Dieron City Hospital
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
5 March 3053
Some time later, Javier took Logan and Yuri down to a medical lab in the hospital in Dieron City. He ordered several tests on the two of them to determine just what had happened to them the night before.
They got the results later that afternoon. Javier shared the information with the two of them.
“Nothing.” Said a frustrated Yuri. “Nothing out of the ordinary is showing up. I don’t get it. If they had injected us with truth serum, it would have shown up on the tests.”
“Then maybe they hit us with something that couldn’t be detected.” Said Logan. “Are there any truth serums or drugs like that?”
“It’s possible something like that exists, but those tests were expansive and we’ve got extensive files on nearly very chemical agent used by the intelligence agencies of the Inner Sphere.” Said Javier.
“I’d imagine so. You guys didn’t get to be the most feared intelligence agency in the Inner Sphere for nothing.”
“A lot of it is just propaganda, Logan. Even the ISF gets baffled every now and then.” Said Yuri.
“Like now?”
“Yeah. we must be overlooking something. Something vitally important. They abducted us for a reason. But why?”
“What about the word I remembered hearing? Amaris?”
“It must be a reference or a code word of some kind.” Said Javier. “Stefan Amaris, as I’m sure you know, is the famed usurper who destroyed the Star League three centuries ago.”
“Perhaps our enemies intend to do the same, destroy the Star Alliance?”
“Probably all it means. But how?”
“Maybe we can find some clues through other channels.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some old fashioned detective work. Come on.”
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
6 March 3053
Gwen brought Joshua into her room and sat him down in front of a computer console.
“What’s this all about?”
“You mentioned someone’s name as being involved. Someone you saw the night I was in your room.”
“Richard O’Malley.” said Joshua flatly. “He’s a former Star Sword officer. Worked for my Intelligence Liaison. He was captured by the Falcons and we lost track of him after that.”
“His presence sets you on edge. Four years apart or no, I know when something is really eating at you. You’ve not told me the whole story.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you the real story. Robert O’Malley, his brother, was a lover to Lisa, my wife. He was taken by the Falcons and made one of them. He was already a little off, but the Clans encouraged his brutality as a tool against their captured populations. Encouraged him and gave him free reign to rape and pillage as he saw fit. He captured Lisa when we attacked New Belfast and did the same with her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Joshua. I did not know.”
“We killed Robert, but his brother was witness to that. My guess is he’ll come for us in vengeance sooner or later.”
“Let me share with you a bit of a secret. Richard O’Malley is a name known to us in the ISF. He’s one of DMI’s most feared counter-intelligence operatives. In addition to whatever personal vendetta you and he may have with one another, he’s also notorious for his hatred of the Draconis Combine. His presence here is more significant that you know.”
“So he probably is in on whatever happened with Yuri and Logan.”
“That would be my bet. Let me show you what we have on him.” Gwen moved over to the computer terminal. Her hands flew across the keyboard. A photograph of an older gentleman in a Northwind Highlanders uniform appeared on the screen.
“This is Baron Ian O’Malley. He’s Richard and Robert’s father. He’s one of the most powerful men on Northwind, probably third down the totem pole from Duke Stuart. He was born in 2995 on Northwind. Married in 3015. Had his first child, Richard, in 3018. Second child in 3020, that would be Robert. His third kid, a girl named Celine, was born in 3026. Fought with the Highlanders during the Fourth War. Wife was killed by ISF terror teams left behind when the 5th Sword left the world.
“Anyway, Ian’s with the Highlanders. A little disappointed that only his daughter chose to pursue a career in the Highlanders though. Robert did for a while, but then went mercenary under mysterious circumstances in 3049.”
“Mysterious circumstances.” Mused Joshua. “Nice euphemism. His family covered up his propensity to do violence against women, something that would come back to haunt Lisa and her family. They didn’t know when they hired Robert to lead their militia.”
”Anyway, Richard also did not join the Highlanders. Instead, he opted to serve House Davion at DMI. Next file.” A new image appeared on screen. A much younger photo of Richard O’Malley appeared. “Here’s your boy. Twenty year veteran. He’s got more decorations than I care to count. A consummate professional, he doesn’t break any of those little suggestions they throw at you in training like no romance. No known close associates except his family. No wife, no girlfriends even. Suspected closet homosexual, but there’s never been any real evidence to back that. Elite rated mechwarrior. Excellent swordsman. Crack shot.” Gwen glanced at Joshua. “If he’s after you, consider yourself lucky to be alive. He’s vicious. He’s one of those agents good enough to earn a place in the enemy’s teaching books.”
“What else do you know?”
“Richard worked diligently during the War of 3039. He and two other agents nearly undid Theodore Kurita’s careful planning. Let’s see what I know about them. Here...”
Two new photos entered the screen. One was a tall man of African descent. The other, a Latino.
“Our photo data is notoriously out of date. These are graduate photos of these men.”
“He’s a lot younger, but this man is very familiar to me. That’s Juan Miranda, my Intelligence Liaison. Juan mentioned he’d worked with O’Malley before.”
“The other is one Antoine Anderson.”
“I’ve had no dealings with him. Anything of note?”
“Not really. Enemy Counterint agent. He’s the quiet one of the bunch. Suspected to be behind the capture of two agents in the Davion Heavy Guards in ‘39. Nothing confirmed. Last reported posting was on Babeski in the Lyran Commonwealth.”
“That’s within a stone’s throw of New Belfast. I doubt that’s coincidence.”
“Maybe not.”
“Yeah. So, Richard’s got plenty of reason to hate the Combine and he’s here on Dieron.” Joshua leaned back. “We need to find O’Malley. He’s the key.”
---
Yuri, Javier, and the Dark Rangers all assembled in Doc’s room that evening. “Where is Laidir-san?” asked Yuri. “I asked her to assist us this evening.”
Javier answered. “She’s with General Messer, checking on some things he had seen the night we attempted the assassination.”
“So ka. Very well. We’re going to sit down and try to figure out what the enemy plans to do to stop the Dieron Conference.”
“Alright. What do we have to work with?” asked Javier. “If the Commonwealth or our own ISF is going to make a move on the conference, what are they going to do? How are they going to do it?”
“To put it simply,” said Doc. “We have to think like an anti-Alliance faction leader. Then ask ourselves, what would I do to stop this conference?”
Logan nodded in understanding. “Well, what are the security forces weaknesses?”
“There aren’t many.” said Yuri. “The 3rd Dieron Regulars and the Genyosha both are on the surface of Dieron. The Genyosha are covering the capital city themselves.”
“Add to that our security battalion, one company each of the Swords, 10th Lyran Guard, and the Rangers.” said Rohan. “Our numbers may be small, but we’re tough as nails and we’re a lot closer to the Palace and the conference than the Kurita units.”
“So how would we crack through the security net?” said Javier. “You guys are the mechwarriors. What would you do?”
“Okay, assume a mech assault on the planet.” said Rohan. “The lack of numbers on the part of the F-C forces is a weakness that the enemy can exploit. We would need ample forces to overwhelm us striking at the center of town. At the same time....This is assuming its not a suicide strike, of course.....I would need to find a way to keep the Genyosha off my flank. So I’d have to tie them up somehow.”
“Attack them directly with another mech force. Force them to stay outside the city while another force goes after the Swords and us.” said Logan.
“Sounds like a workable plan.” said Doc.
“No way of knowing if this is what the enemy planners were thinking though.” said Yuri.
“Doesn’t much matter.” said Logan. “It gives us a rough estimate in numbers of what an enemy force would have to be.”
“And that is?” asked Javier.
“At least two regiments of mechs, maybe three. One to attack the Palace, one or two to tie up the Genyosha.”
“Are you sure about this?” said Javier.
“Well, no. This is all speculation.” said Logan. “Continuing on this path, where are the three regiments going to come from?”
“Anywhere.” said Javier, “but we’ve overlooked something.”
“And that is?”
“It’s time we leveled with you. Gwen didn’t go to Joshua’s room to tell him anything. She went to kill him, on Yuri’s orders.”
“Libereux, how dare you! Say nothing!” Said Yuri in alarm.
“It’s the truth. And for all your vaunted loyalty to the Dragon, it’s quite possible the Director sold you out, Sho-sa. What if part of the plan was for the ISF and the Davions traitors to work together? What if what happened to you was on the Director’s orders?”
“You speak treason.” Yuri drew her pistol. With lightning speed, Javier swatted the weapon from her hand.
“Oh, no you don’t. I think we’re a part of this. I think you brought us here to play our part in this little conspiracy. But you didn’t count on the fact that Gwen’s been in love with Joshua since long before we ever came to the Inner Sphere.”
“You knew all along she’d not carry out her plan to assassinate him.”
“Of course, I knew. I know a lot of things. I also know the ISF has a secret regiment, stockpiled on Al Na’ir.” said Javier. “Just a single jump away. That tidbit of information was why we went after Akbar. That’s one regiment. One of the Northwind Highlanders makes two.”
“What makes you think they’re here?” asked Logan.
“Richard O’Malley. General Messer knows him and claims he saw him. He’s not part of your delegation, which can only mean he’s here to cause trouble.” He turned back to Yuri. “Isn’t he, Noriko-san?”
“You knew O’Malley was here?” asked Logan of her, surprised.
Yuri was flushed with rage, but she said nothing.
“You were not alone in the observation room the night Gwen went to Joshua.” Said Javier. “There was another, a man with red hair and a Northwind accent. I saw the two of you together, because I came to the room to confirm that Gwen had indeed made contact with Joshua. You never saw me, never knew I was there. Did you become the next pawn in the conspiracy’s game, once you own pawns had failed?”
“What are you talking about?” said Yuri angrily.
“They’ve been brainwashed. Conditioned, probably triggered by a code-word or some other stimuli. When those mech regiments arrive, who would ever expect the delegations’ bodyguards to turn on them? Who’s the target? Takashi-sama? Theodore-sama? Victor? Does it matter? The ISF and the Davion traitors will have their war.”
“Yuri, how could you?” said Rohan.
“I am an agent of the ISF. I was given orders.”
“You have been played for a fool.” Said Javier.
“So what do we do?” asked Rohan. “We can’t let either of them near the delegation.”
“We must be cautious.” Said Javier. “If we are too hasty, we may tip off our enemies that we know as much as we do.”
“That’s a gamble.” Said Logan. “Who knows what might set us off?”
“A chance we’re going to have to take…for now.”
---
Some hours later, Logan went and checked on The Nightmare. His massive mech was still resting quietly at the spaceport. Nearby, he could see the lethal Omnimechs of the Star Swords, painted up in their emerald green parade colors. At the foot of one of the mechs were three people. Logan recognized Joshua, Ryan, and Gwen.
Logan walked over to join their conversation. The three noticed his approach and their conversation stalled. “Good evening, Logan. What brings you out here?” asked Ryan.
“Just checking on The Nightmare. You?”
“Reliving old times.” said Joshua. He emphasized the word “old” to make an apparent joke to the others that Logan missed. “How have things been coming with your end of the investigation?”
“So far, we figure these anti-Alliance conspirators, if they do decide to attack, will use a mech force of around 3 regiments, possibly more. We’re trying to ascertain now where the conspiracy forces will come from.”
“That’s a lot of enemies.” said Joshua. “What’s the breakdown?”
“Probably 2 or 3 regiments from the Steiner-Davion traitors or as many from the ISF or both.”
Joshua grimaced and looked towards Gwen. “Why bother trying to have the Davion security chief removed? That’s enough firepower to more than overwhelm the defenders.”
“If you’re looking for a solid answer, look elsewhere. If you’re asking my opinion, this may be in response to my failure to kill you.”
“Awfully big hammer to crack a really small nut.” Said Ryan.
“There’s something else too.” Said Logan. “Javier thinks Yuri and I were chemically brainwashed.”
“I thought the tests came back negative.” Said Joshua.
“They did, but maybe the conspirators are using something new, something we don’t have a test for yet.”
“Not a pleasant possibility.” Mused Joshua.
“There’s still a lot more going on here than we know. We must be cautious.” Said Gwen. “We may not even be able to trust one another. Who knows what they might have programmed you to do? Given the suspicion of a mech attack, programming you as an assassin is overkill…but as a spy?”
“An accusation from someone already admitted to be part of a plot against General Messer?” countered Logan.
“Ryan Steiner did request your specific presence here.” retorted Gwen.
“Stop it, both of you.” thundered Joshua. “All you’ve both proven is that we all have reason to suspect anyone and everyone. Paranoia, however warranted, will not help us.” He looked intently at Gwen. “We have to trust each other, or this will all come to naught.”
“Yeah, I can vouch for my own loyalty.” boasted Logan. “Why would I want to be a part of their conspiracy? I was born in Rasalhague. I hate the Clans and this Alliance is supposed to hand the Clanners their head if it goes off. I have absolutely no reason to want it to fail.”
“Because they offered you more.” said Gwen, her flat tone held a great deal of suspicion.
“If you think I’m so easily.....”
“That’s enough, Gwen.” Repeated Joshua. “Logan has a good point. He’s no reason to cooperate and it makes no sense if he’s already a part of their team for them to have abducted him.”
“Unless the ISF are the abductors.”
“Then it still doesn’t work, because Yuri is one of them and she was taken as well.”
“And her loyalty to them is unquestioned.” Said Logan. “Still, Javier thinks they betrayed her.”
“Maybe they did. It’s clear to me that there are at least two groups at work here. The ISF who ordered my assassination.” Joshua looked at Gwen when he said this. “And some other group, one Richard O’Malley is affiliated with. Ryan Steiner may or may not be involved in this latter group, but do know someone from the Lyran Commonwealth is involved since Logan remembers his abductors speaking German. These two groups may or may not be in collusion with one another.”
“They are.” Said Logan. “Javier has proof that O’Malley and Yuri were working together the night Gwen came to your room.”
“What did you say?” said Joshua, taken aback.
“Javier said he saw the two of them together in the observation room, where all the video feeds from the security cameras are monitored.”
“Dear God…” said Joshua, looking at Gwen. “O’Malley knows.”
“Knows what?” asked Logan puzzled.
“That’s not important right now.” Said Ryan. “Can Yuri be trusted?”
“She’s loyal and determined.” Said Logan. “Even if they hadn’t tampered with her, I’d say no.”
“Alright. Two groups. Two plans in motion. But one conspiracy and all of us caught in the middle.” Summarized Joshua. “We’re not going to figure this out in time.”
“No, we probably aren’t.” said Logan. “That’s why Javier left me loose. He thinks our best bet is let things play out as they’re meant to.”
“I’m not sure I like being reactive in this situation.” Said Joshua.
“How do you think I feel?” said Logan. “Someone’s fucked with my head and turned me into some sort of traitorous bomb just waiting to go off. Scary thought not knowing what you’re going to do whenever they unveil their little plan. Scarier even to think about what you all might do to stop me.” Trying to hide his anxiety, Logan stormed off.
As he marched past the foot of Rohan’s Crab, another figure stepped out. It was Yuri. “I overheard what they said.” she said. “And what you told them.”
“Was I wrong?” said Logan. “Can we trust you?”
“I was given orders.”
“Yeah, you said that before. Orders to whack General Messer. I’m sure that helps the cause of galactic peace. What the hell is the matter with you people? The Clans overran my homeworld. They conquered half your nation. Davion comes with an olive branch so that we can focus on this new threat and you and your masters are more interested in some ancient vendetta. This is stupid.”
“I’m not here to argue politics with you.”
“Fine. But what are you here for? Spying on Messer and the rest of us for those same masters? Plan to sell us out to your friend O’Malley?”
“O’Malley is no friend. I was ordered to work with him, yes, and I obeyed those orders. But he is no friend.”
“And I have to take you at your word that this is so?”
“Whatever was done to us, we’re in this together now. Messer was right about one thing. Paranoia is not helping us. We have to trust each other.”
“Why should we? You’ve already proven you’re a part of all this.”
“You just don’t get it, do you? They abducted me just like they did you. Whatever it was they did to you, they did to me. You accuse me of loyalty to this Conspiracy. Yes, I was loyal to the ISF, but that was repaid with a night of torment of which I have only a scant memory. They didn’t think me loyal enough, so they, as you so eloquently put it a minute ago, ‘fucked with my head.’ Like you, I want answers. I want to know what they did to me.” She was angry now, animated in her speech. “And I want a piece of those who did this to me. Just like you.”
“Even if you discover that Javier was right and it was the ISF who betrayed you?”
“He was right.” Said Yuri defiantly. “I was betrayed. Look at this from my perspective. I was working with O’Malley, a Davion agent. I was later abducted by a group that is quite likely from the Federated Commonwealth. Abducted by the very people I was ordered to cooperate with. By the very people who were supposed to be our allies in this conspiracy. How did that happen if my “masters” didn’t allow it? I didn’t want to believe it at first, but Javier spoke the truth. I was naïve not to see it at first.”
“So what happens now?”
“That depends on you, on the others. I approached you because I thought you might be the one who would most sympathize with me. The others may take more convincing, but if you speak for me…”
“What makes you think they’d trust the two of us in collusion? They might assume this is our ‘programming.’”
“A risk we have to take. General Messer seems to trust you, Logan. I think you need to take advantage of that.”
“That’s an awfully big risk you’re demanding of me.”
“Then you have to decide if you trust me or not after all.” Yuri turned and began to walk away.
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
7 March 3053
Yuri let her head slide under the warm water. Between the warm water and the warm morning sun, the tired and burned out ISF agent found herself refreshed. She came up and reached for her towel. The bathtub was practically a swimming pool, nearly two meters to a side. It was a type of luxury she rarely was treated to.
“Such is a stay at the Palace.” thought Yuri, moving to step out.
“You didn’t wait for me?” said a voice.
Logan was standing in the door, dressed in only a towel. Yuri tilted her head.
“I don’t know. I may have missed a spot.”
“You’d better let me look. I’m very thorough.”
“I know.” said Yuri, sliding back into the water. Logan tossed off his towel and joined her. “I’m very pleased you decided to trust me after all.”
“Well, you said it yourself. They captured the both of us and did whatever to the both of us. If we want to find out who and why, best to work together. Last night was…” Logan paused, searching for the right words. “…consummation of our alliance.”
“Cute.” Said Yuri sarcastically.
“Well, either that or a tryst delayed. You did invite me to your room the night we were taken.”
“So you did find the note…”
“Rohan did.”
Yuri darkened at his name.
“It’s a small galaxy, isn’t it?” said Logan, noticing her change in mood. “General Messer meets up with two old friends from his homeworld about the same time your old flame comes calling.”
“I wish you’d not talk about him.”
“What happened between the two of you?”
“Nothing really.” She said. “Trapped behind enemy lines, danger all around, heightened emotions that found release within each other’s arms.”
“Sounds a bit like now.”
“Yeah, but I think you understand the rules. Rohan never did.”
“Yeah, I ain’t looking to pick out curtains or anything here.”
Yuri stood up and was about to leave the tub, but Logan dragged her back.
“Come on, as long as we’re in here, no harm can come to us or anyone else. Leave the investigation to others for once.”
---
Nearby, Joshua lay sleeping, also enjoying a bit of repose before the day’s events. But his mind was restless. An image, a dream of New Belfast was in his mind. He was walking into the main banquet hall of Castle MacLeod. Lining the walls were his friends, his comrades, Lisa’s family, all with looks of disappointment and sorrow on their face. At the head of the room was Duke MacLeod himself, his wife Lyanna in hand. Joshua approached and as he did, they stepped aside to reveal what was behind them, an open casket with Lisa lying within.
“You did this.” Said Duke Jameson.
Joshua bolted awake, screaming “No!!!” At his side, Gwen sat up with a start and reached for her weapon.
“What the hell was that about?” she said, irritated. She returned her laser pistol to the nightstand. She softened when she looked at Joshua, drenched in sweat and clearly shaken. “Nightmare?”
“Yeah.” Said Joshua, getting up. He walked over into the living room portion of his suite and pulled a robe off of one of the recliners. He put it on and turned back to face Gwen.
“This has gone too far.” He said. “I should never…”
“Stop it, Joshua.” Said Gwen. “You’re killing yourself over this. But, be reasonable. You’ve told me all the stories about Lisa, about the person she used to be and the person she became after O’Malley’s brother had his way with her. She was a fine woman, strong, courageous. But O’Malley destroyed that. You said it yourself.”
“She deserved better than betrayal.”
“The woman you loved is gone.”
A rapid knock came at the door.
“This conversation is not over.” Said Joshua angrily. He moved to open the door. It was Javier.
“Good morning, General. I hope I’m not disturbing you.” His glance wandered to the bedroom.
Gwen got up and came to the threshold. She did not bother to dress. “Why are you here?” she asked pointedly.
Javier let his eyes linger on Gwen for a moment, until Joshua gave an annoyed grunt. Javier turned back to Joshua. “Oh, please, Joshua, it’s not as if I hadn’t sampled those goods once.”
“Once…a long time ago.” Said Joshua sternly.
“You are an interesting man, Joshua. You betray your wife for Gwen, feel guilty over it, and yet won’t allow me even a sidelong glance at a women who once was mine.”
“Get to the point, Javier. Why are you here?”
“Well, it’s been an interesting morning so far. I’ve found the conspiracy mech regiments.”
“Where?”
“The ISF moved their Alpha and Beta regiments to Al Na’ir three weeks ago.”
“That puts them within striking distance of Dieron.”
“And in the same place as the stockpile of mechs we’ve been hoarding. I’ve also got tabs on how large that stockpile is now.”
“Name it.”
“I’ve counted them and the number adds up to about 135. That’s almost a full regiment.”
“A hundred and thirty five mechs.” whistled Gwen.
“That’s a lot, but not two full regiments worth. Weren’t they old 3025 tech anyway?”
“Most of them. Some were captured Clan designs.”
“Any other news?”
“Yes, actually. There has been shuffling around in the old Lyran Commonwealth. The Star Swords 4th Battalion left Evcilier two days ago. The 17th Skye Rangers left their post on Barcelona and are en route to Skye proper. Plus we’ve lost track of two Federated Commonwealth regiments.”
“Which two?”
“The 10th Skye Rangers and the 2nd Kearny Highlanders. Operatives report from Zaniah and Northwind that a new shipping company had begun operating there over these past few months. its name will interest you.”
“What’s that?”
“Sirama Shipping and Transport. I did some checking into Sirama. Their headquarters is on Amity.”
“That’s in the Free Worlds League.” said Gwen.
“A SAFE front?” queried Joshua.
“It would appear so. I checked further and it appears that Sirama has only existed for about five or six months now. The major shareholders are all known pseudonyms for major Free Worlds League nobles, including Thomas Marik himself.”
“The Free Worlders are financing Steiner?”
“I believe so.”
“So what’s so special about the name?”
“Spell it backwards.”
“S-I-R-A-M-A to A-M-A-R-I-S. Amaris.”
“Bingo.”
“The 2nd Kereny is Baron O’Malley’s regiment.” Reminded Gwen.
“As predicted.” Said Joshua. “What was that list again of the FedCom units that were on the move?”
“The 10th and 17th Skye Rangers, the 2nd Kereny, and your own 4th Battalion.”
“Damn, Juan. Don’t tell me he’s a part of this?”
“You should keep a tighter grip on your own officers.” Suggested Javier. “It would appear so, especially given his ties to O’Malley.”
“Any idea on where they were going?”
“Port Moseby.”
“Within striking distance of Jade Falcon worlds….”
“…and the Combine.” Said Gwen. “We’ve got more mech units here than we’ve accounted for in our speculation about who might attack this conference.” She observed.
“The others are moving into position for an all-out assault on the Combine.” Said Joshua. “Once word reaches them of the conspiracy’s success.”
“It’s only a handful of regiments. Less than one-tenth what Hanse Davion dedicated to the Combine invasion in ‘39.” Said Javier.
“But still enough to start a war.”
---
Javier went from Joshua’s room down to where the Dark Rangers were staying. He rapped on Rohan’s door and asked the Rangers to gather.
“Ok, here’s what we know…” began Javier. He stopped. “Where’s Logan?”
“Check Yuri’s room.” Said Rohan flatly. “He’s probably there. Go, Doc.”
Doc headed off and returned about 10 minutes later with Logan and Yuri in tow.
“You uncovered something?” asked Yuri.
“I didn’t ask for her.”
“She’s here on my responsibility.” Said Logan. “Tell us what you know, Javier.”
“Lots of reports coming in via our usual intelligence channels of major troop movements behind the Steiner border. The conspiracy is making their moves. Related thereto is a suspicious Marik-based shipping company whose activities correspond with some of the troop movements. Its name is Sirama, Amaris spelled backwards. We might have gotten ahead of the game, since it appears that they have a local office.”
Rohan sat up. “A base of operations?”
“Probably.”
“We’d best go check it out then.”
Dieron City
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
7 March 3052
The four Rangers took the subway to the block were Sirama Shipping’s branch office could be found. It was not an easy find. The building was a rundown old office in the bottom floor of an equally run down old brick building. By all rights, it hardly looked like the branch office of anything, let alone an expensive-to-run interstellar shipping company. Logan and the others scouted the exterior of the building. There was rudimentary security on the exterior of the building, which Logan deduced was not usually used. The office was probably guarded.
Logan drew his flamer pistol. Rohan calmly pushed the lethal weapon down and suggested that Logan use his handguns instead. “We don’t want to burn up all the evidence in this place.” Logan shrugged, did as he was told, and kicked in the front door. As expected, two guards appeared almost immediately with submachine guns.
“Surprise!” said Logan, pulling the trigger on his hold-out pistols. The shots were high, hitting the paneling above the guards heads. The two guards dropped to the floor.
“Logan, look out!” cried Doc, shoving his commander aside and dropping to one knee. The guards opened fire, bullets ripping up the floor at the pair.
Logan watched as one of the guards opened fire. A round struck his leg. Agony tore into Logan as he hit the floor on his side. Doc fell back, letting lose a blast from his sawed-off shotgun, as a round caught him in the abdomen. His body armor prevented penetration, but he still fell back from the pain of the impact.
“Brilliant, guys.” said Rohan, dropping to one knee and sticking his head and Zeus rifle around the doorway. He fired off a pair of slugs, dropping one guard.
Cowboy drew his twin Mydron machine pistols and let off a burst from each. The second guard staggered back, most of the rounds in his chest. He crashed through a door in the back of the room and lay still.
“Is that all of them?” asked Rohan.
“Beats me. Cover me while I check on Doc and Logan.”
“Roger.”
Cowboy and Rohan entered the front room. Rohan leveled his heavy rifle at the back door, while Cowboy knelt down to inspect his fallen comrades. Doc was bruised but otherwise alright. Logan was in worse shape. The round had broken his shin bone.
“Get me up.” said Logan.
“You’ll not be able to walk on that.” Argued Cowboy.
“Get me up NOW!” swore Logan, anger burning in his eyes.
Doc stood up, rubbing his stomach. “Better do as he says, sir.”
“I’m working on it. You two’d better see what this place is about.”
“Already on it.” said Rohan, lowering his rifle to his hip. He moved towards the back door. With a swift kick, he knocked it open again. He and Doc cautiously stepped over the dead guard and moved into the rear room. Doc paused to pick up the guard’s weapon.
“Andurien Weapons KG-41.” he said, reading the label on the weapon. “It’s of Marik manufacture.”
“Everything in here probably is.” said Rohan. “Come on.”
“Looks like some kind of operating theatre over here.” said Doc, following behind Rohan. Rohan was examining a few desks.
“Whatever they were doing here will remain a mystery.” said Rohan. “There’s nothing of interest here. Even the computer’s data banks are empty.”
“This must have been where they took me and Yuri.” said Logan, staggering into the room under Cowboy’s strong support. “No idea what they did to us?”
“No clues, if that’s what you mean.” said Rohan. “They didn’t leave much.”
“If they’ve abandoned their base of operations, that must mean they intend to act soon.”
“Negotiations are still going on. Lord knows when they’ll be done. I’d be willing to bet our enemy is biding his time until they finish.”
“Why not strike now?”
“Because once the negotiations finish, the majority of the treaty will become public knowledge. That gives these conspirators ammunition in the public relations war. If Steiner’s going to pull this off, he’ll need popular support and something to justify his actions. The treaty can give that to him. If he jumps the gun, he hangs himself.” Rohan looked down at Logan’s leg. “Let’s get you some help.”
Buckminster
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
8 March 3053
Tai-sa Gregory Fillis shook his head in despair. The bright glow of three Union class dropships with their vapor trails were inbound for his world, stripped of its defenses to fight the Clans. Now raiders had come to Buckminster, once a Prefecture Capital in the now obsolete Alshain District.
“Do we have identification on these raiders?”
“Yes, they bear Federated Commonwealth IFF.”
“On the verge of the Alliance! So, it is true. Davion means to conquer us while we negotiate peace. Very well. To the mechs. We will make the Davion dog pay for his insolence.”
Fillis brought his QKD-4G Quickdraw to a full run. The Buckminster militia was made up of a single battalion of outdated mechs with a regiment each of infantry and armor. It was an impressive force for a militia unit, more than a match for the single battalion the enemy was dropping on their heads.
The enemy target was the water purification plant outside of Buckminster’s largest city. Destroying it would cause severe problems for the planet’s populace. “Barbaric these, raiders,” said Gregory to himself. “That plant only hurts civilians if destroyed. This is meant to antagonize us further.”
Gregory had once been a model officer, and an excellent strategist. But he had been demoted for cowardice during the 3039 war. Cowardice had been prudent during that fight, as had he held the line as he had been ordered, the Davion unit would have flanked him and destroyed his battalion utterly. No, he’d saved the lives of his troops, but had cost the Dragon a few square miles of land. For that insult, he was booted down to militia duty. Under the new order of Theodore Kurita, his action would have been rewarded.
Gregory did not mind the demotion, as we was hoping to retire soon. DCMS officers did not retire to civilian life as did the officers of other militaries. No, they were posted to backwater worlds where they could still serve, but were unlikely to ever see the horror of war again. It was not too unlike the Clan custom of solhama units.
The Quickdraw’s computer registered the first enemy contact just over the rise. “What do we have?” he said, instructing the computer to identify the enemy with the press of a button.
The radar designated the target “MAD2C-Alpha.” Gregory went white. “MAD2C” meant a Clan Marauder IIC, an 85 ton monster with enough firepower to level an entire lance of his outdated medium and light mechs. His 60 ton Quickdraw was the heaviest machine they had. Attacking the raiders would be suicide. Not doing so might cost hundreds of civilian lives.
“For the Dragon!” cried Gregory as he charged over the hill. A triple PPC blast from that Marauder prevented him from ever seeing even the first seconds of the battle.
Dieron system
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
10 March 3053
“Then tomorrow is the day.” said the noble, his vidscreen face distorted by the magnetic fields of the Dieron system’s gas giant.
“Yes, Phase Two and Three of Operation : Amaris will be launched tomorrow.” said the man in the SAFE uniform.
“When they are done, the Alliance will be no more. Once word reaches our allies across the Inner Sphere, our forces will seize the governments of over two dozen worlds, demanding retaliation for the death of their leaders.”
“And the war begins. Thomas Marik and Sun-tzu Liao will recognize your rightful claim to the Lyran throne and the Federated Commonwealth will split in two. What you chose to do after that is no longer the business of the Marik.”
“Save the favors I will owe you.”
“Stopping this Alliance is more than adequate repayment, Duke Ryan.”
“Thank you, and thank Thomas Marik. This will be a great day for the Inner Sphere. Ryan out.”
“What have your men learned?” said the Duchess, moving out of the corner where she had remained concealed from Ryan Steiner’s view.
“It appears some of the ISF are working with General Messer to stop Duke Ryan. The rest appear to be knocking out all the early warning systems in the Dieron system.”
“As we suspected, some could not be trusted to hold up their end of the bargain. It was, perhaps, premature of us to assume that they would ally with us to kill their own leaders.”
“Some did.”
“Enough did.” Said the Duchless, a sly grin coming across her face. “The plan is still working. Soon, there will be war and I will sit the throne of my nation. And no one will stop me. Not General Messer. Not the ISF. And certainly not my late dear brother.”
Next Chapter
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Chapter Seven - Reunions
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
Gwen quickly and easily bypassed the lock on the door of Joshua’s room. She rapidly darted inside and closed the door behind her, remembering not to lock it. She moved about the dark room, assessing its layout. Granted, she’d already memorized the floor plan of the entire Palace, but the difference between a map on paper and a real room was drastic to her.
“A moment’s courage and this is over and done with.” thought Gwen to herself, trying to shore up her convictions. “You haven’t seen or spoken with him in four years. But this has to be done. We have to make contact sometime.” Gwen glanced upward towards where she knew the cameras were positioned in the room. “Have to make this look real, like I’m really here to kill him.”
She unzipped her jumpsuit all the way down to below her waist and pulled out a bundle. It was a blouse, skirt, and bra that she’d kept there to make them somewhat warm. She dropped the garments, in order from the door, on the floor heading towards the bedroom. After she dropped the bra, she reached down into the crotch of her suit to gather the last article she would need to set things up. Wanting to go for the really authentic, she’d stored the panties within her own, hoping that if nothing else, the warmth and odor of this garment would convince Joshua of the bait. Despite her efforts, Gwen somehow doubted he’d check that closely. Again, she looked up at the camera. “Yes, I’m doing everything according to the plan. But little you know it’s not Joshua I’m trying to fool here.”
She hung the panties on the door knob of the bedroom and walked inside. A tone signaled in her facemask to indicate that the hall guard had seen Joshua making his way towards her. She quickly ran into the bathroom to turn on the faucet of the tub and then darted to take her place in the corner of the bedroom. At that moment, the door opened and Joshua stepped inside. He spotted the blouse on the floor immediately, but his eyes quickly darted upward to see Gwen, dressed as she was in the ninja-uniform of a DEST assassin.
“What the…” said Joshua, drawing Anduril with a flash. He rushed Gwen, as she clumsily drew her own weapon to defend herself. Her vibrokatana came up just in time and the two swords struck together.
Joshua pushed forward against his attacker, pushing the lithe ISF agent back. The tight jumpsuit told him the gender of his assassin and dissolved any further delusions he had as to why his room had been decorated in female apparel.
Joshua lunged in again. The assassin knocked the strike aside with her own sword, but the parry was clumsy and half-hearted. Joshua was confident now that his opponent was not even close to his skill in a blade.
Gwen knew it too. “He’s gotten better. Back home, I was never as skilled as Joshua with my sword and I could never hope to beat him then. Now, with him even better, I know I can’t.” She put up another parry, trying to ward off Joshua’s aggressive and determined assaults. “He’ll kill me unless I press an advantage. Got to go on the offense.” She slashed at him, remembering her training as both a Wolverine and as a DEST ninja.
Joshua easily brought Anduril up to parry the vibrokatana. There was a loud clang as the two swords struck. Joshua leaped back, landing in the center of the room. His eyes adjusted to the darkness as his attacker lunged forward for another strike. Joshua darted to one side and struck with Anduril. His blow glanced off the katana.
Lightning quick, his attacker struck once again. Joshua darted back, the vibrokatana slicing through the cloak to his dress uniform. Joshua, annoyed, swung downward with his sword. He aimed for his opponent’s weapon and struck it hard. The blow knocked the katana downward, too far for his opponent to effectively form a good parry.
Joshua whipped Anduril back up. Gwen saw the blade slashing upward towards her face. Her mind screamed. “I didn’t want to kill you, Joshua. And now I’m going to die!”
Gwen cried out. “No, Joshua!” just as his sword struck her faceplate, cracking it. She fell backwards and landed on her back on top of Joshua’s bed.
“Who sent you?” barked Joshua, bringing Anduril up to poke at her throat.
“Don’t kill me, Joshua. You’ll never live with yourself if you do.” Her voice was unrecognizable behind the muffling of the now broken facemask. But her comment was enough to give Joshua pause. He pulled back, but kept his weapon at the ready.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
Gwen sat up and released her shattered facemask. She bent forward to let it and whatever broken glass it might contain drop onto the floor. She wiped a few pieces of glass off her face and off of the cowl of her jumpsuit. Then she stood up and looked at her old lover eye-to-eye for the first time. Without hesitation, she pulled back the cowl of her jumpsuit, letting her red hair come free.
Joshua staggered back. Anduril clattered to the floor. “It…it can’t be.”
“Yes, Joshua, it’s me.” Said Gwen.
“But you….you died…on New Vision.”
“You survived. Is it so hard to believe that others did?”
Jaime Wolf’s words came back to Joshua’s mind. “Never…never in a million years would I have thought…would I have hoped you were one of them.” He dropped back into a recliner.
Gwen picked up her sword. Had she truly been here to assassinate Joshua, she would not have a more perfect opportunity that this moment, with him unarmed. “I was sent to kill you.” She said. “And still could.”
She returned her blade to its scabbard. The game was now up. Any observer would know she had not carried out her orders. “But that’s not really why I’m here. I’m here to let you know you’re not alone. That there are others; Other Wolverines. But it seems you knew that already.”
“I did.” Said Joshua, regaining his composure. “But not who they were. Why the attack?”
“A bit of theatrics to convince my masters of my true intentions.”
“Those same masters are still watching us.” said Joshua. He pointed upward to the cameras. He knew where they were too.
“It doesn’t matter now. I’ve made my choice. There is more going on here than you know.”
“I’ve already seen a number of suspicious things.” Said Joshua.
“I don’t know a whole lot. Those of us on the operational level haven’t been briefed about the whole plan. But the ISF is determined to disrupt the proceedings. Your assassination was part of a larger plan.”
“And now that’s failed.”
“You should know I could never carry out those orders.” She smiled. “God, I’ve missed you. Four years is too long.”
“How did you survive?”
“Wondered when you’d get around to ask me that.” Gwen took a seat in another recliner. She took his hands into hers and gave them an affectionate squeeze. “When the Falcons firebombed Cumberland, I grabbed Javier and tried to flee the hospital. The two of us managed to get out into the streets as the fighters came overhead. We fled into the sewers and hid out there as the city was destroyed around us.”
“I’m amazed you survived that.”
“We nearly didn’t. But eventually Javier and I got back to the surface. From there, we were found by a Kurita scouting party.” She stood up and moved closer to Joshua. “The next thing I know, I’m on a spaceship bound for Dieron. It seems a Comstar raiding party followed the Falcons down. There was a Draconis contingent aboard that found Javier and I.”
“You were aboard the Comstar ship too? Just like Colonel Wolf said. Javier was the burned man, still injured from the Trial with me, and you were the woman. Against all hope, I never would have guessed that it would be the two of you.”
“Aff. Just as your Lyran rescuers were kept separate from the Kurita soldiers, so too were you as medical patients kept separate from Javier and I. I did not know you had survived as well until the second battle of Twycross. It was inspiring to hear that anyone could beat the Clans, so your Star Swords became an inspiration to us here in the Combine. We followed your story very closely.”
“So how’d you end up in ISF?”
“ISF command was a little confused with what to do with us. They decided after seeing our mechwarrior skills to train us as DEST soldiers. Javier and I were separated after our training. We worked together briefly on Dieron, before parting ways again.”
“So he’s not here?”
“No, he’s here. I was reunited with him for an operation back in October and he’s been with me ever since.”
“Partners in crime…” chuckled Joshua. “In more ways than one?”
“No,” she said. “No, between us and the destruction of our world, I couldn’t go back. Not feeling what I felt and knowing what I knew. Even thought we had only each other, our relationship was over. Javier’s never been happy about that, and he keeps trying each time we meet, but I keep him at arm’s length.”
“I’m sure that doesn’t make him very happy.”
“To his credit, he’s changed a lot. He’s very devout, believing strongly in the Wolverine destiny of saving the galaxy. He’s wanted to make contact with the Star Swords and you for a long time. This conference gave us our opportunity.”
“Can I trust him?”
“You will have to decide that for yourself.”
“And you? What has changed about Gwen in these past four years? You certainly aren’t any better at swordplay.”
Gwen laughed. “Ok, you’ve got me there.” She paused. “God, you have no idea how good it is for me to look in your eyes, to hear your voice, to touch you.” She let her fingers linger over the back of his hand, stopping only when they glanced atop Joshua’s wedding band.
“If you’ve been following my progress, then you no doubt know about that.” said Joshua, referring to it.
“Yeah.”
“I love her, Gwen.” said Joshua defensively.
“Who are you trying to convince?” retorted Gwen. “I know why you did it. I know you didn’t know I still lived. But I’m here. I’m alive and everything we ever wanted could be ours.” She gave the wedding band a tug and it slipped from his finger. Joshua did nothing to stop her.
Gwen leaned forward again and this time planted a kiss on Joshua’s lips. Joshua grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her close. She broke off the kiss and stood up. She took him in hand and brought him to his feet. Without another word, she led him back into the bedroom.
---
Watching through the secret camera in the ceiling fan above the bed, Richard O’Malley smiled in delight. “Seems you are human after all, Joshua. Can’t really blame you. Agent Laidir is young and beautiful…and apparently an old acquaintance.”
“Who’d have thought?” said Yuri Noriko. “This was not part of the plan. She was supposed to kill him, not screw him.”
“The plan will have to adapt.” Said Richard. “But what we are seeing is not without merit. I’ll simply report that your operative failed. Joshua is a resourceful and powerful warrior. No one will doubt that he could overpower any assassin sent by your people.”
Richard watched their lovemaking with voyeuristic interest, pausing his observation only so often to confirm that he was recording this.
“Besides,” continued Richard. “She told him enough to create suspicion, which was the whole point behind this operation anyway. It won’t be long before we have the Davion security forces jumping at shadows and glaring balefully at their Kurita counterparts. That’s a formula for disaster.”
“You had best be right about that.” Yuri stood up. “I’m going to return to the common area. I’ve seen enough.”
“Suit yourself.” He watched her leave the observation booth. “You’ll have your part to play soon enough, Ms. Noriko.” He thought quietly.
“Well, well, Joshua, what have you done?” said Richard aloud to himself. Deciding he had enough evidence, he popped the vidchip out of the recorder and looked at it as if it were solid gold. “I just wonder how well your crazy wife will react to this.”
---
Yuri walked out into the common area, which was filled with delegates, diplomats, and various security forces. It was obvious there was little trust or camaraderie between those who served the Dragon and those from the Davion delegation. But there were a few exceptions. Standing there talking to a Kurita mechwarrior was Logan, leader of the Dark Rangers. The mechwarrior walked away, leaving Logan alone. Logan was holding a glass of orange juice, probably a Screwdriver or some other mixed drink. He chugged the glass and turned to see Yuri standing there. Yuri smiled and tossed her long black hair back. She started walking towards him.
Logan tossed the disposable glass into a trash can and waited for her to get closer. “I must admit these are much better circumstances under which to meet you, Tai-sa Noriko.” said Logan.
“Being at the business end of my gun is never a fun experience.”
“Being at the business end of mine always is.” said Logan with a sly smile.
“Do you always try to charm women with talk like that?”
“Is it working?” It wasn’t so much of a question as a statement of fact. “Tell me something, Yuri. Can I call you Yuri? I’ve been thinking about taking in this beautiful city tonight. All the hustle and bustle out there. Clubs, bars, all-night shows,...cheap hotels. I was wondering if you would be interested in coming along with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Some other time then?”
“Not likely.” said Yuri flatly.
“I’m not known for taking no for an answer.” responded Logan briskly.
“Then let us see how persistent you are, Logan-san.” Yuri brushed past Logan, grabbing a feel of Logan’s rear as she did so. Logan jerked, surprised. As she walked away, he smiled and snapped his fingers.
“Works every time.” he said and then he too walked off. Neither noticed Karl Rohan glaring at them from the corner of the room.
Dieron City club district
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
Logan decided to take in the night life of the city anyway. Yuri had initiated the game, and Logan felt like celebrating. “Soon, that little piece of Kurita ass is going to be mine.” He thought to himself. “I’ve never gotten to screw a woman who tried to kill me. Well, at least not before I got her into bed.”
Logan had been warned by Joshua that the ISF kept an eye on you if you left the Palace compound. Logan had been quick to spot his tail as he moved about Dieron City’s club district. Irritated, he tried to lose the agent in the crowds. That proved a futile effort.
Logan sat down at one bar after deciding to give up on his persistent shadow. He ordered a drink, and then turned to shoot the man a glance. The ISF man did not seem to care that he was discovered. He merely sat at the opposite end of the room and did nothing but watch Logan. Logan turned back as his drink arrived. He chugged the thing down and then turned back to his tail. The ISF agent was gone.
Rather than feel pleased, Logan immediately began to get paranoid. He’d only turned away for less than a minute. He got up and walked over to the place where the agent had been sitting.
“I must be out of my mind. I wanted to get rid of this guy, now I’m wondering where he went.”
The seat was empty and there was no sign of the agent. “Well, maybe he went to the bathroom. Even these ISF robots have to take a whiz sometimes.”
Logan decided to take advantage of it. Seeing the front door crowded by a large band of young men and women (college students, he surmised), Logan cut for the back door. He walked past the restroom, praying that his tail would not walk out right in front of him. No one came in or out of the restrooms as Logan made his way to the backdoor and out into the alley.
He immediately surveyed his surroundings. Looking up, he noticed something hanging from the fire escape. Backing away from the bar to get a better look, he saw the “thing” was a human body. Blood was dripping down the man’s slashed throat to the tips of his fingers, which then dripped off onto the pavement from the corpse’s dangling arms.
It was, as Logan had feared, his ISF tail.
If Logan was only paranoid before, now he was terrified. He drew his flamer pistol and headed for the street. In the open, he figured, he’d be less of a target.
Two shimmering forms appeared from the shadows at the end of the alley. Logan recognized the shimmering as the light distortion given off by a “sneak suit.” He fired the flamer pistol at the left form, and darted to his own left to dodge the tazer darts fired by the right-hand enemy.
The left enemy took the wad of burning plasma in the chest. Howling with pain, he danced about for a few seconds before the plasma seared through the tissue of his chest, frying skin, bone, lung, and heart without discrimination. He dropped over dead.
Undaunted, the right hand man turned off his sneak suit and drew a stun baton. “They want me alive. Why?” thought Logan. His finger twitched on the pistol again, but the enemy agent easily avoided the slow moving plasma burst. His opponent came low, swinging the baton up to catch Logan just under the forearm.
The stun baton was on overcharge, or so it felt. Logan felt every muscle in his body spasm at once, causing him to fire the flamer a third time. He dropped to the ground and writhed in pain, cursing the fact that of all the things that blow had done, it had failed to render him unconscious.
Logan’s attacker smashed the stun baton down on Logan’s head. Between the blow itself and the charge it delivered, Logan passed into oblivion. A van pulled up to the end of the alley and several men got out. The men carried Logan into the van.
“Now for the other one.” said the sneak suited attacker.
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
5 March 3053
Richard left the observation room. The operation was now well underway. The ISF had failed to kill Joshua, but his people had been prepared for that possibility. Richard admitted some disappointment at that, but the recording in his pocket would do far more damage to his enemies than any ISF assassin. Now for the next step in the plan. Time to see if Antoine’s security codes were good.
“Time is short.” said Richard to himself. “Granted, these new drugs work ten times better than any method of brainwashing we had before, but it still takes several hours to program the recipient. If we intend to get Logan and Yuri ready in time, I’d better move.”
Richard stepped into a broom closet and began to undress. Beneath his street clothes, he wore a sneak suit. He turned it on and headed out for one of the service elevators of the Palace.
Getting through the locked doors was easy with Antoine’s codes, as he had hoped. Richard soon found himself on the fifth floor, where Yuri’s and the other ISF operatives were staying. “Hard to imagine that we’re actually working with these people to undermine this alliance. But at least we were wise enough not to trust them to carry out their part, even with the vaunted reputation of the ISF. Now, we let the experts take over.” thought Richard to himself. His sneak suit was able to mask light and infra-red, but it was not a perfect system. Rapid motion would produce a shimmering motion that made him more obvious, not less. He had to be cautious..
Two guards marched up the hall with military precision. Richard fell into step behind them, letting his own footsteps match theirs. It prevented the various sensors in the hallway from picking him up separate from them. When he reached Yuri’s door, he moved to it and left the guards to their circuit.
Again, an Antoine Anderson code got him in the door. Yuri was apparently awake and waiting for a nighttime liaison.
“You’re more clever than I thought, Logan.” she said from the bedroom when she heard the door open. “I knew that when I left an invitation to my room on your bed that you’d find some way to get past my guards. But to get through a locked door.” With that, she came out into the living area and saw no one.
Richard smiled. In the darkness, even the distortion of his sneak suit could not be seen. Yuri was wearing lingerie too revealing for the timid. When she noticed no one there, she became alarmed and moved cautiously towards the door.
“Surely this didn’t come open on its own.” she said to herself out loud.
Without warning, Richard stabbed forward with his stun baton. Yuri yelped once and fell to the ground, a much easier victim than the stubborn Logan.
Richard unpacked a leather harness from his belt pouch and slung it under Yuri’s arms and through her crotch. He then hoisted the limp woman onto his back. He walked over to the patio window, attached his rappelling line, and was over the side. Within five minutes, he was out of the compound and on his way.
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
5 March 3053
A swirl of images, sounds, odors, and sensations roared through Logan’s head like a hurricane. His body spasmed with agony as he opened his eyes. Light flooded in. More pain. He tried to sit up, but only succeeded in rolling onto the floor to vomit.
“What has happened to me? Where am I?” At first, he thought it was a hang-over, but then remembered that even hangovers didn’t usually feel this bad.
He sat there for several seconds. His vision went in and out of focus, but finally cleared to reveal his room. Logan tried to stand again. This time he was successful.
He tried to make sense of the patterns of chaos that ran through his mind. Only two things came into his mind. He remembered seeing a woman tied into a chair. She had an artificial arm. He also remembered hearing a man talking across the room. He spoke German most of the time, a language only slightly known to Logan. Most of what he remembered sounded like gibberish, but he did remember one word that he could understand: Amaris. That was the name of the infamous Usurper, who assassinated the ruling family of the Terran Hegemony and touched off the civil war that destroyed the Star League. His name was synonymous with betrayal, much like Judas or Brutus.
Centuries of historical tradition, the same traditions that Logan ate, drank, and breathed as a child growing up, were the only thing that gave Logan clear enough through to remember the historical reference. His mind was otherwise not functional.
His head cleared further. Logan was afraid for it to get too clear, for fear he might forget something important. Unfortunately, those two clues were all he could get.
He staggered to his door, looking for the other Dark Rangers.
Doc’s room was next door. He sprung out of bed with a delighted look on his face. “Of course! It’s so simple. Why didn’t I think of it before?”
He headed over to his laptop computer. He looked about his desk. “No, I couldn’t have left the disk back at the hanger bay. Damn. Well, all’s not lost. Where’s my notebook?”
Doc scrounged around the floor for a second. “Oh no, don’t tell me I’ve misplaced it too?”
A slow but loud knock came it his door. Doc ignored it, continuing to rummage through his room.
“I can’t find my notes. I need my notes. I can’t find them!” he said frantically.
Logan pushed the door open impatiently. Doc spun, ignoring the intrusion. He looked Logan straight in the eye and said “Have you seen my notes?”
“Shut up, Doc. I’ve had a bad night.”
“Bad night? I just figured out the one last problem on making a working Streak system for the six pack and you’re telling me you’ve had a bad night. I can’t find my notes. I need them.”
Logan sat down and rubbed his eyes. “If you don’t shut up and get the others in here in less than ten seconds, I’m going shoot you somewhere very painful. And then, if you are still capable of finding your notes, I’m going to ram them up your ass. Now move!”
Doc looked at Logan. Concern crossed his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Just get the others.”
Within a minute, Cowboy and Rohan joined Logan in Doc’s room.
“So what’s the problem?” said Cowboy.
Rohan just glared balefully at Logan. Logan was too sick to care. Without a word, he moved on into Logan’s room to look around.
“Where was I last night?” he asked.
“Beats the hell out of me.” said Doc. “I was at the hanger all day. Damnit, I still can’t find my notes.”
“Shut up.” said the other three in unison.
“Spend any time with Yuri?” asked Rohan with a stern tone, returning from Logan’s room.
“No, she turned me down.”
“Then what’s this?”
Logan looked at the folded note Rohan gave him. “I have no idea.” he said after reading it.
Before Rohan conjure up an angry retort, Cowboy spoke up. “Don’t bring some personal squabble into this.”
“I don’t remember a thing, Karl. Honest.” said Logan. “But I do know I have not seen that note before now.”
“So you weren’t with Yuri?”
“No, I was not. No, wait, Yuri has a cyberarm, doesn’t she?”
“Yes.” said Rohan. “Lost her arm on Turtle Bay.”
“But I did see her. I know that was her. I saw her.”
“Saw her? Saw her where? What are you talking about, Logan?” said Cowboy.
“He was probably too drunk to remember he was sleeping with my lover last night.” snapped Rohan.
Logan stood up, anger boiling to the surface. “I’ve just about had enough of you.”
“I saw you with her in the common room. I didn’t need your help making my reunion any harder.”
“I can’t believe the two of you are fighting over a woman who six months ago was trying to kill you both.” said Doc casually. He was universally ignored by the others.
“I didn’t see your name on her, Rohan.” continued Logan hotly. “She’s fair game in my book. Hell, from where I’m standing, it seemed she was far more interested in me than in you.”
“Both of you stop it.” said Doc, refusing to be ignored this time and stepping between them. “Logan, sit down and tell us what’s happened. What do you remember?”
Logan collapsed into his seat, his legs surrendering to fatigue. “All I remember was going down into the city by myself. Then all I remember before waking up this morning is a swirl of images that includes Yuri and a man talking about Amaris in German.”
“A dream?” suggested Doc.
“Possibly.” said Cowboy.
“I’d swear it was real. I was so sick when I woke up I could barely move. There’s a nice pile of puke on the floor of my room if you need any proof.”
“Found it.” said Rohan irritated. “Stepped right in it.”
“Well then what happened to you?” said Doc.
“I don’t know.” said Logan desperately.
“Let’s go find Yuri.” said Rohan. “Maybe she has some answers.”
“That’s not a good idea.” said Cowboy. “We don’t know if she’s the one that did this to him. For all we know, he really did take her up on this invite after he got back from his sojourn in the city and that’s when they jumped him.”
“I refuse to believe Yuri is responsible for this.” Said Rohan.
“She’s ISF, Karl.” said Doc. “Regardless of what feelings she may have had for you once, duty is everything to them. If her orders are to do Logan harm somehow, she’ll do it, and all those good times are not going to get her to tell you why or even if she did do it.”
“We can’t trust her. We go to General Messer.” said Logan.
---
Gwen hurriedly made her way down to her quarters. She was quivering with excitement by what had taken place the night before. All that she had hoped and wanted for four years was coming to pass.
As she walked into her room, Javier looked up from his seat on her sofa. “Good morning.” he said cheerfully. “Seeing as I heard no alarm last night, no commotion, I presume things went well with you and Joshua.”
“They did.”
“Now we have to figure out how to explain why the both of you are still alive. The die is cast.”
“I know.” Said Gwen. “And so do they.”
“So be it. Joshua can provide us the sanctuary we need. But there may be another way…”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Those recordings could be conveniently lost and those observers disposed of. It would buy us time.”
“Yuri was monitoring last night. You aren’t suggesting…”
“I am.” Said Javier. “In some ways, I’m surprised she’s not here to arrest you already. Best take advantage of that.” He drew his sidearm and pulled back the slide to chamber a round. “Let’s go.”
The two made their way over to Yuri’s quarters, prepared for the worst. They did not expect to find the mess they encountered.
Yuri was lying naked in the bathtub, which was filled half-and-half with water and vomit. She had apparently tried to bathe, but the rebellion her body was successfully carrying out prevented that. She was barely awake, and oblivious to the filth she was soaking in.
“This is unexpected.” Said Javier.
“Put your gun away. Something is wrong.” Said Gwen. “Go, see if you can find the recording.”
“Aff.” Said Javier as Gwen moved to nurse Yuri back from semi-consciousness.
“What happened to you?” asked Gwen as Yuri came around.
“I don’t….I don’t know.” She muttered.
“Can you stand?”
“I can try.” Yuri came to her feet with assistance from Gwen. Gwen got a towel and worked to wipe the filth off of Yuri’s body. She then got a robe and put it on her.
“What do you remember, Sho-sa?”
“I remember waiting up for Logan and hearing what I thought was him coming in. Nothing more than that. I woke up in my bed feeling like I had to get better to die.”
“Logan, the mercenary? Why?” asked Javier from the other room.
“Hey, I might be 37 years old, but this body’s still got some life left in it.” She yanked the robe aside to give Jean a view.
“Yes, Sho-sa, I believe you.” said Javier, trying to be polite. Not easy with a woman flashing her chest at you.
“Did he arrive?” asked Gwen.
“Ie. I never saw him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I do remember voices though. Words in German.”
“Lyrans?” said Javier. “Where did you hear the voices?”
“I don’t know. Not here. Somewhere else. More enclosed, the voices echoed. Metal walls.”
“How could you have been taken somewhere?”
“Unless I am hallucinating,” she said, regaining more of her composure. “and I would not rule that out, then I was indeed removed somehow. Check the security sensor records. Something funny should turn up.”
“And Logan?”
“Find him. I want to know where he is and what he is doing.” said Yuri. “Libereux-san, the tapes. Laidir-san, you get Logan.”
“Hai. And Yuri, you stay here.”
“Yokai.” said Yuri with an exaggerated salute. She sat down on the bed, slumped over onto her back, and lay still.
“Will she be okay?” asked Gwen.
“I’ll get the medics in here to check her out.” said Javier. “There’s no recording in her personal effects. I’ll check for our recording as well as the one of Yuri’s abduction. Something big is up, bigger than the ISF operation against Joshua. We may want to approach Joshua about this.”
“I was already planning on it. Go! Let’s see what we can learn.”
---
Joshua had gone down to the makeshift hanger at the Palace to check up on Galileo III when the Dark Rangers found him. Ryan Smith was there assisting him when Logan, assisted by Doc’s able hand, staggered to the foot of the mech and called for Joshua to come down.
“You keep checking on that power surge, Ryan. The last thing I need is my targeting computer interface to blow because of an overworked surge protector.”
“God, I liked it better when these mechs were brand new and not jury-rigged to death.” complained Ryan.
Joshua climbed a few rungs down the ladder. “Hey, it gives them personalities.”
“Yeah, bad ones.”
Joshua climbed down. “What happened to you?” he said amused to Logan.
“That’s what I came to talk about.” said Logan. He then related his story, as best he knew it, to Joshua.
“Sounds like a bad trip.”
“Last time I go into the city.” said Logan.
“Not the kind of trip he meant, I believe, Logan.” said Cowboy.
“Sniff the bottom of Rohan’s boots if you want proof as to how real it was.”
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind.” Said Logan. “There were some unpleasant physical aftereffects, a pile of which is on my bathroom floor.”
“Not unusual for those sort of symptoms to go along with a hangover, particularly a bad one.”
“This is no hangover. It’s something else.”
“I believe you. I myself had encounters last night that has raised my suspicions. Something is going on. There are means to verify parts of your story. If he came back into the Palace, drunk or no, there will be a recording of it. Let’s find that. If he came back with someone, that gives us a lead.”
“So we do have a mystery on our hands.” said Rohan.
“We do indeed, my mercenary friend.” said Joshua. “And we have two big questions to solve. First and obviously is who did this to Logan? Secondly, is what did they do?”
“Fucked me up pretty hard.” said Logan.
“Yeah, but to what end, Logan? Something’s awry with your body chemistry. That tends to indicate......”
“....drugs. But not the booze we were meant to think.”
“No, I’m thinking truth serums or something else as insidious. And if you’re right about seeing Commander Noriko there too, that means that our culprits are after both the Kurita security force and our own.”
“Assuming she wasn’t supervising?”
“True. But, unlike you guys, I do have someone I can trust on the Kurita team.”
“Would that be her now?” said Cowboy, motioning towards a redheaded female moving across the lawn.
“Aye, that it would.”
Ryan Smith stood up in the cockpit and came down. “Isolated the problem, Joshua. It should be fixed. Now what’s going on?”
“We have a problem, Ryan. A breech in our security. Someone’s done something to Logan.”
“What did they do?” said Ryan, just as Gwen walked up.
“We don’t know.”
“You look as bad as Sho-sa Noriko.” said Gwen to Logan.
Ryan turned, having failed to notice her approach until now. “What the hell?” said Ryan, recognizing her instantly.
“It would seem that Joshua was not alone. Good to see you again, Ryan.”
“Gwen? Gwen Laidir? Is that really you?”
“Explanations for that will come later. Right now, we have a more pressing matter.” Said Joshua to his friend.
“So they got Yuri too, then?” asked Rohan.
“Hai.” said Gwen. “Javier and I found her in the bathtub, covered in her own vomit.”
“Oh, that’s a pleasant image.” said Doc sarcastically.
“Obviously, something big is going on here and we barely know anything at this time. Time for that explanation, Ryan. Gwen came to my room last night. She and Javier have been working for the ISF for years, ever since they were recovered from New Vision like we were. Gwen told me that the ISF is working against the Alliance and that they sent her to assassinate me in order to arouse suspicion and distrust. Of course, they didn’t count on her being an old friend. Now this thing with Yuri and Logan. It may imply another similar operation.”
“This was not us.” said Gwen flatly.
“Can you be sure of that? You said yourself last night that folks like you on the operational level are kept in the dark as to the details of the full operation.” Said Joshua. Gwen shrugged in reply.
“It could be us.” said Ryan. “Someone in the FedCom is working at the same objective.”
“It could also be an outside force.” said Gwen. “Marik is not fond of this treaty. The Free Worlds League stands to gain much by disrupting this conference.”
“Here comes Ugly. Guess they didn’t leave him on Chandler either.” said Logan. Javier walked out of the Palace proper and made his way towards the hanger.
Despite the scars, Joshua instantly recognized his old rival. “I take it you’ve met.”
“Not formally. He was on Chandler. You don’t exactly forget that face.”
“Great,” said Ryan, also recognizing Javier. “Of all those who had to survive.”
“Now we get to see if your claims that he has changed are for real, Gwen.” Said Joshua. He stepped forward to greet Javier. Joshua prepared to salute, but was surprised to see Javier kneel.
“I recognize thee and greet thee, Javier Libereux.” said Joshua, somewhat embarrassed. “Stand up. You needn’t be so damned formal.”
“Sorry, my Khan. It’s been a long time.”
“When last we spoke, you wanted my head on a platter.” said Joshua. “I figured getting anything more than a polite salute was wishful thinking.”
“That was a long time ago and in another world. Those days are long past. And at long last, all the children of the True Kerensky are finally united. Gwen and I, we are yours.”
Logan leaned over to Ryan. “Now I’m the one who’s lost.”
“These two ISF…are not Kurita born. They hail from the same homeworld as Joshua and I. In fact, we know one another quite well.”
Javier turned at hearing Ryan’s explanation. “Ryan? That is your name. You were one of Joshua’s sibkin, were you not?”
“I am.” Said Ryan.
“So there are others. Other survivors besides Joshua. We only knew of him because of the press the Star Swords have received. How many?”
“Initially, there were seven of us who survived and came to the FedCom.” Said Joshua. “Two fell in our battles against the Clans. Five remain: Myself and Ryan of course, but also Daisaku Hayakusora, Erik Iolair, and my sister Marta. And now we find the two of you alive as well.”
“Not to break up this happy reunion…” said Rohan.
“Agreed. There will be time to reminisce later.” Said Joshua. “Right now there are more pressing matters.”
Gwen spoke next. “So what are you proposing we do about this?”
“I think all of us here are agreed in purpose. Whoever this is who is working against this alliance is our enemy and they must be stopped. We should combine our efforts. Work together and try to find out who’s behind this.”
Javier nodded. “Agreed. Where do we start?”
“I think Ryan is right.” Said Joshua. “I think this new development is the work of a FedCom group.”
“And why do you think that?” asked Javier.
“O’Malley is here.”
“What?” said Ryan.
“Who’s O’Malley?” asked Gwen.
“Richard O’Malley is a DMI Intelligence operative and a former mechwarrior of the Star Swords. He deserted us on New Belfast some months ago. I saw him last night. I don’t know why he’s here, but it must be something important for him to risk contact with his former unit. I’m not sure why he’d be involved, but his presence here is suspicious.”
Logan raised his hand like a student in school. “It might be wise to try to backtrack to where I last remember being. We did suggest that a minute ago.”
“Doc, can you and the Rangers take care of that?” said Joshua. “We’ll cover things on this end.”
Logan nodded for Doc. “I am still here, Joshua.” He reminded sternly. “The Dark Rangers are still my command.”
“But you’re sick as a dog and we still need to find out what they did to you.” Joshua turned to Javier. “Can you do a chemical analysis on his blood?”
“Hai. That’s easy. I’ve already ordered one for Yuri.”
“Do Logan too. Once that’s over with, Logan, take your Rangers and see what you can learn.”
Logan nodded. “That’s better. Can do.”
Javier looked at Logan and began to leave. Gwen followed after them, but Joshua chased her down. Ryan remained with the mech and watched from a distance.
“You need something else?” asked Gwen.
“We need to talk.” Said Joshua. “About last night…”
“You said it yourself. Right now there are more pressing matters.”
“You have my ring.”
“It’s safe.” She said. “It’s not like you need it right now.”
“You would dare keep it from me?” said Joshua, getting angry.
“Why not? It’s not like it means anything any more.”
“How dare you say that?”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Joshua. You were just as willing as I was last night. I never stopped loving you, Joshua. And neither did your feelings end for me. Last night proved that.”
Joshua’s face grew flushed with shame, but he said nothing.
“You did what you had to.” Gwen continued. “But none of that matters now. All that we ever wanted, all that you ever wanted, it can happen now. But only if you let it.” She turned and walked away.
Ryan moved up next to Joshua. He had overheard much of the conversation. “Joshua, what have you done?”
Joshua looked at his friend sternly and then walked away without a word.
Next Chapter
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
Gwen quickly and easily bypassed the lock on the door of Joshua’s room. She rapidly darted inside and closed the door behind her, remembering not to lock it. She moved about the dark room, assessing its layout. Granted, she’d already memorized the floor plan of the entire Palace, but the difference between a map on paper and a real room was drastic to her.
“A moment’s courage and this is over and done with.” thought Gwen to herself, trying to shore up her convictions. “You haven’t seen or spoken with him in four years. But this has to be done. We have to make contact sometime.” Gwen glanced upward towards where she knew the cameras were positioned in the room. “Have to make this look real, like I’m really here to kill him.”
She unzipped her jumpsuit all the way down to below her waist and pulled out a bundle. It was a blouse, skirt, and bra that she’d kept there to make them somewhat warm. She dropped the garments, in order from the door, on the floor heading towards the bedroom. After she dropped the bra, she reached down into the crotch of her suit to gather the last article she would need to set things up. Wanting to go for the really authentic, she’d stored the panties within her own, hoping that if nothing else, the warmth and odor of this garment would convince Joshua of the bait. Despite her efforts, Gwen somehow doubted he’d check that closely. Again, she looked up at the camera. “Yes, I’m doing everything according to the plan. But little you know it’s not Joshua I’m trying to fool here.”
She hung the panties on the door knob of the bedroom and walked inside. A tone signaled in her facemask to indicate that the hall guard had seen Joshua making his way towards her. She quickly ran into the bathroom to turn on the faucet of the tub and then darted to take her place in the corner of the bedroom. At that moment, the door opened and Joshua stepped inside. He spotted the blouse on the floor immediately, but his eyes quickly darted upward to see Gwen, dressed as she was in the ninja-uniform of a DEST assassin.
“What the…” said Joshua, drawing Anduril with a flash. He rushed Gwen, as she clumsily drew her own weapon to defend herself. Her vibrokatana came up just in time and the two swords struck together.
Joshua pushed forward against his attacker, pushing the lithe ISF agent back. The tight jumpsuit told him the gender of his assassin and dissolved any further delusions he had as to why his room had been decorated in female apparel.
Joshua lunged in again. The assassin knocked the strike aside with her own sword, but the parry was clumsy and half-hearted. Joshua was confident now that his opponent was not even close to his skill in a blade.
Gwen knew it too. “He’s gotten better. Back home, I was never as skilled as Joshua with my sword and I could never hope to beat him then. Now, with him even better, I know I can’t.” She put up another parry, trying to ward off Joshua’s aggressive and determined assaults. “He’ll kill me unless I press an advantage. Got to go on the offense.” She slashed at him, remembering her training as both a Wolverine and as a DEST ninja.
Joshua easily brought Anduril up to parry the vibrokatana. There was a loud clang as the two swords struck. Joshua leaped back, landing in the center of the room. His eyes adjusted to the darkness as his attacker lunged forward for another strike. Joshua darted to one side and struck with Anduril. His blow glanced off the katana.
Lightning quick, his attacker struck once again. Joshua darted back, the vibrokatana slicing through the cloak to his dress uniform. Joshua, annoyed, swung downward with his sword. He aimed for his opponent’s weapon and struck it hard. The blow knocked the katana downward, too far for his opponent to effectively form a good parry.
Joshua whipped Anduril back up. Gwen saw the blade slashing upward towards her face. Her mind screamed. “I didn’t want to kill you, Joshua. And now I’m going to die!”
Gwen cried out. “No, Joshua!” just as his sword struck her faceplate, cracking it. She fell backwards and landed on her back on top of Joshua’s bed.
“Who sent you?” barked Joshua, bringing Anduril up to poke at her throat.
“Don’t kill me, Joshua. You’ll never live with yourself if you do.” Her voice was unrecognizable behind the muffling of the now broken facemask. But her comment was enough to give Joshua pause. He pulled back, but kept his weapon at the ready.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
Gwen sat up and released her shattered facemask. She bent forward to let it and whatever broken glass it might contain drop onto the floor. She wiped a few pieces of glass off her face and off of the cowl of her jumpsuit. Then she stood up and looked at her old lover eye-to-eye for the first time. Without hesitation, she pulled back the cowl of her jumpsuit, letting her red hair come free.
Joshua staggered back. Anduril clattered to the floor. “It…it can’t be.”
“Yes, Joshua, it’s me.” Said Gwen.
“But you….you died…on New Vision.”
“You survived. Is it so hard to believe that others did?”
Jaime Wolf’s words came back to Joshua’s mind. “Never…never in a million years would I have thought…would I have hoped you were one of them.” He dropped back into a recliner.
Gwen picked up her sword. Had she truly been here to assassinate Joshua, she would not have a more perfect opportunity that this moment, with him unarmed. “I was sent to kill you.” She said. “And still could.”
She returned her blade to its scabbard. The game was now up. Any observer would know she had not carried out her orders. “But that’s not really why I’m here. I’m here to let you know you’re not alone. That there are others; Other Wolverines. But it seems you knew that already.”
“I did.” Said Joshua, regaining his composure. “But not who they were. Why the attack?”
“A bit of theatrics to convince my masters of my true intentions.”
“Those same masters are still watching us.” said Joshua. He pointed upward to the cameras. He knew where they were too.
“It doesn’t matter now. I’ve made my choice. There is more going on here than you know.”
“I’ve already seen a number of suspicious things.” Said Joshua.
“I don’t know a whole lot. Those of us on the operational level haven’t been briefed about the whole plan. But the ISF is determined to disrupt the proceedings. Your assassination was part of a larger plan.”
“And now that’s failed.”
“You should know I could never carry out those orders.” She smiled. “God, I’ve missed you. Four years is too long.”
“How did you survive?”
“Wondered when you’d get around to ask me that.” Gwen took a seat in another recliner. She took his hands into hers and gave them an affectionate squeeze. “When the Falcons firebombed Cumberland, I grabbed Javier and tried to flee the hospital. The two of us managed to get out into the streets as the fighters came overhead. We fled into the sewers and hid out there as the city was destroyed around us.”
“I’m amazed you survived that.”
“We nearly didn’t. But eventually Javier and I got back to the surface. From there, we were found by a Kurita scouting party.” She stood up and moved closer to Joshua. “The next thing I know, I’m on a spaceship bound for Dieron. It seems a Comstar raiding party followed the Falcons down. There was a Draconis contingent aboard that found Javier and I.”
“You were aboard the Comstar ship too? Just like Colonel Wolf said. Javier was the burned man, still injured from the Trial with me, and you were the woman. Against all hope, I never would have guessed that it would be the two of you.”
“Aff. Just as your Lyran rescuers were kept separate from the Kurita soldiers, so too were you as medical patients kept separate from Javier and I. I did not know you had survived as well until the second battle of Twycross. It was inspiring to hear that anyone could beat the Clans, so your Star Swords became an inspiration to us here in the Combine. We followed your story very closely.”
“So how’d you end up in ISF?”
“ISF command was a little confused with what to do with us. They decided after seeing our mechwarrior skills to train us as DEST soldiers. Javier and I were separated after our training. We worked together briefly on Dieron, before parting ways again.”
“So he’s not here?”
“No, he’s here. I was reunited with him for an operation back in October and he’s been with me ever since.”
“Partners in crime…” chuckled Joshua. “In more ways than one?”
“No,” she said. “No, between us and the destruction of our world, I couldn’t go back. Not feeling what I felt and knowing what I knew. Even thought we had only each other, our relationship was over. Javier’s never been happy about that, and he keeps trying each time we meet, but I keep him at arm’s length.”
“I’m sure that doesn’t make him very happy.”
“To his credit, he’s changed a lot. He’s very devout, believing strongly in the Wolverine destiny of saving the galaxy. He’s wanted to make contact with the Star Swords and you for a long time. This conference gave us our opportunity.”
“Can I trust him?”
“You will have to decide that for yourself.”
“And you? What has changed about Gwen in these past four years? You certainly aren’t any better at swordplay.”
Gwen laughed. “Ok, you’ve got me there.” She paused. “God, you have no idea how good it is for me to look in your eyes, to hear your voice, to touch you.” She let her fingers linger over the back of his hand, stopping only when they glanced atop Joshua’s wedding band.
“If you’ve been following my progress, then you no doubt know about that.” said Joshua, referring to it.
“Yeah.”
“I love her, Gwen.” said Joshua defensively.
“Who are you trying to convince?” retorted Gwen. “I know why you did it. I know you didn’t know I still lived. But I’m here. I’m alive and everything we ever wanted could be ours.” She gave the wedding band a tug and it slipped from his finger. Joshua did nothing to stop her.
Gwen leaned forward again and this time planted a kiss on Joshua’s lips. Joshua grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her close. She broke off the kiss and stood up. She took him in hand and brought him to his feet. Without another word, she led him back into the bedroom.
---
Watching through the secret camera in the ceiling fan above the bed, Richard O’Malley smiled in delight. “Seems you are human after all, Joshua. Can’t really blame you. Agent Laidir is young and beautiful…and apparently an old acquaintance.”
“Who’d have thought?” said Yuri Noriko. “This was not part of the plan. She was supposed to kill him, not screw him.”
“The plan will have to adapt.” Said Richard. “But what we are seeing is not without merit. I’ll simply report that your operative failed. Joshua is a resourceful and powerful warrior. No one will doubt that he could overpower any assassin sent by your people.”
Richard watched their lovemaking with voyeuristic interest, pausing his observation only so often to confirm that he was recording this.
“Besides,” continued Richard. “She told him enough to create suspicion, which was the whole point behind this operation anyway. It won’t be long before we have the Davion security forces jumping at shadows and glaring balefully at their Kurita counterparts. That’s a formula for disaster.”
“You had best be right about that.” Yuri stood up. “I’m going to return to the common area. I’ve seen enough.”
“Suit yourself.” He watched her leave the observation booth. “You’ll have your part to play soon enough, Ms. Noriko.” He thought quietly.
“Well, well, Joshua, what have you done?” said Richard aloud to himself. Deciding he had enough evidence, he popped the vidchip out of the recorder and looked at it as if it were solid gold. “I just wonder how well your crazy wife will react to this.”
---
Yuri walked out into the common area, which was filled with delegates, diplomats, and various security forces. It was obvious there was little trust or camaraderie between those who served the Dragon and those from the Davion delegation. But there were a few exceptions. Standing there talking to a Kurita mechwarrior was Logan, leader of the Dark Rangers. The mechwarrior walked away, leaving Logan alone. Logan was holding a glass of orange juice, probably a Screwdriver or some other mixed drink. He chugged the glass and turned to see Yuri standing there. Yuri smiled and tossed her long black hair back. She started walking towards him.
Logan tossed the disposable glass into a trash can and waited for her to get closer. “I must admit these are much better circumstances under which to meet you, Tai-sa Noriko.” said Logan.
“Being at the business end of my gun is never a fun experience.”
“Being at the business end of mine always is.” said Logan with a sly smile.
“Do you always try to charm women with talk like that?”
“Is it working?” It wasn’t so much of a question as a statement of fact. “Tell me something, Yuri. Can I call you Yuri? I’ve been thinking about taking in this beautiful city tonight. All the hustle and bustle out there. Clubs, bars, all-night shows,...cheap hotels. I was wondering if you would be interested in coming along with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Some other time then?”
“Not likely.” said Yuri flatly.
“I’m not known for taking no for an answer.” responded Logan briskly.
“Then let us see how persistent you are, Logan-san.” Yuri brushed past Logan, grabbing a feel of Logan’s rear as she did so. Logan jerked, surprised. As she walked away, he smiled and snapped his fingers.
“Works every time.” he said and then he too walked off. Neither noticed Karl Rohan glaring at them from the corner of the room.
Dieron City club district
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
Logan decided to take in the night life of the city anyway. Yuri had initiated the game, and Logan felt like celebrating. “Soon, that little piece of Kurita ass is going to be mine.” He thought to himself. “I’ve never gotten to screw a woman who tried to kill me. Well, at least not before I got her into bed.”
Logan had been warned by Joshua that the ISF kept an eye on you if you left the Palace compound. Logan had been quick to spot his tail as he moved about Dieron City’s club district. Irritated, he tried to lose the agent in the crowds. That proved a futile effort.
Logan sat down at one bar after deciding to give up on his persistent shadow. He ordered a drink, and then turned to shoot the man a glance. The ISF man did not seem to care that he was discovered. He merely sat at the opposite end of the room and did nothing but watch Logan. Logan turned back as his drink arrived. He chugged the thing down and then turned back to his tail. The ISF agent was gone.
Rather than feel pleased, Logan immediately began to get paranoid. He’d only turned away for less than a minute. He got up and walked over to the place where the agent had been sitting.
“I must be out of my mind. I wanted to get rid of this guy, now I’m wondering where he went.”
The seat was empty and there was no sign of the agent. “Well, maybe he went to the bathroom. Even these ISF robots have to take a whiz sometimes.”
Logan decided to take advantage of it. Seeing the front door crowded by a large band of young men and women (college students, he surmised), Logan cut for the back door. He walked past the restroom, praying that his tail would not walk out right in front of him. No one came in or out of the restrooms as Logan made his way to the backdoor and out into the alley.
He immediately surveyed his surroundings. Looking up, he noticed something hanging from the fire escape. Backing away from the bar to get a better look, he saw the “thing” was a human body. Blood was dripping down the man’s slashed throat to the tips of his fingers, which then dripped off onto the pavement from the corpse’s dangling arms.
It was, as Logan had feared, his ISF tail.
If Logan was only paranoid before, now he was terrified. He drew his flamer pistol and headed for the street. In the open, he figured, he’d be less of a target.
Two shimmering forms appeared from the shadows at the end of the alley. Logan recognized the shimmering as the light distortion given off by a “sneak suit.” He fired the flamer pistol at the left form, and darted to his own left to dodge the tazer darts fired by the right-hand enemy.
The left enemy took the wad of burning plasma in the chest. Howling with pain, he danced about for a few seconds before the plasma seared through the tissue of his chest, frying skin, bone, lung, and heart without discrimination. He dropped over dead.
Undaunted, the right hand man turned off his sneak suit and drew a stun baton. “They want me alive. Why?” thought Logan. His finger twitched on the pistol again, but the enemy agent easily avoided the slow moving plasma burst. His opponent came low, swinging the baton up to catch Logan just under the forearm.
The stun baton was on overcharge, or so it felt. Logan felt every muscle in his body spasm at once, causing him to fire the flamer a third time. He dropped to the ground and writhed in pain, cursing the fact that of all the things that blow had done, it had failed to render him unconscious.
Logan’s attacker smashed the stun baton down on Logan’s head. Between the blow itself and the charge it delivered, Logan passed into oblivion. A van pulled up to the end of the alley and several men got out. The men carried Logan into the van.
“Now for the other one.” said the sneak suited attacker.
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
5 March 3053
Richard left the observation room. The operation was now well underway. The ISF had failed to kill Joshua, but his people had been prepared for that possibility. Richard admitted some disappointment at that, but the recording in his pocket would do far more damage to his enemies than any ISF assassin. Now for the next step in the plan. Time to see if Antoine’s security codes were good.
“Time is short.” said Richard to himself. “Granted, these new drugs work ten times better than any method of brainwashing we had before, but it still takes several hours to program the recipient. If we intend to get Logan and Yuri ready in time, I’d better move.”
Richard stepped into a broom closet and began to undress. Beneath his street clothes, he wore a sneak suit. He turned it on and headed out for one of the service elevators of the Palace.
Getting through the locked doors was easy with Antoine’s codes, as he had hoped. Richard soon found himself on the fifth floor, where Yuri’s and the other ISF operatives were staying. “Hard to imagine that we’re actually working with these people to undermine this alliance. But at least we were wise enough not to trust them to carry out their part, even with the vaunted reputation of the ISF. Now, we let the experts take over.” thought Richard to himself. His sneak suit was able to mask light and infra-red, but it was not a perfect system. Rapid motion would produce a shimmering motion that made him more obvious, not less. He had to be cautious..
Two guards marched up the hall with military precision. Richard fell into step behind them, letting his own footsteps match theirs. It prevented the various sensors in the hallway from picking him up separate from them. When he reached Yuri’s door, he moved to it and left the guards to their circuit.
Again, an Antoine Anderson code got him in the door. Yuri was apparently awake and waiting for a nighttime liaison.
“You’re more clever than I thought, Logan.” she said from the bedroom when she heard the door open. “I knew that when I left an invitation to my room on your bed that you’d find some way to get past my guards. But to get through a locked door.” With that, she came out into the living area and saw no one.
Richard smiled. In the darkness, even the distortion of his sneak suit could not be seen. Yuri was wearing lingerie too revealing for the timid. When she noticed no one there, she became alarmed and moved cautiously towards the door.
“Surely this didn’t come open on its own.” she said to herself out loud.
Without warning, Richard stabbed forward with his stun baton. Yuri yelped once and fell to the ground, a much easier victim than the stubborn Logan.
Richard unpacked a leather harness from his belt pouch and slung it under Yuri’s arms and through her crotch. He then hoisted the limp woman onto his back. He walked over to the patio window, attached his rappelling line, and was over the side. Within five minutes, he was out of the compound and on his way.
The Palace
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
5 March 3053
A swirl of images, sounds, odors, and sensations roared through Logan’s head like a hurricane. His body spasmed with agony as he opened his eyes. Light flooded in. More pain. He tried to sit up, but only succeeded in rolling onto the floor to vomit.
“What has happened to me? Where am I?” At first, he thought it was a hang-over, but then remembered that even hangovers didn’t usually feel this bad.
He sat there for several seconds. His vision went in and out of focus, but finally cleared to reveal his room. Logan tried to stand again. This time he was successful.
He tried to make sense of the patterns of chaos that ran through his mind. Only two things came into his mind. He remembered seeing a woman tied into a chair. She had an artificial arm. He also remembered hearing a man talking across the room. He spoke German most of the time, a language only slightly known to Logan. Most of what he remembered sounded like gibberish, but he did remember one word that he could understand: Amaris. That was the name of the infamous Usurper, who assassinated the ruling family of the Terran Hegemony and touched off the civil war that destroyed the Star League. His name was synonymous with betrayal, much like Judas or Brutus.
Centuries of historical tradition, the same traditions that Logan ate, drank, and breathed as a child growing up, were the only thing that gave Logan clear enough through to remember the historical reference. His mind was otherwise not functional.
His head cleared further. Logan was afraid for it to get too clear, for fear he might forget something important. Unfortunately, those two clues were all he could get.
He staggered to his door, looking for the other Dark Rangers.
Doc’s room was next door. He sprung out of bed with a delighted look on his face. “Of course! It’s so simple. Why didn’t I think of it before?”
He headed over to his laptop computer. He looked about his desk. “No, I couldn’t have left the disk back at the hanger bay. Damn. Well, all’s not lost. Where’s my notebook?”
Doc scrounged around the floor for a second. “Oh no, don’t tell me I’ve misplaced it too?”
A slow but loud knock came it his door. Doc ignored it, continuing to rummage through his room.
“I can’t find my notes. I need my notes. I can’t find them!” he said frantically.
Logan pushed the door open impatiently. Doc spun, ignoring the intrusion. He looked Logan straight in the eye and said “Have you seen my notes?”
“Shut up, Doc. I’ve had a bad night.”
“Bad night? I just figured out the one last problem on making a working Streak system for the six pack and you’re telling me you’ve had a bad night. I can’t find my notes. I need them.”
Logan sat down and rubbed his eyes. “If you don’t shut up and get the others in here in less than ten seconds, I’m going shoot you somewhere very painful. And then, if you are still capable of finding your notes, I’m going to ram them up your ass. Now move!”
Doc looked at Logan. Concern crossed his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Just get the others.”
Within a minute, Cowboy and Rohan joined Logan in Doc’s room.
“So what’s the problem?” said Cowboy.
Rohan just glared balefully at Logan. Logan was too sick to care. Without a word, he moved on into Logan’s room to look around.
“Where was I last night?” he asked.
“Beats the hell out of me.” said Doc. “I was at the hanger all day. Damnit, I still can’t find my notes.”
“Shut up.” said the other three in unison.
“Spend any time with Yuri?” asked Rohan with a stern tone, returning from Logan’s room.
“No, she turned me down.”
“Then what’s this?”
Logan looked at the folded note Rohan gave him. “I have no idea.” he said after reading it.
Before Rohan conjure up an angry retort, Cowboy spoke up. “Don’t bring some personal squabble into this.”
“I don’t remember a thing, Karl. Honest.” said Logan. “But I do know I have not seen that note before now.”
“So you weren’t with Yuri?”
“No, I was not. No, wait, Yuri has a cyberarm, doesn’t she?”
“Yes.” said Rohan. “Lost her arm on Turtle Bay.”
“But I did see her. I know that was her. I saw her.”
“Saw her? Saw her where? What are you talking about, Logan?” said Cowboy.
“He was probably too drunk to remember he was sleeping with my lover last night.” snapped Rohan.
Logan stood up, anger boiling to the surface. “I’ve just about had enough of you.”
“I saw you with her in the common room. I didn’t need your help making my reunion any harder.”
“I can’t believe the two of you are fighting over a woman who six months ago was trying to kill you both.” said Doc casually. He was universally ignored by the others.
“I didn’t see your name on her, Rohan.” continued Logan hotly. “She’s fair game in my book. Hell, from where I’m standing, it seemed she was far more interested in me than in you.”
“Both of you stop it.” said Doc, refusing to be ignored this time and stepping between them. “Logan, sit down and tell us what’s happened. What do you remember?”
Logan collapsed into his seat, his legs surrendering to fatigue. “All I remember was going down into the city by myself. Then all I remember before waking up this morning is a swirl of images that includes Yuri and a man talking about Amaris in German.”
“A dream?” suggested Doc.
“Possibly.” said Cowboy.
“I’d swear it was real. I was so sick when I woke up I could barely move. There’s a nice pile of puke on the floor of my room if you need any proof.”
“Found it.” said Rohan irritated. “Stepped right in it.”
“Well then what happened to you?” said Doc.
“I don’t know.” said Logan desperately.
“Let’s go find Yuri.” said Rohan. “Maybe she has some answers.”
“That’s not a good idea.” said Cowboy. “We don’t know if she’s the one that did this to him. For all we know, he really did take her up on this invite after he got back from his sojourn in the city and that’s when they jumped him.”
“I refuse to believe Yuri is responsible for this.” Said Rohan.
“She’s ISF, Karl.” said Doc. “Regardless of what feelings she may have had for you once, duty is everything to them. If her orders are to do Logan harm somehow, she’ll do it, and all those good times are not going to get her to tell you why or even if she did do it.”
“We can’t trust her. We go to General Messer.” said Logan.
---
Gwen hurriedly made her way down to her quarters. She was quivering with excitement by what had taken place the night before. All that she had hoped and wanted for four years was coming to pass.
As she walked into her room, Javier looked up from his seat on her sofa. “Good morning.” he said cheerfully. “Seeing as I heard no alarm last night, no commotion, I presume things went well with you and Joshua.”
“They did.”
“Now we have to figure out how to explain why the both of you are still alive. The die is cast.”
“I know.” Said Gwen. “And so do they.”
“So be it. Joshua can provide us the sanctuary we need. But there may be another way…”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Those recordings could be conveniently lost and those observers disposed of. It would buy us time.”
“Yuri was monitoring last night. You aren’t suggesting…”
“I am.” Said Javier. “In some ways, I’m surprised she’s not here to arrest you already. Best take advantage of that.” He drew his sidearm and pulled back the slide to chamber a round. “Let’s go.”
The two made their way over to Yuri’s quarters, prepared for the worst. They did not expect to find the mess they encountered.
Yuri was lying naked in the bathtub, which was filled half-and-half with water and vomit. She had apparently tried to bathe, but the rebellion her body was successfully carrying out prevented that. She was barely awake, and oblivious to the filth she was soaking in.
“This is unexpected.” Said Javier.
“Put your gun away. Something is wrong.” Said Gwen. “Go, see if you can find the recording.”
“Aff.” Said Javier as Gwen moved to nurse Yuri back from semi-consciousness.
“What happened to you?” asked Gwen as Yuri came around.
“I don’t….I don’t know.” She muttered.
“Can you stand?”
“I can try.” Yuri came to her feet with assistance from Gwen. Gwen got a towel and worked to wipe the filth off of Yuri’s body. She then got a robe and put it on her.
“What do you remember, Sho-sa?”
“I remember waiting up for Logan and hearing what I thought was him coming in. Nothing more than that. I woke up in my bed feeling like I had to get better to die.”
“Logan, the mercenary? Why?” asked Javier from the other room.
“Hey, I might be 37 years old, but this body’s still got some life left in it.” She yanked the robe aside to give Jean a view.
“Yes, Sho-sa, I believe you.” said Javier, trying to be polite. Not easy with a woman flashing her chest at you.
“Did he arrive?” asked Gwen.
“Ie. I never saw him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I do remember voices though. Words in German.”
“Lyrans?” said Javier. “Where did you hear the voices?”
“I don’t know. Not here. Somewhere else. More enclosed, the voices echoed. Metal walls.”
“How could you have been taken somewhere?”
“Unless I am hallucinating,” she said, regaining more of her composure. “and I would not rule that out, then I was indeed removed somehow. Check the security sensor records. Something funny should turn up.”
“And Logan?”
“Find him. I want to know where he is and what he is doing.” said Yuri. “Libereux-san, the tapes. Laidir-san, you get Logan.”
“Hai. And Yuri, you stay here.”
“Yokai.” said Yuri with an exaggerated salute. She sat down on the bed, slumped over onto her back, and lay still.
“Will she be okay?” asked Gwen.
“I’ll get the medics in here to check her out.” said Javier. “There’s no recording in her personal effects. I’ll check for our recording as well as the one of Yuri’s abduction. Something big is up, bigger than the ISF operation against Joshua. We may want to approach Joshua about this.”
“I was already planning on it. Go! Let’s see what we can learn.”
---
Joshua had gone down to the makeshift hanger at the Palace to check up on Galileo III when the Dark Rangers found him. Ryan Smith was there assisting him when Logan, assisted by Doc’s able hand, staggered to the foot of the mech and called for Joshua to come down.
“You keep checking on that power surge, Ryan. The last thing I need is my targeting computer interface to blow because of an overworked surge protector.”
“God, I liked it better when these mechs were brand new and not jury-rigged to death.” complained Ryan.
Joshua climbed a few rungs down the ladder. “Hey, it gives them personalities.”
“Yeah, bad ones.”
Joshua climbed down. “What happened to you?” he said amused to Logan.
“That’s what I came to talk about.” said Logan. He then related his story, as best he knew it, to Joshua.
“Sounds like a bad trip.”
“Last time I go into the city.” said Logan.
“Not the kind of trip he meant, I believe, Logan.” said Cowboy.
“Sniff the bottom of Rohan’s boots if you want proof as to how real it was.”
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind.” Said Logan. “There were some unpleasant physical aftereffects, a pile of which is on my bathroom floor.”
“Not unusual for those sort of symptoms to go along with a hangover, particularly a bad one.”
“This is no hangover. It’s something else.”
“I believe you. I myself had encounters last night that has raised my suspicions. Something is going on. There are means to verify parts of your story. If he came back into the Palace, drunk or no, there will be a recording of it. Let’s find that. If he came back with someone, that gives us a lead.”
“So we do have a mystery on our hands.” said Rohan.
“We do indeed, my mercenary friend.” said Joshua. “And we have two big questions to solve. First and obviously is who did this to Logan? Secondly, is what did they do?”
“Fucked me up pretty hard.” said Logan.
“Yeah, but to what end, Logan? Something’s awry with your body chemistry. That tends to indicate......”
“....drugs. But not the booze we were meant to think.”
“No, I’m thinking truth serums or something else as insidious. And if you’re right about seeing Commander Noriko there too, that means that our culprits are after both the Kurita security force and our own.”
“Assuming she wasn’t supervising?”
“True. But, unlike you guys, I do have someone I can trust on the Kurita team.”
“Would that be her now?” said Cowboy, motioning towards a redheaded female moving across the lawn.
“Aye, that it would.”
Ryan Smith stood up in the cockpit and came down. “Isolated the problem, Joshua. It should be fixed. Now what’s going on?”
“We have a problem, Ryan. A breech in our security. Someone’s done something to Logan.”
“What did they do?” said Ryan, just as Gwen walked up.
“We don’t know.”
“You look as bad as Sho-sa Noriko.” said Gwen to Logan.
Ryan turned, having failed to notice her approach until now. “What the hell?” said Ryan, recognizing her instantly.
“It would seem that Joshua was not alone. Good to see you again, Ryan.”
“Gwen? Gwen Laidir? Is that really you?”
“Explanations for that will come later. Right now, we have a more pressing matter.” Said Joshua to his friend.
“So they got Yuri too, then?” asked Rohan.
“Hai.” said Gwen. “Javier and I found her in the bathtub, covered in her own vomit.”
“Oh, that’s a pleasant image.” said Doc sarcastically.
“Obviously, something big is going on here and we barely know anything at this time. Time for that explanation, Ryan. Gwen came to my room last night. She and Javier have been working for the ISF for years, ever since they were recovered from New Vision like we were. Gwen told me that the ISF is working against the Alliance and that they sent her to assassinate me in order to arouse suspicion and distrust. Of course, they didn’t count on her being an old friend. Now this thing with Yuri and Logan. It may imply another similar operation.”
“This was not us.” said Gwen flatly.
“Can you be sure of that? You said yourself last night that folks like you on the operational level are kept in the dark as to the details of the full operation.” Said Joshua. Gwen shrugged in reply.
“It could be us.” said Ryan. “Someone in the FedCom is working at the same objective.”
“It could also be an outside force.” said Gwen. “Marik is not fond of this treaty. The Free Worlds League stands to gain much by disrupting this conference.”
“Here comes Ugly. Guess they didn’t leave him on Chandler either.” said Logan. Javier walked out of the Palace proper and made his way towards the hanger.
Despite the scars, Joshua instantly recognized his old rival. “I take it you’ve met.”
“Not formally. He was on Chandler. You don’t exactly forget that face.”
“Great,” said Ryan, also recognizing Javier. “Of all those who had to survive.”
“Now we get to see if your claims that he has changed are for real, Gwen.” Said Joshua. He stepped forward to greet Javier. Joshua prepared to salute, but was surprised to see Javier kneel.
“I recognize thee and greet thee, Javier Libereux.” said Joshua, somewhat embarrassed. “Stand up. You needn’t be so damned formal.”
“Sorry, my Khan. It’s been a long time.”
“When last we spoke, you wanted my head on a platter.” said Joshua. “I figured getting anything more than a polite salute was wishful thinking.”
“That was a long time ago and in another world. Those days are long past. And at long last, all the children of the True Kerensky are finally united. Gwen and I, we are yours.”
Logan leaned over to Ryan. “Now I’m the one who’s lost.”
“These two ISF…are not Kurita born. They hail from the same homeworld as Joshua and I. In fact, we know one another quite well.”
Javier turned at hearing Ryan’s explanation. “Ryan? That is your name. You were one of Joshua’s sibkin, were you not?”
“I am.” Said Ryan.
“So there are others. Other survivors besides Joshua. We only knew of him because of the press the Star Swords have received. How many?”
“Initially, there were seven of us who survived and came to the FedCom.” Said Joshua. “Two fell in our battles against the Clans. Five remain: Myself and Ryan of course, but also Daisaku Hayakusora, Erik Iolair, and my sister Marta. And now we find the two of you alive as well.”
“Not to break up this happy reunion…” said Rohan.
“Agreed. There will be time to reminisce later.” Said Joshua. “Right now there are more pressing matters.”
Gwen spoke next. “So what are you proposing we do about this?”
“I think all of us here are agreed in purpose. Whoever this is who is working against this alliance is our enemy and they must be stopped. We should combine our efforts. Work together and try to find out who’s behind this.”
Javier nodded. “Agreed. Where do we start?”
“I think Ryan is right.” Said Joshua. “I think this new development is the work of a FedCom group.”
“And why do you think that?” asked Javier.
“O’Malley is here.”
“What?” said Ryan.
“Who’s O’Malley?” asked Gwen.
“Richard O’Malley is a DMI Intelligence operative and a former mechwarrior of the Star Swords. He deserted us on New Belfast some months ago. I saw him last night. I don’t know why he’s here, but it must be something important for him to risk contact with his former unit. I’m not sure why he’d be involved, but his presence here is suspicious.”
Logan raised his hand like a student in school. “It might be wise to try to backtrack to where I last remember being. We did suggest that a minute ago.”
“Doc, can you and the Rangers take care of that?” said Joshua. “We’ll cover things on this end.”
Logan nodded for Doc. “I am still here, Joshua.” He reminded sternly. “The Dark Rangers are still my command.”
“But you’re sick as a dog and we still need to find out what they did to you.” Joshua turned to Javier. “Can you do a chemical analysis on his blood?”
“Hai. That’s easy. I’ve already ordered one for Yuri.”
“Do Logan too. Once that’s over with, Logan, take your Rangers and see what you can learn.”
Logan nodded. “That’s better. Can do.”
Javier looked at Logan and began to leave. Gwen followed after them, but Joshua chased her down. Ryan remained with the mech and watched from a distance.
“You need something else?” asked Gwen.
“We need to talk.” Said Joshua. “About last night…”
“You said it yourself. Right now there are more pressing matters.”
“You have my ring.”
“It’s safe.” She said. “It’s not like you need it right now.”
“You would dare keep it from me?” said Joshua, getting angry.
“Why not? It’s not like it means anything any more.”
“How dare you say that?”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Joshua. You were just as willing as I was last night. I never stopped loving you, Joshua. And neither did your feelings end for me. Last night proved that.”
Joshua’s face grew flushed with shame, but he said nothing.
“You did what you had to.” Gwen continued. “But none of that matters now. All that we ever wanted, all that you ever wanted, it can happen now. But only if you let it.” She turned and walked away.
Ryan moved up next to Joshua. He had overheard much of the conversation. “Joshua, what have you done?”
Joshua looked at his friend sternly and then walked away without a word.
Next Chapter
Friday, October 3, 2014
Chapter Six - Voyage to Dieron
Star Swords Command Center
New Belfast
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
27 January 3052
“Good morning, Logan. Enjoying your present, I hope?” said Joshua as he walked towards his office.
“Christmas was a month ago, but a Clan refitted Awesome was quite a gift. Thank you.” said Logan. “Is that the morning news?”
“Yeah. Hear about the treaty?”
“I knew about it months ago. I didn’t know, however, that things had advanced this far.”
“That they have.” said Joshua. “All that’s left now is for the leaders of the Combine and the Commonwealth to meet and sign the final draft of the treaty.”
Logan took the newspaper from Joshua’s hand. He had already read it, but he wanted to gauge Joshua for reactions. “According to this, that meeting will take place in March. My guess is Victor will probably want the Star Swords involved somehow.”
“Jumping the gun on me, aren’t you?” said Joshua flatly. “Dirty Dozen company has been packing up for departure for about a week now.”
“I wondered what was going on. Makes sense though.”
“Why? Because we’re the heroes of the Clan War. What better symbol to represent the true purpose to the Star Alliance than the one unit that defeated the Clans in almost every battle it fought.”
“No, because a bunch of Clan Omnimechs would beat the crap out of anyone who tried to mess up the final negotiations.”
Joshua chuckled. “True. Particularly given how Skye and Tamar are always looking for an excuse to rattle their sabres against the Davions.”
“This sounds like it’s leading up to something?”
“It is.” said Joshua. “A lot of what I wanted to talk to you about has to do with the conference. That’s why I’ve summoned you here. I’ve gotten a lot of recommendations from the officers that have trained your unit. Now I know you’re scheduled to leave soon for an objective raid into Falcon space. That mission will be canceled.”
“Why?”
“Because those recommendations have apparently reached the ears of people outside New Belfast. You will be going with us.”
“We are? Why?”
“Each nation has a number of delegates who will travel to the conference and sign the document. Victor has called up his 10th Lyran Guard regiment to act as bodyguards. His mother requested the Star Swords, but I won’t abandon New Belfast to Clan predation without a very good reason. So I’m only sending a company and my command lance. Your merc lance will fill in some of the gaps nicely.
“I want you, because I like you and I know you’re a competent group of mechwarriors. You’re also an unknown, which will give us an edge if we have to face off against a hostile force. Thirdly, I’m not the one who made the original request for your presence.”
“Excuse me?”
“Do you know who Duke Ryan Steiner is?”
“Yeah, he’s the duke of some planet in the Skye March, but he’s considered the leader of the Skye Separatist movement. He’s a troublemaker.”
“He’s also one of the Fed Com delegates and has requested the Dark Rangers specifically for the bodyguard duty. Now, naturally, Prince Victor has final say on who goes, but the request has been sent to both me and Tharkad. Duke Ryan is notorious for his opposition to the Davions. You’re right, he’s a troublemaker. Is there some reason why he would want you in the bodyguard group?”
“Are you accusing me of something?” said Logan, his voice edgy.
“No, but someone will you can be certain. Something about this doesn’t make much sense to me, so I’m worried. I don’t know much about Duke Ryan. Like you and most of your men, I’m not from the Commonwealth. So I’m not too keen on all these anti-Davion factions here in the Lyran half. But I know enough about him to be worried.”
“And I guess I should be too?”
“Aye, that you should. There’s no logical reason to refuse the request, save that there might be a better unit to fill that slot. But you’ve got my recommendation and Victor will trust that over and above anything Duke Ryan might say. You’re in, but Steiner wants you for something. That makes you a target, of what, I can’t say. You’d best be careful, both here, en route, and on Dieron itself.”
“So the final negotiations are on Dieron. I don’t guess you got that from the newspaper.”
“You are correct, and you didn’t hear it. Understood?”
“Hear what?”
“Dismissed.”
Dropship The Fury
Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
12 February 3053
“You haven’t taken your eyes off of that launcher since we left.” said Logan, slapping Doc on the shoulder. The impact made Doc’s pen slide across his notebook, leaving an ugly streak of ink behind.
“This sample, the Star Swords have given us to mount on Cowboy’s Highlander. I chose instead to try to unlock its secrets. I’ve been attempting to adapt the Streak targeting system on the Streak two-pack for use on the heavier launchers. So far, I’ve not had any luck.”
“Just make sure you get that launcher back into the Highlander by the time we arrive.”
“Not a problem. It’s me, remember?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Well, I hate to interrupt, but General Messer is coming aboard in a few minutes. I need you on the bridge. Apparently, the bigwigs are coming aboard with him.”
Doc stood up. “Where are the others?”
“They’re getting freshened up. You’d better at least change clothes. Grease is definitely you, but not appropriate for the occasion.”
“I’ll meet you on the bridge in a few minutes.” said Doc, heading for his quarters. Logan headed back to the corridor that would take him back to the bridge.
Doc arrived a few minutes later. Not more than 30 seconds after he arrived, Joshua came onto the bridge with three people. None of them needed any introductions. It was Victor Davion, Melissa Steiner, and Ryan Steiner.
Victor and Joshua had met before and were good friends. They were chatting away at the lead while the other two followed behind. Ryan seemed aloof from the proceedings, while Melissa was a quiet and ignored member of Joshua and Victor’s conversation.
“A father, eh?” said Victor of Joshua. “How’d you manage that?”
“You really want the details?” said Joshua with a smirk.
“No, but where is Lisa anyway?”
“Daniel’s still too young to travel and Lisa didn’t want to leave him, so they are both still on New Belfast.”
“I’ll bet that wasn’t easy, having to leave her.” said Victor softly. “I’ve heard of your problems. PTSD, is it?”
“Aye. But she’s getting better. Hopefully, my absence won’t cause too much trouble for her.”
“Sad that duty sometimes takes us from our loved ones like this.” Victor mused. Joshua frowned.
“In this case, Victor, your duty takes you to the one you love.” thought Joshua, thinking of the rumors of something happening between Victor and Omi Kurita, Coordinator Takashi Kurita’s granddaughter.
Joshua looked over Logan and his men, all of which were trying to look far more professional than they were. Joshua smiled. “Well, your grace, here are your Dark Rangers as requested.” said Joshua, addressing Duke Ryan.
Logan stood up and looked at the Duke. Ryan had a smug look on his face, as if to tempt Logan to try to uncover why the Duke had asked for the Rangers’ presence.
“Not what I expected.” said the Duke. “But I’ve been wanting to meet you for some time.”
“I’m honored.” said Logan with a fake smile. “I think.” he thought to himself.
“Anyway, your grace,” said Logan. “These are my Rangers. This is Karl Rohan, Brian Davies, and Johvac Bolovinsky.”
“Rohan, Doc, and Cowboy, I presume.”
“Correct.” said Cowboy.
With introductions out of the way, Duke Ryan spun on Joshua. “Now, General, I would like to discuss some security arrangements with you.”
“Certainly, your grace. Please come this way.” Joshua and Duke Ryan departed for Joshua’s ready room.
The meeting was short. Steiner wanted assurances that Joshua could not provide. It was blatantly obvious that Ryan did not trust the Combine at all and wanted Joshua to go above and beyond the treaty provisions concerning delegate security to keep the FedCom delegates, and Duke Ryan in particular, safe. Joshua refused, saying he would not go against the provisions.
Several minutes after Ryan left, Victor walked in. “Ryan tell you about his desire for additional security?”
“I don’t gather you approved either.”
“No, I didn’t. The last thing we need is a bunch of trigger-happy Skye loyalists on Dieron. Things are paranoid enough right now. Still, I can’t help but wonder if he’s not got a good idea?”
“Why?”
“There are rumors that Kurita may prove to be treacherous. DMI’s recently lost track of several Kurita regiments.”
“Meaning the DCMS is shuffling their garrisons around?”
“Yes. And we don’t know whether or not those units are being moved for further raids on the Clans or to within striking distance of our worlds.”
“Now who’s being paranoid?”
“Joshua, I know you’re from outside the Inner Sphere, but you can bet that there’s at least one Kurita equivalent to Duke Ryan over there who wants to stir up trouble.”
“I’m sure. You think this dissenter is behind the reshuffling?”
“We know the ISF is part of this. The defector your Dark Rangers rescued had a lot to say about what the ISF has been doing. DMI has confirmed the stockpile on Al Na’ir that he spoke of.”
“Al Na’ir is within a jump of Dieron.”
Victor nodded.
“You think they might make a move on us at the conference?” asked Joshua.
“It’s possible.”
“And what about dissension among our ranks? The Star Alliance is not 100% popular in the Commonwealth either.”
“Translation: Can Ryan be trusted? I doubt it.”
“So I get to jump at shadows for the next three weeks.”
“That’s the best we can do. If Ryan’s up to something, he’s very good at keeping it hidden.”
“Every good strategist knows better than to fight on two fronts at the same time. Yet, here, I may be forced to do just that.”
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
1 March 3053
Five jumpships materialized at the nadir jump point of the Dieron sun. Three Draconis Combine Avenger class assault dropships swarmed around them, their weapons armed.
“Dieron command to all Avengers, do not fire until hostile intent has been established. I repeat hold your fire.” barked orders from the planet’s surface.
Near the five Federated Commonwealth jumpships was a single Star Lord jumpship with the markings of the Kurita Imperial family.
“Federated Commonwealth delegation, this is Dieron Defensive Command.” said the planetoid relay to the visitors. “Welcome to the Draconis Combine. You may detach and proceed planetside when ready.”
“Roger, Defense Command. We will proceed shortly.”
Dieron City Spaceport
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
3 March 3053
Gwen looked down on the tarmac from her perch in the control tower. She sighed. “A lot of pomp and ceremony going on down there.”
A full honor guard, with flags, banners, parade colored Battlemechs, and dress uniforms were neatly arranged on the tarmac in from of a large Overlord class dropship bearing the Federated Commonwealth seal.
“This is the first time a Davion Prince has ever been welcomed on Draconis soil.” said Javier. “This is a historic occasion.”
“Shiro Kurita’s rolling in his grave right now. Peace has never been the Kurita way.” mused Gwen. “They may as well be a Clan themselves.”
A personnel gantry dropped from the Overlord and several people walked out. Javier raised his binoculars to view the party. He picked out Victor Davion in the lead, followed by his mother and Ryan Steiner. Behind them were several military officers. Jean focused in on one. “There he is.”
“Who?”
“The Davion security commander.”
“The one we’re supposed to kill?”
“Hai! That’s him.” He handed the binoculars to her and pointed with his finger at the tiny figure. “That one.”
Gwen looked through the binoculars and gasped. She dropped them quickly and looked at Javier.
“You knew!” she stabbed at him.
Javier nodded. “I knew. Our opportunity has arrived.”
“But our orders?”
“A bit of a problem, aren’t they? Our moment of decision has come. Is your loyalty to the Wolverines or to the Combine? Now is the time to decide that.”
---
Tai-sa Yuri Noriko straightened her ISF uniform and mentally reviewed the list of names of the F-C delegation.
“Something bothering you?” asked the man beside her in Japanese, another ISF agent under her command.
“Ie.” said Yuri in response. “Just that I’ve had a run in with some of these men before.”
“Who?”
“These mercenaries, the Dark Rangers. They were the ones who extracted Akbar out from under me on Chandler.”
“Indrahar nearly ordered you to commit seppuku for that failure.”
“I do not wish to be reminded of that.”
“The mercenary executive officer, Karl Rohan, was he the one on Turtle Bay?”
“The same.”
“More unpleasant memories?”
“You taunt worse than Libereux-san. Enough.” she paused as the delegates approached. Near her, Takashi Kurita and his party began to move towards the visitors. “It is time.”
Yuri straightened her uniform again and walked over. A handful of the Stealthy Foxes and the Lohengrin, the DMI and LIC’s own elite shock troopers took up places near the Commonwealth envoys.
“A historic moment, indeed. Even two years ago, I would have been ordered to kill one of those commandos on sight. Now I must tolerate their presence in the name of peace.”
Yuri noted the pecking order of the delegates on both sides. For Kurita, the Coordinator was in front, followed by his son, Gunji no Kanrei Theodore Kurita. Behind Theodore were two of his children, Hohito and Omi. Both were in their early twenties in age. Hohito was a respected mechwarrior and a friend of Victor Davion. Omi was, as rumor had it, the secret love of Prince Victor.
For the Federated Commonwealth delegates, Prince Victor stood equal with his mother, Melissa Steiner. Behind them was Duke Ryan Steiner. Yuri noted that Victor was the only representative of the old Federated Suns to be present. She wondered how much political maneuvering was being done to keep dissenters in the Lyran portion of the realm, like Duke Ryan, quiet.
Behind them was Hauptmann General Joshua Messer of the Star Swords, her target. The exploits of the Star Swords were well known to the Combine, who had used them as propaganda to fuel their war against the Clans. “If Davion can do it, so can we” had become a motto for DCMS units pitted against their brutal Clan enemies. Theodore Kurita had himself ordered the creation of an elite regiment patterned off of the Swords, but getting enough Clan equipment would take some time. That was one of the reasons the Combine had begun research into their own Omnimech manufacture.
Yuri was taken by surprise in many ways when she saw the Star Swords commander. He was much younger than she had expected. His eyes seemed to be much older, as if they’d seen the toil of a dozen lifetimes. There was a sadness there that bothered her.
“No!” she thought. “He is the enemy. He must be destroyed.”
Dragging behind Messer was Logan, the Dark Rangers commander. He looked very uncomfortable and very out of place. Still, Yuri smiled when she saw Logan. He hadn’t changed a bit in the three months since they’d faced off on Chandler. She wondered if Logan remembered her.
By now, Victor had reached Takashi. The Dragon bowed in traditional Japanese custom. “I am Coordinator Takashi Kurita. I bid you welcome to our jewel of Dieron, Lord Davion.”
“I am honored at your welcome, Lord Kurita. May these days be fruitful for both our nations for generations to come.”
With the formal greetings out of the way, the delegates began to move off to the waiting limousines. Yuri moved aside from the group, noting that General Messer had done the same, Logan at his side.
“I am Yuri Noriko, Colonel in the ISF. I am head of security for this conference.”
“I am General Joshua Messer. I’m in charge of the Commonwealth security. You wish to discuss arrangements for our cooperation?”
“Command of the First Star Swords. Your exploits are well known within the Combine, Colonel.”
“I’m glad I’m popular. This is my aide, Lt. Logan of the Dark Rangers.”
“Good to see you again, Logan.” said Yuri with a sly smile.
“You’ve met?” said Joshua with surprise.
“You might say that.” said Logan with a baleful glance at Yuri. “I think it better if you did not inquire further.”
---
“You scum.” said Ryan to Joshua. “You get the best rooms on Dieron while the rest of us Swords get the Best Western at the spaceport.”
Joshua fixed himself a drink and sat down on the sofa in his suite. He picked up the Comstar document on Draconis customs and began to read. He’d been at his room for a few hours when Ryan came up to see him. “I’m sorry, Ryan. I know you’d like to be up here at the Palace. I don’t blame you. This place is really nice. But I’d much rather have you within spitting distance of your mechs if things get ugly.”
“I know. I just feel I should voice my complaints.” said Ryan.
“Typical. Did Amanda force you into it? You’re not usually one to care, just as long as you’ve got a roof over your head.”
“No, I just came to tell you the mechs have been unloaded and prepped for combat. The Kurita techs have moved your Ryoken, Duke Ryan’s Banshee, and Prince Victor’s Daishi here to the Palace.”
“Okay. I probably go down and check on the Galileo III later.”
“So what’s the agenda?”
“For you, unfortunately, you get to sit and wait for trouble. The Kurita is allowing everyone full tourist access to the city and the outlying areas, so I guess it won’t be too bad. But I want one lance of Swords at full combat readiness at all times, is that clear?”
“Perfectly, sir. What about the Rangers?”
“Well, keep them on rotating shifts with your men. Logan’s here with me.”
“Is that all?”
“Should be. Come on, Ryan, this is supposed to be a cake walk.”
“You and I both know better. Something’s going to happen.”
“Yeah, I know. Let’s just hope we’re ready for it, whatever it is. Dismissed.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
Joshua finished his drink as Ryan left. He sat back and looked about his room and smiled.
Dieron was one of the first planets colonized in the 22nd century. Most of its population was not pure blood Japanese. It had been a world under Terran control for most of its existence. Only after the fall of the Star League did it become a Kurita world.
Despite the lack of Japanese influence on the planet, one colony leader had a passion for Japanese history and culture. When the capital was moved to Dieron City in 2532, he ordered the construction of a new government building. “The Palace,” as it was called, was an exact duplicate of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Earth. Since that time, the Palace had been turned over to a group of businessmen after the government grew too big to use it. They turned it into a hotel and conference center.
The Palace was considered the premier hotel on Dieron and considered one of the best in the Combine. The new owners had removed none of its traditional Japanese flair. It served well for the purposes of the Dieron Conference, since the Palace still retained many of the ISF installed security systems the government had put in over the years. Secret doors and passages abounded in the place, making it very hard for would-be infiltrators to avoid being caught.
There came a rapid knock at Joshua’s door. “Come in.” said Joshua, first in English and then in Japanese. The door opened and an elderly gentleman walked inside.
“Colonel Jaime Wolf.” said Joshua in surprise.
“I greet and recognize thee, Khan Joshua Messer.”
“I am unaccustomed to that title. I prefer my Inner Sphere military rank.”
“No offense intended, General.”
“I knew you were here for the conference. Must not be easy being so close to old Takashi.”
“We’ve managed to avoid each other nicely, although some of the old tension cooled after Luthien.”
“I forgot. You must have had an encounter with him when you went there to fight off the Jaguars and Cats.”
“I did.”
“So what can I do for you, Colonel?”
“A follow-up of sorts. You remember my son Mackenzie and your meeting with him some years ago?”
“Yes, I do. Your Dragoons were instrumental in the creation of the Star Swords. Have you come to call on the debt?”
“Not exactly. Consider it a re-negotiation. I want to do two things. One, I want to pledge our loyalty to one another as fellow Wardens and protectors of the Inner Sphere.”
“You want the Dragoons and the Swords as allies?”
“More than that. Kindred spirits, if you will.”
“That we are. I am not my father. The ‘secret allies’ of which the Wolverine legends spoke have been neglected for too long. No more secrets, at least on that front.”
“Then we are agreed.”
“We are. Allies and comrades in arms.”
“The other reason I am here is to inform you of news concerning the survival of other Wolverines.”
“Your son hinted that there were more above and beyond Snord’s Irregulars. You’ve confirmed this?”
Wolf nodded. “Wolfnet has discovered that two survivors were discovered in the ruins of Cumberland by the Draconis Combine party. These survivors were kept away from you much as the Draconis soldiers were kept away from the Commonwealth soldiers that discovered you.”
“Do you know what happened to them after that?”
“ISF got hold of them. Wolfnet’s not been very successful at penetrating their operations, but it is certainly possible they are still alive.”
“They could even be here.”
“A possibility.”
“Do you know who they are?”
“No names, only descriptions were available. One was a female in her mid to late teens. The other a badly injured man, age indeterminate but probably between 17 and 25.”
“Nature of the injuries?”
“Burns.”
“Cumberland was firebombed, so that’s not surprising.”
“We have also sent out an expedition to New Vision, looking for other survivors.”
“Any luck?”
“None as far as we know. But New Vision is a large planet and not fully settled even by your people. There is a lot of territory for people to hide in. Plus the element of secrecy keeps us from making use of Comstar. I don’t want them snooping around, reformed in their ways or not.”
“I wouldn’t either. You have, I presume, found the cache.”
“I presume so. They should not be able to enter it however.”
Joshua shook his head. “No. Only a Wolverine can open that door.”
“What’s in there, if I may ask?”
“You already know. You were probably there once.”
“But I only saw a small part of it.”
“More of the same.”
“There must be a thousand Battlemechs in there then.”
“You would be correct.”
“Dear God.”
“During our Exile, we lost many pilots. We did not lose that many machines. We were seven galaxies strong at the time of the Annihilation. Five of them remain in equipment if not in pilots.”
“No wonder the Clans never believed you were destroyed. That many mechs don’t just disappear.”
“I would guess you are right. That’s why the Bloodrite was created. They knew they’d find us again.”
“And they did.”
“But some of us still live.”
“And if my Dragoons have any say in the matter, you will continue so.”
---
Sometime later, Joshua continued his meetings with Yuri about security arrangements.
“That won’t work. Each of our commando teams have been programmed to hate each other. Integration is not an option.” said Yuri stubbornly.
“They follow orders, Sho-sa.” Joshua said flatly. “Yours and mine. If I order my troops to like yours, then they’d better damn well do it.”
“That’s being naive.”
“We’ve got a long way to go, don’t we?” lamented Joshua.
“Peace between our peoples. There’s too much blood for that to work.” said Yuri with an air of frustration. “We both know that.”
“I don’t believe so.”
She paused. “You don’t seem to share the prejudices of your companions. Is it youthful idealism or something else?”
“I’m not from the Commonwealth. I was born in the Periphery and came to the Federated Commonwealth after my world was destroyed by pirates. So I’ve not grown up with this idea that you and your people are the devil incarnate. That and I’ve fought the Clans. I watched good soldiers cut down like wheat before a scythe, killed no matter how hard they fought to stay alive. All I know is I’ve seen what the Clans can do and I know that if the Combine and the Commonwealth don’t stand together, the Clans will eat us alive.”
Yuri paused. “Against my better judgment, I think I like you, General. You have faith, something I wish more of us possessed.”
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life as a bondsman to some Clanner. And if I have to invoke the old adage about ‘enemy of my enemy...’ then, by God, I will.”
Yuri nodded. “Then let’s give this a try.” Deep down, she began to lament her orders.
The Palace, Dieron City
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
3 March 3053
Despite her misgivings, duty demanded that Yuri carry through with her orders. She assembled her team that evening in her quarters.
“He is an idealistic trusting fool. His rhetoric is appealing, if misguided. I almost regret having to do this, but The Dragon’s will must be done. He must be killed quietly but with suspicion. We want the Davions to think we did it.”
“Won’t that put them on alert?” said Javier.
“It will, but without their commander, their defensive operations when the Director initiates Phase Two will be sloppy. Now, who can I trust to do the deed? I know many of you have looked up to the Star Swords and their young commander as paragons of what we strive to be against the Clans. But hero worship has nothing to do with this. The Combine is threatened by this alliance. The General must be eliminated if we are to protect the Dragon.”
Javier began to raise his hand to volunteer when he was cut off.
“I will do it.” said Gwendolyn.
Javier’s jaw dropped.
“Very well. Come up with a plan and submit it to me at first light tomorrow. Dismissed.”
Javier stood up and looked at Gwen. He said nothing and then departed.
The Palace, Dieron City
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
“A seduction? It’s a long shot but it does have the added bonus of discrediting him to his own people. You don’t make many martyrs out of men enslaved to their lusts.” Yuri finished buttoning her uniform when a sharp knock came at her door.
“Chotto matte!” she said. She walked over to the door and opened it. She was surprised to see Karl Rohan standing there.
“Karl, what......come in.” said Yuri.
“I’d been wanting to talk to you since I saw you on Chandler.” said Rohan, walking inside.
“When I heard you were part of the delegation coming to Dieron, I was hoping we could have this conversation.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“And I thought you were. How’d you get away?”
“After the rescue attempt failed, I managed to get myself and two of the others aboard a smuggler’s ship.”
“I heard the entire rebellion force was destroyed in the bombardment.”
“My unit was spared because we were out of Edo trying to rescue you. We searched the rubble of the prison. All we found was orders sending you to Edo. I thought for sure you had died when the Jags blasted the city to dust.”
“They were sending me there to interrogate me further. Fortunately, the Jaguar commander had made his decision to destroy Edo by then, so I was diverted to a nearby airstrip where an aerospace fighter was going to take me up to the commander’s ship. From there, I managed to get away. Nearly died. A near miss from an elemental’s small laser cost me my arm, but I lost them in a swamp. I managed to get off-world on a smuggler ship myself, a good six months after the city was destroyed.”
“How did you hide out?”
“Hooked up with this farmer. He was an interesting fellow. Kind of a rogue. He was lonely and I needed somewhere to hide. So I traded sex for shelter. He must have thought it interesting to fuck a one armed woman.”
“Was that what you did with me? Figured you needed a stooge?”
“Oh, Christ, Karl, you didn’t come here for that, did you?”
“We never finished that argument. Dammit, Yuri, I loved you.”
“I had a job to do, Karl. I’m not supposed to let my feelings get in the way of my duty.” Yuri softened. “I’d already screwed up that rule bad enough by that point. I should never have gotten involved with you in the first place.”
“That doesn’t change anything. We loved one another. I told you not to go, but you went anyway. Put your duty before me. I was willing to give up everything for you.”
“That’s the price of being in the ISF. Duty to the Dragon is everything. You were from Rasalhague. Your people had already given up on our ways. Why you stayed in the Combine, I’ll never understand.”
“You know why. My family has always been faithful to House Kurita.”
“But you weren’t. Not to the point the Dragon demands. And unless you were, you’ll never understand why I made the decision I did. I’m sorry, Karl, but that’s the way it worked out. Falling for you was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. But as much as my mind keeps telling me that, I can’t for the life of me make myself regret it.”
“I knew my Yuri was hiding in there somewhere.” said Rohan. He moved closer to her. Yuri stepped back.
“I know what you want, Karl. That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Christ, do you ever quit? You kept this act up for several months on Turtle Bay. You know I will get through.”
“I’ve got another job to do, Karl. This time I don’t intend to make the same mistakes as before. I’m already at risk after my failure on Chandler.”
“You’ve been dishonored?”
Yuri nodded. “I have but one chance to redeem myself. I guess I was too valuable to not be let go just yet.”
Rohan let his arms fall to his sides. Pain crossed his face as he imagined Yuri committing seppuku.
“But I am alive, for now.” said Yuri trying to console him.
Yuri turned and headed over to her sofa. Rohan followed her over and sat down beside her.
“So you’ve become a member of a mercenary group.”
“Well, we’re not written into the history books just yet. But we’re getting there.”
“I wish you the best.” She looked at her watch. “I’m sorry I cannot visit longer. I have something to attend to. Perhaps you would be willing to walk me down to my appointment.”
“Gladly.”
The Palace
Dieron City, Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
The banquet to introduce welcome the Federated Commonwealth delegation was in full swing. Joshua sat quietly in one corner with Ryan Smith, watching over the events.
“Victor sure seems happy.” commented Ryan.
“Yeah.” said Joshua quietly. Victor Davion was standing near the center of the room, having a lively conversation with an attractive Japanese woman. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out the lady was Omi Kurita, the granddaughter of the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. The rumors of a romance simmering between the two now seemed far more real.
“Lucky bastard, even he’s got someone and I’m here alone.” Joshua was beginning to seriously regret not having Lisa come with him, although he knew it was unwise to have Lisa leave Daniel this early. Daniel was too young to travel, so he had no choice but to leave his love behind. Seeing Victor with Omi was beginning to gnaw at Joshua’s soul with envy.
“Miss Lisa?” asked Ryan.
“Yeah, a lot. But at the same time, it’s good to get away. Daniel is demanding.”
“As infants always are.” Said Ryan. “Well, you’re a thousand light years away from New Belfast. You should take a little bit of time to enjoy yourself. Think of this as another ski trip.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just time away. What do you mean? Did something happen at Mountainside that I’m not aware of?”
“Nothing.” Said Joshua. He stood up and headed out into the garden.
Joshua wandered about the garden outside the Palace. Joshua didn’t know if Ryan was being coy or if he really didn’t know anything about Elise and his near-miss in the hot tub. Either way, his comments bothered him. The cool evening air felt good and Joshua took it in and tried to relax.
The door leading back into the hotel section of the Palace opened and a man came out in a Stealthy Foxes uniform. Something about the man’s manner was familiar to Joshua, so he darted behind a shrub and watched.
“All in readiness?” said a voice, muffled and distorted as to be unrecognizable.
“Yes. The operation begins tonight.” Joshua knew this voice and it sent chills through his entire body. It was Richard O’Malley.
“Son of a bitch. Why is he here?”
Joshua moved closer, but the voices stopped and Joshua saw two people. Both made their way quickly to the front gate and departed out onto the street. Joshua followed them out, but they had vanished.
“That other man had the build and gait of Ryan Steiner. What’s he doing with O’Malley? Something’s going on. I need to meet with Yuri.”
He turned and headed back to his room.
Next Chapter
New Belfast
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
27 January 3052
“Good morning, Logan. Enjoying your present, I hope?” said Joshua as he walked towards his office.
“Christmas was a month ago, but a Clan refitted Awesome was quite a gift. Thank you.” said Logan. “Is that the morning news?”
“Yeah. Hear about the treaty?”
“I knew about it months ago. I didn’t know, however, that things had advanced this far.”
“That they have.” said Joshua. “All that’s left now is for the leaders of the Combine and the Commonwealth to meet and sign the final draft of the treaty.”
Logan took the newspaper from Joshua’s hand. He had already read it, but he wanted to gauge Joshua for reactions. “According to this, that meeting will take place in March. My guess is Victor will probably want the Star Swords involved somehow.”
“Jumping the gun on me, aren’t you?” said Joshua flatly. “Dirty Dozen company has been packing up for departure for about a week now.”
“I wondered what was going on. Makes sense though.”
“Why? Because we’re the heroes of the Clan War. What better symbol to represent the true purpose to the Star Alliance than the one unit that defeated the Clans in almost every battle it fought.”
“No, because a bunch of Clan Omnimechs would beat the crap out of anyone who tried to mess up the final negotiations.”
Joshua chuckled. “True. Particularly given how Skye and Tamar are always looking for an excuse to rattle their sabres against the Davions.”
“This sounds like it’s leading up to something?”
“It is.” said Joshua. “A lot of what I wanted to talk to you about has to do with the conference. That’s why I’ve summoned you here. I’ve gotten a lot of recommendations from the officers that have trained your unit. Now I know you’re scheduled to leave soon for an objective raid into Falcon space. That mission will be canceled.”
“Why?”
“Because those recommendations have apparently reached the ears of people outside New Belfast. You will be going with us.”
“We are? Why?”
“Each nation has a number of delegates who will travel to the conference and sign the document. Victor has called up his 10th Lyran Guard regiment to act as bodyguards. His mother requested the Star Swords, but I won’t abandon New Belfast to Clan predation without a very good reason. So I’m only sending a company and my command lance. Your merc lance will fill in some of the gaps nicely.
“I want you, because I like you and I know you’re a competent group of mechwarriors. You’re also an unknown, which will give us an edge if we have to face off against a hostile force. Thirdly, I’m not the one who made the original request for your presence.”
“Excuse me?”
“Do you know who Duke Ryan Steiner is?”
“Yeah, he’s the duke of some planet in the Skye March, but he’s considered the leader of the Skye Separatist movement. He’s a troublemaker.”
“He’s also one of the Fed Com delegates and has requested the Dark Rangers specifically for the bodyguard duty. Now, naturally, Prince Victor has final say on who goes, but the request has been sent to both me and Tharkad. Duke Ryan is notorious for his opposition to the Davions. You’re right, he’s a troublemaker. Is there some reason why he would want you in the bodyguard group?”
“Are you accusing me of something?” said Logan, his voice edgy.
“No, but someone will you can be certain. Something about this doesn’t make much sense to me, so I’m worried. I don’t know much about Duke Ryan. Like you and most of your men, I’m not from the Commonwealth. So I’m not too keen on all these anti-Davion factions here in the Lyran half. But I know enough about him to be worried.”
“And I guess I should be too?”
“Aye, that you should. There’s no logical reason to refuse the request, save that there might be a better unit to fill that slot. But you’ve got my recommendation and Victor will trust that over and above anything Duke Ryan might say. You’re in, but Steiner wants you for something. That makes you a target, of what, I can’t say. You’d best be careful, both here, en route, and on Dieron itself.”
“So the final negotiations are on Dieron. I don’t guess you got that from the newspaper.”
“You are correct, and you didn’t hear it. Understood?”
“Hear what?”
“Dismissed.”
Dropship The Fury
Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
12 February 3053
“You haven’t taken your eyes off of that launcher since we left.” said Logan, slapping Doc on the shoulder. The impact made Doc’s pen slide across his notebook, leaving an ugly streak of ink behind.
“This sample, the Star Swords have given us to mount on Cowboy’s Highlander. I chose instead to try to unlock its secrets. I’ve been attempting to adapt the Streak targeting system on the Streak two-pack for use on the heavier launchers. So far, I’ve not had any luck.”
“Just make sure you get that launcher back into the Highlander by the time we arrive.”
“Not a problem. It’s me, remember?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Well, I hate to interrupt, but General Messer is coming aboard in a few minutes. I need you on the bridge. Apparently, the bigwigs are coming aboard with him.”
Doc stood up. “Where are the others?”
“They’re getting freshened up. You’d better at least change clothes. Grease is definitely you, but not appropriate for the occasion.”
“I’ll meet you on the bridge in a few minutes.” said Doc, heading for his quarters. Logan headed back to the corridor that would take him back to the bridge.
Doc arrived a few minutes later. Not more than 30 seconds after he arrived, Joshua came onto the bridge with three people. None of them needed any introductions. It was Victor Davion, Melissa Steiner, and Ryan Steiner.
Victor and Joshua had met before and were good friends. They were chatting away at the lead while the other two followed behind. Ryan seemed aloof from the proceedings, while Melissa was a quiet and ignored member of Joshua and Victor’s conversation.
“A father, eh?” said Victor of Joshua. “How’d you manage that?”
“You really want the details?” said Joshua with a smirk.
“No, but where is Lisa anyway?”
“Daniel’s still too young to travel and Lisa didn’t want to leave him, so they are both still on New Belfast.”
“I’ll bet that wasn’t easy, having to leave her.” said Victor softly. “I’ve heard of your problems. PTSD, is it?”
“Aye. But she’s getting better. Hopefully, my absence won’t cause too much trouble for her.”
“Sad that duty sometimes takes us from our loved ones like this.” Victor mused. Joshua frowned.
“In this case, Victor, your duty takes you to the one you love.” thought Joshua, thinking of the rumors of something happening between Victor and Omi Kurita, Coordinator Takashi Kurita’s granddaughter.
Joshua looked over Logan and his men, all of which were trying to look far more professional than they were. Joshua smiled. “Well, your grace, here are your Dark Rangers as requested.” said Joshua, addressing Duke Ryan.
Logan stood up and looked at the Duke. Ryan had a smug look on his face, as if to tempt Logan to try to uncover why the Duke had asked for the Rangers’ presence.
“Not what I expected.” said the Duke. “But I’ve been wanting to meet you for some time.”
“I’m honored.” said Logan with a fake smile. “I think.” he thought to himself.
“Anyway, your grace,” said Logan. “These are my Rangers. This is Karl Rohan, Brian Davies, and Johvac Bolovinsky.”
“Rohan, Doc, and Cowboy, I presume.”
“Correct.” said Cowboy.
With introductions out of the way, Duke Ryan spun on Joshua. “Now, General, I would like to discuss some security arrangements with you.”
“Certainly, your grace. Please come this way.” Joshua and Duke Ryan departed for Joshua’s ready room.
The meeting was short. Steiner wanted assurances that Joshua could not provide. It was blatantly obvious that Ryan did not trust the Combine at all and wanted Joshua to go above and beyond the treaty provisions concerning delegate security to keep the FedCom delegates, and Duke Ryan in particular, safe. Joshua refused, saying he would not go against the provisions.
Several minutes after Ryan left, Victor walked in. “Ryan tell you about his desire for additional security?”
“I don’t gather you approved either.”
“No, I didn’t. The last thing we need is a bunch of trigger-happy Skye loyalists on Dieron. Things are paranoid enough right now. Still, I can’t help but wonder if he’s not got a good idea?”
“Why?”
“There are rumors that Kurita may prove to be treacherous. DMI’s recently lost track of several Kurita regiments.”
“Meaning the DCMS is shuffling their garrisons around?”
“Yes. And we don’t know whether or not those units are being moved for further raids on the Clans or to within striking distance of our worlds.”
“Now who’s being paranoid?”
“Joshua, I know you’re from outside the Inner Sphere, but you can bet that there’s at least one Kurita equivalent to Duke Ryan over there who wants to stir up trouble.”
“I’m sure. You think this dissenter is behind the reshuffling?”
“We know the ISF is part of this. The defector your Dark Rangers rescued had a lot to say about what the ISF has been doing. DMI has confirmed the stockpile on Al Na’ir that he spoke of.”
“Al Na’ir is within a jump of Dieron.”
Victor nodded.
“You think they might make a move on us at the conference?” asked Joshua.
“It’s possible.”
“And what about dissension among our ranks? The Star Alliance is not 100% popular in the Commonwealth either.”
“Translation: Can Ryan be trusted? I doubt it.”
“So I get to jump at shadows for the next three weeks.”
“That’s the best we can do. If Ryan’s up to something, he’s very good at keeping it hidden.”
“Every good strategist knows better than to fight on two fronts at the same time. Yet, here, I may be forced to do just that.”
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
1 March 3053
Five jumpships materialized at the nadir jump point of the Dieron sun. Three Draconis Combine Avenger class assault dropships swarmed around them, their weapons armed.
“Dieron command to all Avengers, do not fire until hostile intent has been established. I repeat hold your fire.” barked orders from the planet’s surface.
Near the five Federated Commonwealth jumpships was a single Star Lord jumpship with the markings of the Kurita Imperial family.
“Federated Commonwealth delegation, this is Dieron Defensive Command.” said the planetoid relay to the visitors. “Welcome to the Draconis Combine. You may detach and proceed planetside when ready.”
“Roger, Defense Command. We will proceed shortly.”
Dieron City Spaceport
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
3 March 3053
Gwen looked down on the tarmac from her perch in the control tower. She sighed. “A lot of pomp and ceremony going on down there.”
A full honor guard, with flags, banners, parade colored Battlemechs, and dress uniforms were neatly arranged on the tarmac in from of a large Overlord class dropship bearing the Federated Commonwealth seal.
“This is the first time a Davion Prince has ever been welcomed on Draconis soil.” said Javier. “This is a historic occasion.”
“Shiro Kurita’s rolling in his grave right now. Peace has never been the Kurita way.” mused Gwen. “They may as well be a Clan themselves.”
A personnel gantry dropped from the Overlord and several people walked out. Javier raised his binoculars to view the party. He picked out Victor Davion in the lead, followed by his mother and Ryan Steiner. Behind them were several military officers. Jean focused in on one. “There he is.”
“Who?”
“The Davion security commander.”
“The one we’re supposed to kill?”
“Hai! That’s him.” He handed the binoculars to her and pointed with his finger at the tiny figure. “That one.”
Gwen looked through the binoculars and gasped. She dropped them quickly and looked at Javier.
“You knew!” she stabbed at him.
Javier nodded. “I knew. Our opportunity has arrived.”
“But our orders?”
“A bit of a problem, aren’t they? Our moment of decision has come. Is your loyalty to the Wolverines or to the Combine? Now is the time to decide that.”
---
Tai-sa Yuri Noriko straightened her ISF uniform and mentally reviewed the list of names of the F-C delegation.
“Something bothering you?” asked the man beside her in Japanese, another ISF agent under her command.
“Ie.” said Yuri in response. “Just that I’ve had a run in with some of these men before.”
“Who?”
“These mercenaries, the Dark Rangers. They were the ones who extracted Akbar out from under me on Chandler.”
“Indrahar nearly ordered you to commit seppuku for that failure.”
“I do not wish to be reminded of that.”
“The mercenary executive officer, Karl Rohan, was he the one on Turtle Bay?”
“The same.”
“More unpleasant memories?”
“You taunt worse than Libereux-san. Enough.” she paused as the delegates approached. Near her, Takashi Kurita and his party began to move towards the visitors. “It is time.”
Yuri straightened her uniform again and walked over. A handful of the Stealthy Foxes and the Lohengrin, the DMI and LIC’s own elite shock troopers took up places near the Commonwealth envoys.
“A historic moment, indeed. Even two years ago, I would have been ordered to kill one of those commandos on sight. Now I must tolerate their presence in the name of peace.”
Yuri noted the pecking order of the delegates on both sides. For Kurita, the Coordinator was in front, followed by his son, Gunji no Kanrei Theodore Kurita. Behind Theodore were two of his children, Hohito and Omi. Both were in their early twenties in age. Hohito was a respected mechwarrior and a friend of Victor Davion. Omi was, as rumor had it, the secret love of Prince Victor.
For the Federated Commonwealth delegates, Prince Victor stood equal with his mother, Melissa Steiner. Behind them was Duke Ryan Steiner. Yuri noted that Victor was the only representative of the old Federated Suns to be present. She wondered how much political maneuvering was being done to keep dissenters in the Lyran portion of the realm, like Duke Ryan, quiet.
Behind them was Hauptmann General Joshua Messer of the Star Swords, her target. The exploits of the Star Swords were well known to the Combine, who had used them as propaganda to fuel their war against the Clans. “If Davion can do it, so can we” had become a motto for DCMS units pitted against their brutal Clan enemies. Theodore Kurita had himself ordered the creation of an elite regiment patterned off of the Swords, but getting enough Clan equipment would take some time. That was one of the reasons the Combine had begun research into their own Omnimech manufacture.
Yuri was taken by surprise in many ways when she saw the Star Swords commander. He was much younger than she had expected. His eyes seemed to be much older, as if they’d seen the toil of a dozen lifetimes. There was a sadness there that bothered her.
“No!” she thought. “He is the enemy. He must be destroyed.”
Dragging behind Messer was Logan, the Dark Rangers commander. He looked very uncomfortable and very out of place. Still, Yuri smiled when she saw Logan. He hadn’t changed a bit in the three months since they’d faced off on Chandler. She wondered if Logan remembered her.
By now, Victor had reached Takashi. The Dragon bowed in traditional Japanese custom. “I am Coordinator Takashi Kurita. I bid you welcome to our jewel of Dieron, Lord Davion.”
“I am honored at your welcome, Lord Kurita. May these days be fruitful for both our nations for generations to come.”
With the formal greetings out of the way, the delegates began to move off to the waiting limousines. Yuri moved aside from the group, noting that General Messer had done the same, Logan at his side.
“I am Yuri Noriko, Colonel in the ISF. I am head of security for this conference.”
“I am General Joshua Messer. I’m in charge of the Commonwealth security. You wish to discuss arrangements for our cooperation?”
“Command of the First Star Swords. Your exploits are well known within the Combine, Colonel.”
“I’m glad I’m popular. This is my aide, Lt. Logan of the Dark Rangers.”
“Good to see you again, Logan.” said Yuri with a sly smile.
“You’ve met?” said Joshua with surprise.
“You might say that.” said Logan with a baleful glance at Yuri. “I think it better if you did not inquire further.”
---
“You scum.” said Ryan to Joshua. “You get the best rooms on Dieron while the rest of us Swords get the Best Western at the spaceport.”
Joshua fixed himself a drink and sat down on the sofa in his suite. He picked up the Comstar document on Draconis customs and began to read. He’d been at his room for a few hours when Ryan came up to see him. “I’m sorry, Ryan. I know you’d like to be up here at the Palace. I don’t blame you. This place is really nice. But I’d much rather have you within spitting distance of your mechs if things get ugly.”
“I know. I just feel I should voice my complaints.” said Ryan.
“Typical. Did Amanda force you into it? You’re not usually one to care, just as long as you’ve got a roof over your head.”
“No, I just came to tell you the mechs have been unloaded and prepped for combat. The Kurita techs have moved your Ryoken, Duke Ryan’s Banshee, and Prince Victor’s Daishi here to the Palace.”
“Okay. I probably go down and check on the Galileo III later.”
“So what’s the agenda?”
“For you, unfortunately, you get to sit and wait for trouble. The Kurita is allowing everyone full tourist access to the city and the outlying areas, so I guess it won’t be too bad. But I want one lance of Swords at full combat readiness at all times, is that clear?”
“Perfectly, sir. What about the Rangers?”
“Well, keep them on rotating shifts with your men. Logan’s here with me.”
“Is that all?”
“Should be. Come on, Ryan, this is supposed to be a cake walk.”
“You and I both know better. Something’s going to happen.”
“Yeah, I know. Let’s just hope we’re ready for it, whatever it is. Dismissed.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
Joshua finished his drink as Ryan left. He sat back and looked about his room and smiled.
Dieron was one of the first planets colonized in the 22nd century. Most of its population was not pure blood Japanese. It had been a world under Terran control for most of its existence. Only after the fall of the Star League did it become a Kurita world.
Despite the lack of Japanese influence on the planet, one colony leader had a passion for Japanese history and culture. When the capital was moved to Dieron City in 2532, he ordered the construction of a new government building. “The Palace,” as it was called, was an exact duplicate of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Earth. Since that time, the Palace had been turned over to a group of businessmen after the government grew too big to use it. They turned it into a hotel and conference center.
The Palace was considered the premier hotel on Dieron and considered one of the best in the Combine. The new owners had removed none of its traditional Japanese flair. It served well for the purposes of the Dieron Conference, since the Palace still retained many of the ISF installed security systems the government had put in over the years. Secret doors and passages abounded in the place, making it very hard for would-be infiltrators to avoid being caught.
There came a rapid knock at Joshua’s door. “Come in.” said Joshua, first in English and then in Japanese. The door opened and an elderly gentleman walked inside.
“Colonel Jaime Wolf.” said Joshua in surprise.
“I greet and recognize thee, Khan Joshua Messer.”
“I am unaccustomed to that title. I prefer my Inner Sphere military rank.”
“No offense intended, General.”
“I knew you were here for the conference. Must not be easy being so close to old Takashi.”
“We’ve managed to avoid each other nicely, although some of the old tension cooled after Luthien.”
“I forgot. You must have had an encounter with him when you went there to fight off the Jaguars and Cats.”
“I did.”
“So what can I do for you, Colonel?”
“A follow-up of sorts. You remember my son Mackenzie and your meeting with him some years ago?”
“Yes, I do. Your Dragoons were instrumental in the creation of the Star Swords. Have you come to call on the debt?”
“Not exactly. Consider it a re-negotiation. I want to do two things. One, I want to pledge our loyalty to one another as fellow Wardens and protectors of the Inner Sphere.”
“You want the Dragoons and the Swords as allies?”
“More than that. Kindred spirits, if you will.”
“That we are. I am not my father. The ‘secret allies’ of which the Wolverine legends spoke have been neglected for too long. No more secrets, at least on that front.”
“Then we are agreed.”
“We are. Allies and comrades in arms.”
“The other reason I am here is to inform you of news concerning the survival of other Wolverines.”
“Your son hinted that there were more above and beyond Snord’s Irregulars. You’ve confirmed this?”
Wolf nodded. “Wolfnet has discovered that two survivors were discovered in the ruins of Cumberland by the Draconis Combine party. These survivors were kept away from you much as the Draconis soldiers were kept away from the Commonwealth soldiers that discovered you.”
“Do you know what happened to them after that?”
“ISF got hold of them. Wolfnet’s not been very successful at penetrating their operations, but it is certainly possible they are still alive.”
“They could even be here.”
“A possibility.”
“Do you know who they are?”
“No names, only descriptions were available. One was a female in her mid to late teens. The other a badly injured man, age indeterminate but probably between 17 and 25.”
“Nature of the injuries?”
“Burns.”
“Cumberland was firebombed, so that’s not surprising.”
“We have also sent out an expedition to New Vision, looking for other survivors.”
“Any luck?”
“None as far as we know. But New Vision is a large planet and not fully settled even by your people. There is a lot of territory for people to hide in. Plus the element of secrecy keeps us from making use of Comstar. I don’t want them snooping around, reformed in their ways or not.”
“I wouldn’t either. You have, I presume, found the cache.”
“I presume so. They should not be able to enter it however.”
Joshua shook his head. “No. Only a Wolverine can open that door.”
“What’s in there, if I may ask?”
“You already know. You were probably there once.”
“But I only saw a small part of it.”
“More of the same.”
“There must be a thousand Battlemechs in there then.”
“You would be correct.”
“Dear God.”
“During our Exile, we lost many pilots. We did not lose that many machines. We were seven galaxies strong at the time of the Annihilation. Five of them remain in equipment if not in pilots.”
“No wonder the Clans never believed you were destroyed. That many mechs don’t just disappear.”
“I would guess you are right. That’s why the Bloodrite was created. They knew they’d find us again.”
“And they did.”
“But some of us still live.”
“And if my Dragoons have any say in the matter, you will continue so.”
---
Sometime later, Joshua continued his meetings with Yuri about security arrangements.
“That won’t work. Each of our commando teams have been programmed to hate each other. Integration is not an option.” said Yuri stubbornly.
“They follow orders, Sho-sa.” Joshua said flatly. “Yours and mine. If I order my troops to like yours, then they’d better damn well do it.”
“That’s being naive.”
“We’ve got a long way to go, don’t we?” lamented Joshua.
“Peace between our peoples. There’s too much blood for that to work.” said Yuri with an air of frustration. “We both know that.”
“I don’t believe so.”
She paused. “You don’t seem to share the prejudices of your companions. Is it youthful idealism or something else?”
“I’m not from the Commonwealth. I was born in the Periphery and came to the Federated Commonwealth after my world was destroyed by pirates. So I’ve not grown up with this idea that you and your people are the devil incarnate. That and I’ve fought the Clans. I watched good soldiers cut down like wheat before a scythe, killed no matter how hard they fought to stay alive. All I know is I’ve seen what the Clans can do and I know that if the Combine and the Commonwealth don’t stand together, the Clans will eat us alive.”
Yuri paused. “Against my better judgment, I think I like you, General. You have faith, something I wish more of us possessed.”
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life as a bondsman to some Clanner. And if I have to invoke the old adage about ‘enemy of my enemy...’ then, by God, I will.”
Yuri nodded. “Then let’s give this a try.” Deep down, she began to lament her orders.
The Palace, Dieron City
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
3 March 3053
Despite her misgivings, duty demanded that Yuri carry through with her orders. She assembled her team that evening in her quarters.
“He is an idealistic trusting fool. His rhetoric is appealing, if misguided. I almost regret having to do this, but The Dragon’s will must be done. He must be killed quietly but with suspicion. We want the Davions to think we did it.”
“Won’t that put them on alert?” said Javier.
“It will, but without their commander, their defensive operations when the Director initiates Phase Two will be sloppy. Now, who can I trust to do the deed? I know many of you have looked up to the Star Swords and their young commander as paragons of what we strive to be against the Clans. But hero worship has nothing to do with this. The Combine is threatened by this alliance. The General must be eliminated if we are to protect the Dragon.”
Javier began to raise his hand to volunteer when he was cut off.
“I will do it.” said Gwendolyn.
Javier’s jaw dropped.
“Very well. Come up with a plan and submit it to me at first light tomorrow. Dismissed.”
Javier stood up and looked at Gwen. He said nothing and then departed.
The Palace, Dieron City
Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
“A seduction? It’s a long shot but it does have the added bonus of discrediting him to his own people. You don’t make many martyrs out of men enslaved to their lusts.” Yuri finished buttoning her uniform when a sharp knock came at her door.
“Chotto matte!” she said. She walked over to the door and opened it. She was surprised to see Karl Rohan standing there.
“Karl, what......come in.” said Yuri.
“I’d been wanting to talk to you since I saw you on Chandler.” said Rohan, walking inside.
“When I heard you were part of the delegation coming to Dieron, I was hoping we could have this conversation.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“And I thought you were. How’d you get away?”
“After the rescue attempt failed, I managed to get myself and two of the others aboard a smuggler’s ship.”
“I heard the entire rebellion force was destroyed in the bombardment.”
“My unit was spared because we were out of Edo trying to rescue you. We searched the rubble of the prison. All we found was orders sending you to Edo. I thought for sure you had died when the Jags blasted the city to dust.”
“They were sending me there to interrogate me further. Fortunately, the Jaguar commander had made his decision to destroy Edo by then, so I was diverted to a nearby airstrip where an aerospace fighter was going to take me up to the commander’s ship. From there, I managed to get away. Nearly died. A near miss from an elemental’s small laser cost me my arm, but I lost them in a swamp. I managed to get off-world on a smuggler ship myself, a good six months after the city was destroyed.”
“How did you hide out?”
“Hooked up with this farmer. He was an interesting fellow. Kind of a rogue. He was lonely and I needed somewhere to hide. So I traded sex for shelter. He must have thought it interesting to fuck a one armed woman.”
“Was that what you did with me? Figured you needed a stooge?”
“Oh, Christ, Karl, you didn’t come here for that, did you?”
“We never finished that argument. Dammit, Yuri, I loved you.”
“I had a job to do, Karl. I’m not supposed to let my feelings get in the way of my duty.” Yuri softened. “I’d already screwed up that rule bad enough by that point. I should never have gotten involved with you in the first place.”
“That doesn’t change anything. We loved one another. I told you not to go, but you went anyway. Put your duty before me. I was willing to give up everything for you.”
“That’s the price of being in the ISF. Duty to the Dragon is everything. You were from Rasalhague. Your people had already given up on our ways. Why you stayed in the Combine, I’ll never understand.”
“You know why. My family has always been faithful to House Kurita.”
“But you weren’t. Not to the point the Dragon demands. And unless you were, you’ll never understand why I made the decision I did. I’m sorry, Karl, but that’s the way it worked out. Falling for you was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. But as much as my mind keeps telling me that, I can’t for the life of me make myself regret it.”
“I knew my Yuri was hiding in there somewhere.” said Rohan. He moved closer to her. Yuri stepped back.
“I know what you want, Karl. That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Christ, do you ever quit? You kept this act up for several months on Turtle Bay. You know I will get through.”
“I’ve got another job to do, Karl. This time I don’t intend to make the same mistakes as before. I’m already at risk after my failure on Chandler.”
“You’ve been dishonored?”
Yuri nodded. “I have but one chance to redeem myself. I guess I was too valuable to not be let go just yet.”
Rohan let his arms fall to his sides. Pain crossed his face as he imagined Yuri committing seppuku.
“But I am alive, for now.” said Yuri trying to console him.
Yuri turned and headed over to her sofa. Rohan followed her over and sat down beside her.
“So you’ve become a member of a mercenary group.”
“Well, we’re not written into the history books just yet. But we’re getting there.”
“I wish you the best.” She looked at her watch. “I’m sorry I cannot visit longer. I have something to attend to. Perhaps you would be willing to walk me down to my appointment.”
“Gladly.”
The Palace
Dieron City, Dieron
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
4 March 3053
The banquet to introduce welcome the Federated Commonwealth delegation was in full swing. Joshua sat quietly in one corner with Ryan Smith, watching over the events.
“Victor sure seems happy.” commented Ryan.
“Yeah.” said Joshua quietly. Victor Davion was standing near the center of the room, having a lively conversation with an attractive Japanese woman. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out the lady was Omi Kurita, the granddaughter of the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. The rumors of a romance simmering between the two now seemed far more real.
“Lucky bastard, even he’s got someone and I’m here alone.” Joshua was beginning to seriously regret not having Lisa come with him, although he knew it was unwise to have Lisa leave Daniel this early. Daniel was too young to travel, so he had no choice but to leave his love behind. Seeing Victor with Omi was beginning to gnaw at Joshua’s soul with envy.
“Miss Lisa?” asked Ryan.
“Yeah, a lot. But at the same time, it’s good to get away. Daniel is demanding.”
“As infants always are.” Said Ryan. “Well, you’re a thousand light years away from New Belfast. You should take a little bit of time to enjoy yourself. Think of this as another ski trip.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just time away. What do you mean? Did something happen at Mountainside that I’m not aware of?”
“Nothing.” Said Joshua. He stood up and headed out into the garden.
Joshua wandered about the garden outside the Palace. Joshua didn’t know if Ryan was being coy or if he really didn’t know anything about Elise and his near-miss in the hot tub. Either way, his comments bothered him. The cool evening air felt good and Joshua took it in and tried to relax.
The door leading back into the hotel section of the Palace opened and a man came out in a Stealthy Foxes uniform. Something about the man’s manner was familiar to Joshua, so he darted behind a shrub and watched.
“All in readiness?” said a voice, muffled and distorted as to be unrecognizable.
“Yes. The operation begins tonight.” Joshua knew this voice and it sent chills through his entire body. It was Richard O’Malley.
“Son of a bitch. Why is he here?”
Joshua moved closer, but the voices stopped and Joshua saw two people. Both made their way quickly to the front gate and departed out onto the street. Joshua followed them out, but they had vanished.
“That other man had the build and gait of Ryan Steiner. What’s he doing with O’Malley? Something’s going on. I need to meet with Yuri.”
He turned and headed back to his room.
Next Chapter
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