Chapter One – Enemies Assemble
Location Classified
Somewhere in the Free Worlds League
10 September 3052
Captain-General Thomas Marik marched quickly down the hall towards the conference room. The scars he once received in an assassination attempt made the leader of the Free Worlds League into a sinister ghoul-like figure, but despite his appearance, he was no more evil or good than any other head of state. His main concern was his own nation and throne, and be damned anyone or anything else.
And it was to address a threat to those that he had come here.
The guards opened the doors to the conference room for him. He marched swiftly inside as the assembled group, or at least most of them, stood in respect. Thomas ignored those who did not and took his own seat.
"Report." he barked. "What is the current news?"
Michael A Phillips, one of the heads of SAFE, the League's intelligence agency, leaned forward. "Our operatives have confirmed the presence of Ardan Sortek and Morgan Hasek-Davion on Luthien, sire. Negotiations have begun."
"Do we know for certain what these negotiations are about?"
"We do not have confirmation." said Captain Andy Leake, an aide to Phillips. "With the death of Hanse Davion, young Prince Victor is eager to carve his own mark upon the Inner Sphere. So it's a safe bet he's going to try to solidify his ties with the Draconis Combine." Prince Davion had died from a heart attack within days of the end of the Clan War, leaving control of half of the Federated Commonwealth in the hands of his young son. While the Lyran half was still under the control of Victor’s mother, Melissa Steiner, Victor’s ascension was an unpredictable element.
"Do you suspect a military alliance?" asked Thomas.
"Yes, mi'lord. I do." said Phillips. "Giving Davion the freedom to strip his Draconis border and inward reaches of troops. Where he will put these troops, none can say, but we cannot discount the possibility that he will use the 15 year truce period to attempt a conquest of the League."
"How stable is the Clan Truce?"
"Too early to say." said Colonel Ragnar Smythe, a mercenary commander in League employ. "My regiment is posted to the Clan front on the Lyran world of Babeski. We've had no problems with Clan units, which seem to be regrouping or repairing themselves after the Battle of Tukayyid."
"If the Truce holds, Captain-General," said General Masterson, commander of the League's armies, "you can expect Victor to eye us. Particularly if it is a military alliance with Kurita that he seeks. That will place three of the old Successor States as firmly bonded allies, versus us and the Capellans. Our alliance with them is not so firm, nor do we want it so. Sun-tzu is dangerous, and he eyes the throne of Atreus with vulture’s eyes."
"He is a tool, nothing more." said Thomas. "But I agree. He is a volatile one at best. We must seek new allies elsewhere. To this end, I have invited two guests." He glanced at the door guards to admitted two people.
"Both you should recognize. The Precentor has brought to us news concerning a schism occurring within ComStar. The new order being formed by Precentor Martial Anastastius Focht is resented and hated by more traditional minded members of ComStar. They have splintered off, bringing with them military forces, technicians, and invaluable support. They are now known as Word of Blake. I have offered them safety on Gibson. They will aid in the defense of the League.
"The Duchess, well, let's just say that she has hatched a very risky plan, using stealth and subterfuge that I would more quickly expect from Capellans than Lyrans. By using known separatist and anti-government organizations within the Federated Commonwealth, she intends to launch attacks against key FedCom and Draconis worlds. Already, she has secured the loyalty of several Battlemech regiments, both House and mercenary, who are known for their hatred of the Combine. We will support her effort with repair supplies.
Thomas Marik leaned forward. "If her plan succeeds, we will splinter the Federated Commonwealth in two. Victor will not have an alliance, he will have an interstellar war. And from that, we will profit greatly."
Internal Security Force Headquarters
New Samarkand
Galedon District, Draconis Combine
14 September 3052
Subhash Indrahar walked feebly back to his chair. He collapsed into it, hiding behind the massive mahogany desk that decorated his office. He was old, older than God himself it seemed. But his four score years had not yet robbed him of the sharpness of his mind. Nor would he allow any to think his body feeble if he could avoid it.
A chime sounded, indicating the arrival of a guest. "Enter." he barked in Japanese, the native tongue of the Combine.
A beautiful woman entered with two escorts. All three were dressed in the jet black field uniform of the DEST, or Draconis Elite Strike Team. The leader was mid-thirties, Oriental features, but with striking pale blue eyes. Jutting below on sleeve of her uniform, one could see a flash of chrome, indicating a prosthetic limb of some fashion. Her escorts were two of her mechwarriors, given to her by the Director for this operation. She knew their names, but little more: Gwen Laidir and Javier Libereux.
"Oyaho gozimas, Director Indrahar-sama." said the leader. "You have orders, ne?"
"Yuri Noriko. Born 3019 on Luthien. Father, Russian descent, Tai-i, 1st Genyosha regiment. Mother, Japanese, civilian. Joined ISF in 3037 at age 18. Trapped and injured behind Clan lines on Turtle Bay. Escaped via smuggler ship. Current assignment: Commander, 1st DEST Battlemech regiment." Indrahar rattled off Yuri's credentials, memorized and not read.
"Hai, Director." said Yuri.
"How are your mechwarriors doing, Tai-sa?"
"Training has completed. By all accounts, we show to be rated an elite regiment."
"Excellent. How would you and your troops think of a training exercise?"
"The question is irrelevant, sir. We do as you wish."
"Correct answer, Tai-sa. Do you know of this man?"
A viewscreen on the wall flickered to life, displaying the image of a portly Arabian man.
"Abu Ali Akbar." said Yuri. "He's a smuggler. We have used his services in the past to run guns back and forth behind the Clan border."
"You have met him, ne?"
"Hai. It was on his ship that I escaped Turtle Bay."
"We acquired his services to relay a courier to our units on Wolcott. He did not arrive on Wolcott as scheduled. We have reason to suspect treason, that he somehow eliminated the courier and obtained his package. We have located Akbar on Chandler, where he was forced to land after failing to obtain jumpship transport from there into Rasalhague. He is grounded for the time being. Our field operatives have confirmed that he is seeking mercenary bodyguards and a ship that will take him out of the Combine. Already, LIC operatives have been alerted to his presence and have also arrived on Chandler. Until he has an escape route figured out, he’s gone to ground and has become nearly impossible to track. Your job will be to prevent that package from reaching Lyran space. Use any means necessary. Your departure will be immediate. Assemble a strike team of one company."
"What manner of opposition may we face?"
"His mercenaries. He cannot afford more than a lance or so. The Lyran intelligence operatives may prove a problem as well. You have your orders. Begin your preparations. Dismissed."
Evcilier
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
5 October 3052
Evcilier was a largely desert world that had the nostalgic feel of the "Old West." Lacking more modern building supplies, buildings were made of wood and resembled by both coincidence and design the typical structures one might find in a Western holovid.
This atmosphere made Richard O'Malley feel somewhat out-of-place. That was not the only thing that annoyed him. He had not been on Northwind two weeks before Antoine called in his favor. Thus, the two of them were now on Evcilier, dangerously close to the very people Richard had been so determined to escape just months before.
After the success of Operation: Counterstrike, the three battalions of the Swords split up to garrison the three worlds around New Belfast. First remained on New Belfast, Third went to Twycross, and Fourth came here to Evcilier. It had been a prudent move. Although battered and beaten by the ComGuards on Tukayyid in the battle that had forced a “truce” onto the Clans, they remained busy. Already, the Falcons had re-conquered two worlds they had lost in the final wave of Operation: Counterstrike. But they also seemed determined to go out of their way to avoid the worlds the Star Swords garrisoned. New Belfast had sobered the Jade Falcons and they were not eager to repeat that battle.
With Fourth now guarding Evcilier, that meant Juan Miranda was here. And it was Juan Miranda that Antoine and Richard had come to see.
Richard marched inside the hotel with Antoine and was immediately blocked by a massive Elemental soldier. Although sans his powerful cybernetic armor, the giant was more than three feet taller than Richard and nearly twice as wide.
"No civilians." said the elemental curtly.
"I wish to speak with Kommandant Miranda. Where is he?"
"The Kommandant takes no visitors."
"He'll see me."
"At ease, Martin." barked a voice. Juan Miranda stepped forward.
The elemental sat down. Juan silently motioned for O'Malley to follow. “Well, this is a bit of a surprise. We’ve had you listed as missing for some time now.”
“Missing and wanted.” asked Richard, cutting to the chase.
“Oh yes, Joshua would love to get his hands on you after all that happened with your brother and his wife. Joshua blames me in part, seeing as how I convinced him to let you sign on with the Swords in the first place. You betrayed us, Richard. You betrayed all of us.” Juan sat down. “So what’s to stop me from throwing you in irons and shipping you back to New Belfast on the first dropship I can find? I’d be back in Joshua’s good graces if I did that.”
“That’s a good question, Juan.” Said Richard. “What does stop you?”
“Curiosity. Why are you here, with Antoine Anderson of the Babeski LIC in tow?”
“Bryceland” said Richard. "3022. Not long after you were born."
“I was two when my Father died on that world. Trying to repel a Draconis Combine raid. What’s your point?"
"Victor's making a military alliance with the Combine, Juan. In '39, your brother and sister on Quentin."
"You don't need to give me reasons to hate the snakes, Richard. You know full well I do."
"According to the Archon Prince, we have to be friends now." said Richard in a mocking sing-song voice.
“The Clans changed a lot of things.” Retorted Juan.
“Not everything.” Said Richard grimly. “We are not so different, you and I. You call what I did to the Star Swords a betrayal? So it was, but for good cause. I did it for my brother, for my family.”
“Whole lot of good it did you. Robert is dead. Joshua killed him.”
“What do you do for your family, Juan?”
“My family is dead also.” Said Juan flatly. “I can do nothing more for them.”
“Dead at the hands of the Draconis Combine.”
Juan shook his head. "I can’t bring them back.”
“You could send a message though. A message to those who destroyed your family and countless others. You have a Battlemech battalion, filled with Clan technology machines. You'd make one hell of a statement."
“What are you talking about? Are you asking me to launch an unauthorized attack on the Combine with my battalion? Do you take me for a fool, Rich? Even if I could bloody the Combine’s nose, and I probably could, Joshua and Victor would have my head on a platter.”
"You'll not be alone.” Said Antoine, speaking for the first time. “There are others, like-minded. Determined to take war to the Combine before Victor forges his little alliance. We were not meant to be friends with the snakes. There’s been too much blood. If Victor will not see the threat they still pose, then we will force his hand."
“I’ve fought the Clans. I already know which is the greater threat.”
“Are they?” said Antoine. “We turn our backs on the Combine to fight the Clans, strip our borders, shift units to the Clan front. Do you think we can truly trust the Dragon to just leave our defenseless borders in peace? He will never have a better time to strike. This alliance is folly. You know it, and so do we.”
"What do you want me for?"
"You already know the answer to that."
"I could not promise my entire unit, even if I was in agreement with this. The risk is great. Joshua is already angry with me over you, Richard. If I’m caught, it’s a firing squad for me.”
“You must do what you feel is right. But you know the nature of the Combine and its people. You’ve seen what they did to your family. Imagine that on a widespread scale. We can stop that, if you’ll help us.”
"I will think on it, Richard."
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