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
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