments and support," the Warlord offered as if in challenge. "Enough to handle anything less than a full galaxy of Diamond Sharks."
"I am not convinced that that would be enough," Sorenson said cautiously. "However, since you would be waiting until after the initial waves of fighting are over, if Operation Opal goes well then the Fifth Sword of Light would be available for recall." He looked away slightly as he mentioned the regiment he had once served in.
"If it goes well, which adds another questionable outcome."
Minoru shook his head slightly, leading to the warlords falling silent. "If the Outworlds front is not making progress then an attack on Galedon might reduce pressure on them. It is too early to know how the war will go but it does not hurt to plan for the possibility. Of all the major worlds lost, Galedon V is the most accessible." He paused in thought and then nodded in decision. "Any such attack would be secondary in nature, looking no further than the district capital and perhaps worlds within one jump of it?"
"Yes, Tono." Li Dok To lowered his head slightly. "As much as I wish to reclaim New Samarkand for the Dragon, it would not be achievable."
"Prepare options with and without the Fifth Sword of Light," Minoru decided. "And also with and without a further regiment from the capital. I may send my brother to fight for Galedon V." It would be politically beneficial for Franklin to have military experience fighting with the DCMS, both to give him credibility if he had to be named heir and to link House Kurita to the victory.
"Is weakening the capital wise?" asked Sorenson. "There are no frontlines in space and a deep raid could be very destructive."
"We will know that only in retrospect, and it is too soon to say if it will seem prudent." Minoru glanced at the clock. "I have another matter to deal with shortly, so I will move to one last point. Warlord Sorenson, your proposals for Dieron District will be allowed on a provisional basis for the proposed Dieron and Algedi prefectures. The remaining worlds of the district are to be organized into Kessel and Vega prefectures and these will continue to operate under current regulations for comparison purposes."
The warlord bowed. "I am sure that this will strengthen the Dragon."
"Officials who believe that you are wrong about this will no doubt congregate in Kessel and Vega and attempt to prove their point," Minoru pointed out. "This at least gives you somewhere to send those who do not cooperate." It would also reduce the impact if Sorenson used this to build up his personal power base further. He didn't like the idea that he might have to remove the warlord, but it was always wise to consider contingencies. "I look forward to seeing the results of this experiment."
He rose to his feet and all those present did the same, saluting as he headed for the door.
"Best wishes with your next appointment, Tono," Petrov said daringly.
Minoru half-turned and frowned at the warlord. "It is not a military matter, Boris."
"No Lord Kurita," the man agreed and bowed his head - probably to hide that he was grinning, damn him! "But it is critical to the survival of the Draconis Combine.
There was no time to castigate him and in any case, he hadn't said anything worthy of official punishment. That didn't mean that Minoru wasn't considering how he might take a more subtle revenge as he went up the stairs leading out of the underground complex. His grandfather would never have been addressed like this, that was for sure!
A valet was waiting for him at the top, the man keenly aware of Minoru's schedule. In the time that it took the Coordinator to cross the hall, his stark white uniform tunic was removed by deft hands and a longer jacket of less martial cut replaced it. Minoru paused briefly to let the valet wipe his face with a warm cloth, pat it dry with a towel and then run a comb quickly through his dark hair. In a few heartbeats he was returned to perfect presentability and gave the man an appreciative nod on his way out.
Guards snapped to attention as Minoru crossed through a more public hall, courtiers stepping out of his way and bowing as he made his way to the entrance of the building. A long black groundcar was just pulling up outside and a member of the Otomo checked inside it before giving the Coordinator a formal bow that covered for a discreet hand signal that all was as it should be.
The occupant of the back seat turned carefully to extend both feet out to the floor. Minoru stepped forwards and took her hand, helping her to exit. Atsuko Hideyoshi's fingers were warm within his and although she released his hand and bowed once she had her feet under her, there was an air of excitement that she could not entirely hide. "I am honored by your invitation, Tono."
"Permit me to take some pride in showing off my new home to an honored guest," he answered and offered his arm. "It has only just reached the position where I am sure that it lives up to expectations."
A brief tour of the gardens, he thought. And then the scheduled entertainment before dinner; the Jasmine Troupe would be performing Martin and Illiyana, a traditional romance, for those of the court free to attend. He would be seen with Atsuko and see what she made of the formalities of court. If those went well…
He almost stumbled at where that thought led, but a lifetime of martial study kept him from a gaffe.
Well, if that went well then it might be time to speak again with Oda Hideyoshi on matters of courtship.
Takadanobaba, Oshika
Diamond Shark Dominion
25 August 3057
Oshika was a hole of a world. Once a major source of minerals, the mines had long since been exhausted and left the primary industry as the agricultural sector that supported billions. Transplanted terran animals fed the wealthy and provided a small measure of exports, but most of the population could only afford the meat of the native Goji, an insect the size of an armored elemental that tasted only slightly better than its droppings smelt.
Winning the… well, not the loyalty but at least the apathy of the people of Oshika had been as simple as sending a team of scientists specializing in biology to work on adapting new animals to the world - or a Goji variant that was palatable.
Unfortunately, Oshika was also in a prime strategic position - it rested on the Draconis Rift and jumpships could almost (but not quite) reach Iijima on the anti-spinward from Oshika's star system. The rift, a region where no inhabited worlds had survived the Succession Wars, occupied what had once been the point where Pesht, Galedon and Benjamin Districts met. Now it was a network of well-mapped but barely policed systems that would let raiders strike deep inside the Diamond Shark Dominion.
The shipyards at Midway were the hub for the patrols that tried to close that gap, and Oshika was the ideal staging area for an attack on Midway. Thus, when the DCMS struck, someone had to respond.
A volley of LRMs arched across the sky and hammered into a Tokugawa tank as it raced to plug a gap in the lines of the Eleventh Legion of Vega. The tank's armor panels shattered under the impact of more than forty missiles from Shiro's Phoenix Hawk - it might be far larger than the one that the aged mechwarrior had fought in under the Dragon banner but he had adapted well.
More importantly, he showed no hesitation in turning its weapons on soldiers who had once been his comrades in arms. That was always a difficult test for a bondsman. Ace had been warned when he removed Michel's bondcord that he should still watch the man carefully until they saw if he could cope with fighting against Steel Vipers. Other Clans and the Inner Sphere were always easier than the clan of one's birth.
(Given that Michel now boasted the Bukannon bloodname, defeating at least three Steel Vipers to obtain it, Ace was going to mark that hurdle as passed).
The tank's armor might be broken but it had done its job, protecting the crew, weapons and mobility. The Tokugawa's main gun spat fire back at Shiro defiantly, tearing chunks out of the assault 'mech's thick hide.
In response, the old mechwarrior fired his jump jets and eighty tons of battlemech rose up into the air on a majestic arc. The tank driver must have realized what was about to happen and tried to evade, but Shiro feathered his jump jets expertly and the Phoenix Hawk came down squarely on the forward hull of the tank, crushing it underfoot.
The gunner swiveled the turret, the long barrel of the autocannon smacking into one of the Phoenix Hawk's legs and then fired its SRM launcher, missiles carving divots out of the shin as they exploded. With contemptuous ease, the 'mech raised its other foot and slammed it against the turret, caving it in.
Ace could have intervened at any time but instead he focused his attention on an elusive light 'mech that was trying to help plug the gap as the Ivory Skate's command star punched into the formation of retreating DCMS 'mechs. The battle computer marked it as a Spider but with surprisingly low certainty and marking anomalies that would need to be reported back to the Watch - this might be an upgraded model or something new that just looked like a Spider.
The Legionnaire danced the fleet little 'mech away from Ace's first shots, something that hadn't happened for a while. Credit to them and Ace would be glad to claim the mechwarrior as a bondsman based on that skill alone.
It wouldn't save them in the short term though - Ace had a measure of its mobility now and when the jump jets flared to life to lift the quasi-Spider up and into Shiro's vulnerable rear, he was waiting. The Huntsman's PPCs fired as one, aimed along the trajectory of the 'mech. The mechwarrior twisted far enough to avoid one of the bolts but the second blew through the left side of the chest and smashed through the bank of jump jet thrusters.
Deprived of half it's thrust, the light 'mech spun briefly out of control before intersecting with the ground, barely catching itself on knees and hands before the left arm gave out - no longer sufficiently braced to carry the weight it collapsed and spilled the 'mech over on its side, temperature spiking as reactor damage and ruptured coolant lines overwhelmed heatsinks already trying to cope with the heat of the jump jets.
For a moment Ace thought that the mechwarrior would shut down their reactor but instead the head blew open as the mechwarrior ejected. Huh. Spiders didn't have an ejection seat, it was one of the design's biggest deficiencies.
A moment later, the reactor shielding finally gave up and the fallen 'mech was the center of a blue-white fireball as the awesome heat of the interior met cold air, oil and whatever else was accessible. That would certainly cut into what could be discovered from the wreck.
The mechwarrior themselves hadn't been thrown vertically by their ejection - they had barely managed an angled ascent and the parachute opened too low to fully absorb the velocity they had been thrown out with. Ace saw them moving, but it was clear that the Legionnaire would need medical treatment. He took a moment to mark their location for pick-up before looking for another target.
Julian's trinary was exchanging fire with the combine mechs to the left of the gap, the Legion of Vega giving almost as good as they were getting. Many of the 'mechs were unfamiliar, this operation might be to test them out. Light 'mechs from the Sixtieth Striker Cluster raced through the gap Ace and his command star had opened for them - Adders, Kit Foxes and Mongrels using their speed to slash around and into the enemy rear.
The Legionnaires to Ace's right - the enemy left flank collapsed immediately. For a moment he thought that it was disorder but a moment later a new order emerged - slower, heavier 'mechs and tanks were forming an L-formation that retreated grudgingly, the shorter leg of the L engaging the breakthrough force while hovercraft and faster 'mechs - Dragons, a handful of Tora and some of the less familiar designs - raced for the dropships.
A rearguard sacrificing themselves, Ace thought. These are good troops.
That didn't stop him from turning on a DCMS Archer that opened up on him with both of its LRM launchers. He darted behind one of the hillocks that dotted the edge of the Combine dropzone, some of the missiles tracking into the ground and others picked off by flechettes from his AMS. A few ran the gauntlet but that was less than a tenth of the salvo and his Huntsman's armor was more than up to the handful of impacts.
Ace emerged from cover and hammered at the Archer's frontal armor with both PPCs, the bolts of charged particles savaging the heavy plating. He'd hoped to hit the low-slung cockpit but all he managed was to inflict blackened scars across the red-and-gray Archer's chest. It wasn't enough to breach but he would have been surprised if it was; Archers were notoriously durable.
Rushing forwards, Ace was almost able to get inside the minimum range of the Archer's missile launchers before it fired again, each footstep of his Huntsman kicking up divots of dry soil - the grass too thin to hold it together. A mass of missiles vomited from both launcheres and Ace hammered the jump jets, angling them for minimal elevation and maximum forward thrust.
Propelled like a rocket itself, the fifty ton Huntsman crashed through the missiles with its AMS blasting holes in the volley as it went. Some missiles were unable to track and most of those that hit failed to detonate, the warheads having not reached their minimum arming distance. They still caused damage, including one that sent a spider web of cracks across the armorglass of Ace's cockpit, but it was far less than the devastation of their full fury.
The Archer backpedaled, raising its blocky fists like a boxer guarding himself. The limbs weren't large enough to give full coverage though and Ace was able to draw a bead on the broken armor from one of his earlier shots.
His right arm's PPC discharged at a range of under a hundred meters and the shot crashed home, sending armor panels the size of a man flying away, tearing away structural ribbing and opening the munitions storage and loading mechanisms for the LRM launcher to view.
Reflexively the Legionnaire shifted his mech's arm to block the breach but this exposed his cockpit and while Ace didn't generally accept 'too close to miss' as a definition, he hadn't stopped closing in and the PPC in the Huntsman's left arm discharged into the cockpit's armor glass from a distance that was almost literal knife fighting range (a distance he could have thrown a knife across, if without any great accuracy).
The Archer toppled backwards, flames visible through what remained of the cockpit. The other Draconian 'mechs and tanks were for the most part still putting up a fight, helped in part by Ace's orders for his forces to stick to strict zellbrigen unless provoked. He didn't think many of them would last long, but they were stalling the bulk of the Ivory Skate and Sixtieth Striker forces he'd brought with him to relieve the garrison.
"Thomas, Sasha, with me!" he ordered sharply, seeing that the pair had also finished their opponents.
The two had no problem catching up with Ace as he took up the pursuit, weaving to avoid fire from members of the rear-guard that objected to him breaking past them. Their Vapor Eagles fell in on his flanks.
"We cannot defeat them all without support," Sasha warned - the Eleventh Legion still had the bulk of two of their mech battalions intact, not to mention the hover-tanks and the infantry mounted in personnel carriers.
"Keep them running and make sure they have a good look at us."
"Is this why we are wearing the wrong unit markings?" Thomas asked - sensibly using a tight-beam rather than something that could be detected.
Ace felt his lips draw back. "They did not come to this world because of its food. They want information and I want them to take back a load of garbage."
Shots came back at them - tanks turning their turrets to the rear and 'mechs twisting to point one arm directly backwards, which also covered their thinner armor. Ace saw one unfamiliar heavy aim a pair of autocannon back towards him and ducked the Huntsman aside before twin streams of depleted uranium could crack his armor - or obscure the proud badges of Beta Galaxy that he was displaying.
The trueborn sounded pained. "It seems dishonorable."
"They offered no batchall and did not identify themselves," Ace pointed out. "We had to work out who we were facing from observations. Why make it easy for them to do the same?" And if the DCMS believed that Beta Galaxy was deployed here then they would be more cautious. With the potential of being stabbed in the back by other Clans, that caution might save the Diamond Sharks from fighting enemies on two fronts.
He raised his arms, firing the PPCs one at a time casually after the withdrawing 'mechs. He didn't actually expect to hit but one shot smacked into the back of a hunched over medium 'mech that dodged when it shouldn't have. The particle beam punched through the shoulder and sent one arm flying.
Ace tagged that for recovery as well. "Make sure you get your battleROMs in for analysis - there are too many unknown 'mechs here."
"We have to survive for that," Sasha grumbled. "Sooner or later they will realize that there are only three of us."
"I hope so." Ace checked their distance from the rest of the Diamond Sharks. Some were beginning to move closer, getting past the rear guard. "It would let us drag some more back to take out in detail. But they are probably disciplined enough to understand that. We will give it until the next ridge - that should be outside of the range of their dropships."
"Well, I am hoping that they do not regroup and try again," Sasha observed. "We might have to try eating some of the local cuisine and I have heard bad things about the goji."
"We are working to fix that," Ace assured him. "Until then, this world will be a fertile source of recruits: the prospect of being assigned to another world has students competing ferociously for places in the warrior and scientist castes. If we can find the equipment and if we have the time, we can recruit another galaxy of warriors from Oshika alone."
Thonburi, Krung Thep
Periphery March, Federated Commonwealth
14 September 3057
Victor heard a familiar voice outside his watchpost and it took him a moment to place it. Then both of his eyebrows jerked up - Kai rarely raised his voice out of irritation. Pushing his chair back, he crossed to the opening of the tent he was using and looked outside.
Kai Allard-Liao was standing outside a staff car, wearing AFFC uniform and arguing with three military police officers, none of whom seemed impressed by the fact they were speaking to a foreign duke. Then again, Victor had picked them for their exacting devotion to duty rather than respect for rank so this was his fault.
"Sergeant!" he called to the senior of the trio.
The man backed up a step before turning. While his subordinates had hands on their nightsticks (though they had yet to draw them, he had been reaching for his radio already. "Sir?" the man barked.
"Hauptmann Allard is with me," Victor explained. "Unless you've decided to join the local militia, Kai?"
Kai exhaled, visibly calming. "The local climate does not tempt me."
"I didn't think so." Victor waved for him to come over. "Sorry about the misunderstanding, carry on sergeant."
There was another "Sir!" from the military police sergeant and he hustled his trio back to where they had been overseeing quite a number of junior officers and senior NCOs that were engaged in unfamiliar manual labor.
Kai loosened his uniform jacket as he saw that Victor had done the same, exposing an undershirt already damp with sweat. "Victor?"
"I thought you'd be in St Ives uniform," he apologized, waving for Kai to enter the shade of the tent. "Or I'd have alerted them to look out for your name. Sorry about that."
"I was trying to be incognito," the heir to the St Ives Compact explained. "I suppose I overdid it. What are you even doing out here?"
"This far from Tharkad or this far from the drop-port?" Victor asked drily. He went to a small cool box and produced a sports drink, passing it to his guest.
Kai accepted the drink and nodded before cracking the lid and taking a long draught from the contents. It looked like it hit the spot because he relaxed further and took the seat facing Victor.
"A lot of these worlds haven't been under serious threat since the Second Succession War," he explained. "Even the arrival of the Clans hasn't really woken up their planetary militias so Aunt Nondi sent me out to make some examples."
"I thought you preferred leading by example," Kai observed.
"Tried that," Victor said flatly. "When the local militia were ordered to make a base ready for your arrival they requested additional funds to 'make good' some deficiencies in the base out there."
Kai frowned, leant back in his chair and looked out of the tent's opening. "That's a militia base?"
"Uh-huh."
"I have Raymond's Armored Infantry and their supporting brigade arriving in forty-eight hours. Roughing it in the field is one thing, but if that's their base of operations for the next six months then they may riot." He considered the view for a moment longer and then lowered the chair back onto all four legs. "I'd join them."
Victor chuckled darkly. "Which is why you and your troops will be operating out of the militia base near the capital and they will be moving out here. To the base that has had an annual budget for routine maintenance and a larger sum every six years for major works and improvements. One of them since the Clan Invasion." He bared his teeth. "Would it surprise you to learn that quite a number of the officers - commissioned or otherwise - have very nice houses and cars?"
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Disappoint, yes. Surprise… well, there are jokes about the LCAF."
"And where there is smoke, there is fire. We know the money got this far and currently every officer ranked Kommandant or higher is having an interview with a tax official rather higher placed than the one who did two days a month as a Leutnant-Colonel in one of the infantry regiments."
That got a whistle. "An example indeed. And the work-crews outside?"
"Every member of the militia above the rank of corporal has 'volunteered' to make good the deficiencies out of their own time," Victor replied. "They've also donated to hire the skilled workers where they don't have them already and will be providing grunt labor - we'll feed them, but it doesn't count towards their other obligations. Which is probably doing them no good in their regular employment. It may impose some military discipline."
"And they accepted that?"
"Taxman," he answered bluntly. "Being fair, some of those who objected have been cleared of wrong-doing. They get to be called up on the AFFC's dime to be your liaisons. The leutnant in charge of that knows the planet pretty well, even if he occasionally has trouble getting onto his feet without a 'little drinkie'."
Kai shook his head. "Not exactly what I'd expect from the AFFC."
"We shaped our expectations on New Avalon and Tharkad, then sharpened them on the frontlines. Things are a bit different in backwaters unless we keep a sharp eye."
Kai finished his drink. "Sounds fun."
"And how are you?" Victor asked, recalling the raised voice earlier. "It's been a while since Sarna and letters…" He shrugged a little guiltily. He'd been so busy that he didn't recall exactly when he and Kai had last exchanged correspondence.
"You know I went back to Ares?" Kai asked.
"Yes." He'd encouraged the decision, even if Candace hadn't officially allowed it. Kai was the duke of the world, after all, and what was his mother going to do? Formally exile her eldest son? "How did it go?"
"Political partisanship is alive and well inside the St Ives Compact," his friend answered. "There's a reason we're getting Raymond's Armored Infantry and Aleisha's Mounted Fusiliers rather than regiments of the St Ives Lancers."
"Enlighten the political idiot over here," Victor requested, hoping he was misreading this. The two were storied units, mercs that had joined the CCAF during the Succession Wars. They hadn't been entirely happy with the breakaway of the St Ives Compact and while neither had backed Romano Liao, they had made it clear that they would serve Candace Liao as mercenaries rather than a formal part of the St Ives Armored Cavalry.
Kai sighed. "Officers who are too opposed to the Capellan Confederation are being encouraged to leave the Lancer regiments. Many of them are joining merc or militia units instead, letting Mother stack the Lancers with officers she feels are less likely to 'provoke another war'."
Victor squinted at him. "Are we talking about her forming pro-Capellan units?"
"She's not going that far," the dark-haired mechwarrior assured him. "Arguably what she's doing is weeding out the hotheads… the ones who think we should have taken Capella."
"The ones who like you more than they do her."
"With a bit of distance," Kai said darkly, "I can see where she was coming from. I'm not sure she's right about some of her predictions, but if taking Capella had triggered Thomas Marik or even just some of the border provinces to jump in then we could have wound up with a three or four sided war tearing the Confederation apart. Not what we needed when the Clans were on the move again."
"I don't think Thomas Marik would have jumped," Victor said after a moment's thought. "Mind you, the border provinces are another matter. Duke Halas would be hard to stop if he called all his province's forces together."
"We'll never know," Kai agreed. "And for what it's worth, Sun-Tzu isn't as bad as his mother."
"I can't say the same for his sister." Kali Liao was certifiably mad, bad and dangerous to be around according to intel. Her mother had leaned into the claims of her divinity by the thuggee sect out of vanity and for access to their fanatics, but Kali seemed to actually believe it.
Kai grimaced. "Anyway, Mother said those regiments are 'my men' and therefore my problem. Having them far away from the Capellans means less chance of provoking another conflict."
"And you said…?" probed Victor.
"As long as Sun-Tzu kept his head, literally and figuratively, I don't think a war with the Capellans is wise." He sighed. "Unfortunately, Cassandra jumped in with both feet about what to do if that didn't happen."
"This was on St Ives."
"I visited a few times. It's not far from Ares." Kai rubbed his head. "Kuan-yin tried to calm things down and thankfully Quintus knows when to keep his mouth shut. Anyway, Cassandra was ordered off St Ives 'until she grows up' and she's with Khorsakov's Cossacks now. Meanwhile mother decided to mention that she considers Treyhang to be just as much a candidate to succeed her as any of us."
Victor frowned. "I don't really know him," he said dubiously. Treyhang was Kai's other cousin - son of Tormano Liao, who milked a living off the 'Free Capella' movement and possibly the man most disappointed by the decision not to take Capella away from the Confederation. He'd been regent, briefly, over St Ives until Kai returned from Luthien to take over the war effort.
"He doesn't get along with his father much these days," Kai told him. "So when I told her he'd be a better choice than Tormano, she hit the roof. I am also now unwelcome on St Ives until I show some responsibility - preferably by marrying and giving her some grandchildren."
"..."
"Oh don't look at me like that," Kai complained. "You have Omi."
Victor grimaced. "Which, as much as I might wish otherwise, is not necessarily going to go anywhere. Minoru is in a precarious position already. She isn't going to do anything to weaken his position, and honestly I'd think less of her if she did."
"We should offer him membership."
"A society of people being pressured to marry?" Victor asked and chuckled. "Great House problems, they would call that. Are you seeing anyone?"
Kai shook his head. "It would serve my mother right if I went to Solaris and started picking up groupies. I was thinking of doing that for a while - Solaris, not the groupies. I own Cenotaph Stables, Dad left it to me. But not when we're sending men and women to war."
"Speaking of which, I will be sure to be on hand when your troops land." Victor told him. "How is their equipment? I can twist some arms if you need to fill some gaps."
"That won't be be necessary," he was assured. "Mother may have chosen them for political reasons, but she didn't stint on supplies. Colonel Raymond's regiment is a little above full strength and almost every 'mech has been upgraded. That includes a full company of Gunslingers."
"Formidable," he allowed. "Arthur has one and showed it off to me on Tharkad. I wouldn't give up my Warhammer for it but it's an impressive design."
"It's almost terrifying how fast technology is moving," Kai agreed. "I expect to wake up one day and my Conjurer will look as out of date as as Yen-lo-Wang would be." His father's old Centurion had been destroyed too early in the Clan Invasion to benefit from upgrades.
Victor nodded and then frowned. "Just as long as the Clans don't spring ahead of us," he said seriously.