Galedon Military District, Draconis Combine
1 January 3053
The New Year was a busy time for the ISF. Director Subhash Indrahar sat in his office looking at the computer screen in front of him. Different colored icons represented different aspects of a plan he was formulating.
“Computer, run simulation.”
He had repeated that a number of times, each time, changing some aspect of his plan. Those changes either represented possible setbacks in the field, or changes he was proposing to make himself. The computer crunched numbers for a few minutes and then gave a projected outcome of the operation.
Operation : Futureshock
Variant 45
Variables
Part One - Failed
Part Two - Success (45%)
Projected Outcome
Fed Com Delegates eliminated 100%
Kurita Delegates eliminated 45%
Likelihood of Retaliatory attack by Federated Commonwealth 100%
War with Federated Commonwealth 65%
This outcome seemed to satisfy Indrahar. He was hoping for a 100% on war with the Fed Com, but no amount of tweaking the variables seemed to convince the computer simulation that it would be a guaranteed outcome. Not that these numbers were any guarantee either. Many military commanders had mused throughout the ages of how no plan ever survives enemy contact. So too with many intelligence operations. There was no way to ever compensate for all the variables so that a 100% accurate simulator could be programmed. This one was simply a best guess and Indrahar knew it.
Still, it was a best guess he was confident of. It was time to put the pieces into place and give names to the different aspects of the operation. To avoid compromising the operation, the teams would operate in complete ignorance of one another. Each was given one and only one piece of the whole puzzle. That way capture would not jeopardize the entire operation. That was a necessity. The computer reasoned having the team leaders in on the whole operation dramatically reduced its chance of success. Secrecy would be required.
“Now who to assign to what task?” thought the ISF Director., reaching for his dossiers of active ISF teams and team leaders. At the top of the pile was Yuri Noriko, commander of the ISF’s Battlemech regiment.
“It would seem simple to use her to lead the final attack, but I’d rather have her on site. Davion intelligence operatives will be suspicious if such a prominent member of my staff is absent from the Kurita bodyguard delegation. I will assign her to the bodyguard detail, with one additional assignment.”
Indrahar took his men and wrote down a single note to himself on a pad of paper. He wrote:
Assassination of Davion bodyguard commander - Yuri Noriko
Satalice
Wolf Clan Occupation Zone, Free Rasalhague Republic
12 January 3053
Star Captain Michael let out his breath in the cold Satalice night. He marched towards his silent Omnimech, a Man O'War. Behind him was anything but silence. The loud pulsating factory continued to crank out Omnimechs for the Wolf Clan's rebuilding army.
Michael glared with disgust at Factory 12. The huge wing on the western edge of the complex was designed to build assault mechs, such as the Dire Wolf or the Warhawk. Currently though, that factory had been revamped to build assault Omnis, but not Wolf Omnis. No, a deal with Diamond Shark Clan had been made. Although the Sharks held no Inner Sphere territory, they had fought on Tukayyid. They had been a last minute entry into the war with the Inner Sphere, too late to fight in any battle except the proxy battle for Earth. The Wolves had decided to make the Sharks strong, as a possible ally against the increasingly agitated Jade Falcon Clan.
Michael had to admit though, as he climbed the ladder to his mech, that the Diamond Shark mech was a beauty to behold. The Clans knew of it as the Dark Angel. Comstar had named the mech Balrog, after the Tolkien demon, after encountering it for the first time on Tukayyid. In many ways, the mech resembled its mythological namesake. Two huge jump baffles covered its back, resembling metallic wings. Its head was shaped in a mechanical duplication of any or all of the minions of hell. Standing a head taller than almost any other mech, the Balrog's massive body was build solely for its intimidation value. Michael knew it was also the fastest mech of its type, and carried the maximum amount of armor it could carry. That packaged with its impressive array of energy weapons made it live up to its fearsome appearance.
"And the Sharks get to have it free of charge." said Michael to himself as he got into his mech. "What I would not give to be able to pilot one of those."
---
Unknown to Michael, high above the cloudy skies of Satalice roared a Clan Union dropship. Aboard her, as the ship began its decent into the atmosphere of the former Rasalhague world, some of her crew were having a conversation of their own.
“There are some things I do not understand about you, Richard.” said Juan Miranda, garbed for mech combat in a cooling vest and boxers. “How do you know the Wolves have refitted the factory?”
“Give me a little credit.” said Richard O’Malley. “I am in the intelligence services after all.”
“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” said Juan, donning his neurohelmet. “Attacking a Wolf factory world is not my idea of fun. We don’t know what to expect from the Wolves. The Swords have never fought them.”
“Just remember that they fight like you. They’re a liberal Clan and do not hold strongly to their code of honor.”
“Neither do the Jade Falcons anymore.”
“Then you should feel right at home. Five minutes to drop. I’d better get aboard.”
---
"Star Captain." said Michael’s communicator.
"Yes, what is it?"
"We have a dropship inbound. Contact registers as hostile. Positive ID on one Union-C class dropship."
“The Jade Falcons? This deep within Wolf territory? Oh, the Falcons will pay dearly for that insult." thought Michael. "What information to you have, Mechwarrior?"
“They have entered drop procedure north of the perimeter. ETA on the complex is 7 minutes.”
“Sound the alert. All personnel to their mechs.”
“Aye, Star Captain.”
Michael brought his Man O’War up to full speed and headed for the north perimeter. He knew it would be fool-hardy to face off the entire Falcon trinary alone, but he did want a closer look at this enemy force.
“Planetfall detected.” reported Michael back to base. “I count 12 mechs. Few of them are Omnimechs, mostly second-line designs and in Inner Sphere organization. As hard as this is to believe, I think they are Inner Sphere raiders."
“We are too deep.” responded base. “That assessment is unreasonable, Star Captain. They are an understrength Jade Falcon trinary. Await the rest of your forces and destroy them.”
Michael snarled silently at the reprimand. He was freeborn and despite the “liberal” reputation of the Wolf Clan, he was still the object of scorn and ridicule. There was too much evidence for this to be a Jade Falcon strike. It had to be Inner Sphere, but the base commander was not about to believe any assessment from a second-class freebirth like Michael.
Michael waited until he saw the first specs of his own forces appear on the bottom of his radar screen. Seeing the twelve forms of the enemy force split into three groups of four. That confirmed it for Michael. They had to be Inner Sphere. This was a typical company formation. But where did they get Clan machines in such quantity? Was it Wolf Dragoons or the Kell Hounds? The mercenaries would have units like these after their victory on Luthien and the salvage they were given by the grateful Kurita leaders. That must be it.
Michael brought his mech up to full speed, heading for the northern perimeter of the factory complex. His Man O'War was underarmed compared to many mechs of its size, but it made up for it with heavy armor and high speed.
"Enemy in range 3 minutes."
"Understood, Star Captain."
Three minutes later, Star Captain Michael cleared a hill to look upon his enemy. This was no mercenary force. The glossy emblem of a black circle with a single white dagger-star overlapping two katanas told him exactly who his enemy was.
“HQ, this is Alpha Assault.” said Michael. “Confirmed contact with enemy force. Attackers have been identified as Federated Commonwealth. It is the Star Swords.”
“Impossible.” came the response. “It is a Jade Falcon trick.”
Michael could tell it was going to be one of those days.
---
Juan spotted the Clan mechs as they crested the hill. “Here they come. Take them down.” He brought his sight onto an enemy Vulture and fired. His PPC bolt smashed hard into the Vulture’s left arm, but it seemed to take no notice of him as it began to chase down a Swords Hellhound.
“That’s a mistake you’ll not live to regret.” said Juan, firing his autocannon into the back of the Vulture as it sped past him. Fire boiled out of the gash opened by the cannon fire. Hurt, the Vulture pilot turned to face his enemy, but it was too late. The Hellhound, relatively unhurt, lashed out with its pulse lasers as Juan followed up with a missile barrage. Pounded from both sides, the Vulture went down.
“There’s one!” said Juan. He quickly looked over his command monitor. It showed two Clan mechs crippled with no loss of Inner Sphere forces. Outnumbered, the Star Swords desperately needed to keep their own losses down.
“I need my opening.” said Richard.
“Okay, people, Santa Claus is here to pick up his packages. Let’s give him some room.”
Juan turned and cut loose into a Man O’War with his autocannon. The tracer guided shells tore across the surface of the enemy mech, chewing through armor and ammo at a horrific rate. Juan had swapped out the Thor’s usual LB-X gun for the more powerful Ultra cannon, giving him an edge on his enemy.
Star Captain Michael reeled from the hit. He was frightened. His unit, although respected and made up mostly of trueborn warriors, was largely untested. Most of his troops had been brought forward to the lines after Tukayyid, being reserves or fresh recruits. They were no match for the elite warriors of the Star Swords, as evidenced by the stupid mistakes his men were making as well as the deadly accuracy of the Swords fire.
“Alpha Assault to HQ, first response is on the verge of defeat. Enemy forces are proceeding into the factory complex." Michael snarled as he saw several Pegasus hovertanks soar past his forces towards the complex. It had to be a supply raid.
"Understood, Star Captain. We are scrambling response forces now."
Michael turned his attentions back to Juan and his Summoner. This was the Star Sword leader, Michael was sure of it.
“I know so little of these Star Swords, save what the Jade Falcons curse under their breath. Will they respect a call for zellbrigen?” thought Michael. “I am Star Captain Michael of the 352nd Assault Cluster. I challenge the pilot of Summoner Alpha to zellbrigen, one-on-one combat.”
“I am Kommandant Juan Miranda of the 1st Star Swords. I accept. Well bargained and done, Star Captain Michael.” The Summoner raised an arm as if to acknowledge the challenge.
“Good.” thought Michael. “I may redeem myself yet this day.”
Michael pressed down on the triggers of his twin autocannon. Tracer guided shells tore across the flank of the Summoner, but did little to damage the heavy mech’s armor. Juan sacrificed ten tons to his opponent, but was in every other way the stronger mech.
Juan hit his jump jets, using them instead of his ponderous legs to climb the hill. He wanted distance between himself and Michael. His Thor carried three long-range weapons: a PPC, an LRM missile rack, and the Ultra autocannon. Michael’s Man O’War was of the Primary configuration: twin light LB-X autocannon and SRM-6 racks. At range, Juan had an even greater firepower advantage. Up close, the odds were more even.
Michael realized this and knew he had to close with Juan if he stood any chance at all. He brought his machine up to a run. Juan landed and twisted his torso, bringing the PPC crosshairs to bear right on the Man O’War’s waist. He fired. The bolt of lightning seemed to ring around the heavier machine like a belt before boring a hole in the mech’s armor. Smoke poured out from the wound.
Red warning lights alerted Michael that his torso armor had been penetrated and his back-up small laser was disabled. It was not much of a loss. The weapon was largely an afterthought, put in to fill up a remaining half-ton after the rest of the primary configuration’s weapons were installed.
Michael had managed to close the range and triggered his short range missile racks. Twelve missiles raced across the space between their mechs, many of them striking home with the stationary Summoner. Juan weathered the hit, but it was a big one. Much of his armor was sanded off by those strikes. He had to be careful.
“This Thor is brand new, taken as spoils after we retook New Belfast. The last thing I need to do is lose it too.” thought Juan to himself. His old Thor had been either destroyed or captured during the same battle. He did not know which, since he had to abandon it.
Michael pressed his initiative. He triggered his autocannons again, hoping to soften further the wounds he’d already inflicted. His radar suddenly signaled the detection of new contacts.
“HQ, did you authorize someone to activate the Dark Angels?" said Michael into his communicator. Distracted by the new mechs, he let Juan put some distance between them.
"Neg." said HQ. “Dark Angels are hostile. Repeat, treat Dark Angels as hostiles.”
“So that is why they’re here.” thought Michael. “The Falcons possess no mech construction facilities in their occupation zone. In order for the Star Swords to replenish their stock of Clan technology, they have to steal it. The Falcons do not have it. But we do.” Michael looked at his monitors. His trinary was trapped between the star of Dark Angels and the Star Sword force. The Swords were battered, but were in better shape than the Wolves. Five new assault mechs to reinforce the Swords meant his position was now untenable.
“All Wolves withdraw. We are outmatched. I repeat all Wolves retreat.”
Michael opened a tight-beam to Juan. “I concede the battle to you, Kommandant. You fought with honor.”
“Thank you. So did you.” said Juan, moving to intercept the stolen Clan mechs.
NAIS Testing Grounds
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
13 January 3053
"I love traveling by train." said Dr. Michael Kale.
"I would think you'd find it incredibly boring, Doctor." said his aide, Larry Drake. "It's slow and inefficient."
"Must you always look on the technical side of matters? There is so much more to life than equations of efficiency and technology. Rail has a certain spirit to it, a certain romance that I adore."
“This coming from a man who wants us to start field tests five days before Christmas.” retorted Drake.
“Oh, hush, you’ll get your holidays, Larry. I’ve got enough on my mind without having to listen to you bitch too.”
“I know better than to assume your belief in only needing three days to successfully field test the prototypes.”
“Lab tests were a complete success. There’s not reason to assume field tests will run any less smoothly.”
“Reality?” said Larry sarcastically.
“Superstition.” countered Kale.
“If the tests go well, will Prince Victor approve the production of these new weapons?"
"This is technology even the Clans do not have. Imagine their surprise when they face off against the supposedly inferior Inner Sphere mechs only to be hit by a lethal Tandem Charge missile. Or to find that their white-hot Daishi mech is drawing heat-seeking missiles like moths drawn to the light. Or that we are mounting Ultra and LB-X autocannons only slightly inferior to their own?”
"Technology can be a dangerous thing to possess." said Larry, as if remembering a past experiment. "There are those that will stop at nothing to possess its secrets."
“Trepidation concerning the Star Alliance? There are rumors that the Combine is also perfecting new technologies. Some sort of medium range missile system. Once the Alliance is in place, there will be a free exchange of that technology.”
“That’s assuming the Alliance works. Or that Marik or Liao don’t try to snatch this.”
“True on both points. But no one knows of our experiments here. I know you are good at keeping secrets, Larry. You can’t be one of NAIS’s head researchers and not learn a little silence. Your experiments with the late Dr. Kevin Andre four years ago are still kept under wraps."
“You know most of the details of those experiments.”
“Yes, without your research on those captured Clan mechs, our autocannon development would be years behind where it is now. By why the secrecy behind where those mechs came from?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know where they got them. DMI wouldn’t tell me. I figure it has something to do with public knowledge. If the people of the Lyran half knew we had samples of Clan technology two years before the first Clanner ever set foot on a Commonwealth world, it would cause an outrage.”
“Probably true.” Suddenly, a jolt threw the two men from their seats.
"What was that?" said Kale.
"Someone pulled the emergency brake. But why?"
There was a roar of gunfire and half a dozen men in green and black ninja garb bolted into the room. They pointed their weapons at the frightened scientists and demanded their surrender.
"Death Commandos!” swore Larry under his breath. "It’s the Capellans.”
Death Commandos were the elite shock troops of House Liao’s Maskirovka intelligence operation. How they had gotten onto New Avalon, Larry did not know.
"Get down." swore one of the men, shoving Larry to the floor with his boot. Other Commandos were doing the same with the others.
"We have secured the train, Captain." reported one commando to his superior.
“Have the transports arrived?" said the ninja standing over Larry.
“Dropship is inbound. ETA 15 minutes. They report all security bypasses have worked.”
“Excellent. Then, the information given to us by the free-lancer was accurate.”
“What are your orders?"
"This one," said the lead ninja, pointing his assault rifle at Dr. Kale. "This one is Dr. Michael Kale, the project coordinator. Take him. Find the research files. If he resists, kill him."
"Yes, sir. What about the rest?"
"Assistants and aides. They are unimportant. Kill them."
Larry tried to wrestle free of his captor. Guns roared and Larry watched his companions get ripped apart of assault rifle fire. The lead ninja grabbed Larry and pulled him up to his face.
“Leave no witnesses.” he said to the men firing behind him. With a quick slice of a vibrodagger, the commando silenced Larry for good.
The one ninja with Dr. Kale dragged the frightened Doctor back into the passenger car. In one hand, the ninja held several optical disks.
"You got the data?"
"Yes, Captain. But the Doctor has informed me that this is not the only copy of this information.”
“That was to be expected. What is important is that we have the data and the samples.” Without emotion, the Commando raised his assault rifle and fired off a burst into Kale. The scientist staggered back to join his companions bleeding on the floor.
“Let’s prepare the equipment for loading. We do not know how long the Federats will be deceived by our forged codes.”
Tara
Northwind
Draconis March, Federated Commonwealth
13 January 3053
Baron Ian O'Malley poured a glass of scotch and gave it to Colonel James Cochraine. "So, mi’lord, what do you think?" said the Colonel.
Duke William Stuart, ruler of Northwind, looked to Cochraine and then at O’Malley for the answer.
"House Davion has been good to us. We're part of the old guard that remembers the days when Hanse Davion returned our world to House Stuart and to the Highlanders."
“I agree. This is a risky idea.” said Stuart. “We are not in the business of signing on with rebel factions, no matter how well organized.”
Stuart and his family had ruled Northwind from the beginning. A tropical world located within a single jump of Terra itself, the planet was a paradise of lush rainforests and large oceans. It had been a part of the Terran Hegemony during the days of the Star League. Its homegrown mech units, the infamous Northwind Highlanders, were once one of the strongest units in the Star League Defense Force. Then came the Amaris coup and the civil war. In the chaos that followed the Exodus of the Star League army under Alexander Kerensky, Northwind was occupied and claimed by House Davion. The Highlander regiments were stationed deep within territory now claimed by the Capellan Confederation, acting as a peacekeeping force for a dying Star League that had only days of life left to it. Unable to return home, the Highlanders signed on with the Capellans. That had lasted almost 250 years, until the Fourth War, when Hanse Davion offered to return the planet to them for their desertion of their Capellan posts. They did, and at long last the Highlanders came home.
It was not however, a fun homecoming. Northwind was garrisoned at the time by Team Banzai, the 5th Deneb Light Cavalry, and assorted other small merc units. Mistaken information had placed the hunted Kell Hounds on the planet as well, so suddenly House Kurita became very interested in Northwind. The 1st Genyosha, the 36th Dieron Regulars, and 5th Sword of Light came calling.
The fighting was fierce, but the Genyosha quit the fight early after they realized the Kell Hounds were not present. To compensate for the departure of the elite unit, the Fifth Sword poisoned the water supply of the city of Cromarty. The resulting pestilence killed thousands, including most of the Davion defenders. Too sick to fight, the Davion forces were routed and the Kurita forces almost won the day, except for the sudden and unexpected arrival of the Highlanders. To worsen the Kurita unit’s situation, they made the false assumption that the Highlanders were there to reinforce them. They placed themselves strategically in such a way that they became easy pickings for the Davion-loyal Highlanders. Crushed between two fronts, the Kurita units retreated, victory stolen from them seemingly at the last second.
The Highlanders and the people of Northwind, however, never forgot the harm the 5th Sword inflicted when it poisoned Cromarty. It was still a recent wound to them. To Baron O’Malley and some others, it was very personal. DEST soldiers attached to the 5th Sword launched a terror campaign after the Kurita mech units departed. Among the casualties of those battles included the Baroness O’Malley, Ian’s wife and the mother of Richard and Robert.
“It’s not a matter of hurting House Davion, gentlemen.” said another man, dark skinned and dressed in a black business suit. His name was Salamis Kelswa, and he was the son of Duke Selvin Kelswa of Tamar. “It’s a matter of hurting House Kurita in defiance of House Davion. Remember that its not Hanse Davion who’s calling the shots anymore. He’s dead. He died at the end of the Clan War. Now it’s Victor and he’s only 24. He’s young and idealistic. He doesn’t know what he’d doing.”
“He’s condemning us all.” said William MacLeod, another regimental commander in the Highlanders. “If the Alliance goes through, he’ll strip the border of garrison forces to fight the Clans. Vulnerable like that, Kurita’s bound to make a grab for territory, treaty or no. And Northwind’s on the border and a valuable target at that.”
"It seems that he's gotten you hooked on his ideas." said O'Malley. "What do you think, Cat? Is this Conspiracy a good idea for the Northwind Highlanders?"
Colonel Andrea “Cat” Stirling shrugged. “It don't much matter to me, mi’lord." she said, nursing her own glass of scotch. "Hanse Davion, I would trust. Now his son holds the reins. Personally, I agree with Bill. Give him a few years and he’ll be as good as his father. But right now, I don't trust him. He’s too young.”
Colonel Edward Senn, the last of the regimental commanders, spoke next. He, like Ian O’Malley, had lost family in the DEST terrorism, and his hatred of House Kurita was well known. “They say Victor's in love with Theodore's bitch daughter. They say he'll sell us out to the Snakes at first opportunity. Give the Terran Corridor as a wedding present to them. But, then that's just rumor." His last statement did little to diminish the venom of his words.
"You don't buy it, Ian?" said Cochraine. “The nobles have to be on this too.”
"I do, and I don't.” said the elder O’Malley. “I don't figure Victor, however young he is, to be that stupid. He's got enough trouble with the Skye and Tamar Marches. But I know that the negotiations are proceeding smoothly. The prospect of an alliance with the Combine turns my stomach."
“They killed your wife.” said Kelswa. Ian’s eyes narrowed in anger at the man.
“This isn’t about petty revenge, Lord Kelswa.” snapped O’Malley. “I, better than anyone, can tell you how destructive and fruitless that is. I lost a son on a mad quest of revenge.”
“Your son was already mad, Ian.” said Duke Stuart. “We’re digressing.” he said in a commanding voice. “Baron Ian is right. This is about the good of Northwind and the Federated Commonwealth, not about what Kurita has done to us. True, the hurts Kurita has inflicted give us an idea of who we are dealing with, but it is foolish for us to reduce this to knee-jerk reactions over wound inflicted twenty years ago.”
“Well said, your grace.” said Ian.
"I apologize. My comment was out of line. But the question remains. Are you with our cause or against it? Regardless of whether you stand with us for some greater good or personal gratification, the decision must be made.”
“Your contract is appealing.” said Stuart. “But I do not believe my regiments will commit treason without some possibility of survival. Who stands with you, Kelswa? Hopefully not a bunch of student protesters in the Skye March. We all know what happened to them.” That was in reference to the revolt of ‘34, which was crushed quickly and efficiently by Hanse Davion.
“I am not at full liberty to reveal all our allies. I can say that many of the units that have stood behind Duke Ryan will stand with you when the revolt begins. I also can reveal that Steiner is building a new mech unit to be the centerpiece of our rebel army.”
“We shall have to think on it.” said Stuart. “Leave your contract here. We will get back with you when we have made our decision.”
Benfled Refueling Station
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
20 January 3053
Badly battered by its reconquest in Operation : Counterstrike, the world of Benfled now sat precariously close to the remaining Jade Falcon holdings along the border of the Steel Viper zone. This world would be one of the first to face a Clan assault when the war resumed at Truce End.
For all the disadvantages of being so close to Clan space, Benfled was the ideal point for launching raids into Clan space. Wolf, Jade Falcon, and Steel Viper territories were all within reach of this world. It was here that the Star Sword’s Fourth Battalion returned after their successful attack on Satalice over a week earlier.
Orbiting neat the refueling station was a massive Star Lord class jumpship. Capable of carrying 6 dropships, it was one of the largest transport vessels still functional in the Inner Sphere. Nearby was the smaller Scout class jumpship that had carried the Star Swords to their destination and back. Although smaller, the Scout was equipped with a Clan lithium-fusion battery system, making it capable of storing multiple charges for its jump drive. This stop was not for refueling. The Scout had enough charges to take itself and the Battalion back to Evcilier. Their job here was to transfer cargo.
A Union dropship came to a stop beside the Scout. Free-floating dangerously close to the Scout and its single Union-C, this Union would occasionally fire a station-keeping burst from its engines to hold it in place. It was a seemingly dangerous task, extra-vehicle transfer of cargo, but many dropship and jumpship crews did it as routine. It was not routine however to transfer over stolen Clan Omnimechs.
Five intact Balrogs, that had been their spoils. They had lost only one mech in the process. Juan was pleased with his raiding company’s performance. Ever since General Messer had commended him to rebuild the devastated 2nd Battalion from the ground up, Juan had been itching to prove his unit’s worth to him. Now he had done it.
“Sad thing is, this is something I’ll never be able to boast of to him. I’m past the point of no return and my lot is among the anti-Alliance forces now. That makes Joshua and I enemies. I hate doing this, but he’s too much like Victor. A young idealistic fool. He wants to trust the Combine. It’s a noble idea, but it won’t work. I know it won’t. Now I’ve thrown in my lot with those who want to save the Commonwealth from itself.”
“Deep thoughts?” said Richard, carrying a cup of coffee and walking over to Juan. Juan was standing on the grav deck of the Star Lord, having come over to finalize the transfer operation with the Star Lord’s crew. He was watching out a window at the transfer taking place several dozen kilometers away. At that distance, the ships seemed very small.
“Sort of.” said Juan, taking the offered cup.
“Regrets?”
“A few.” said Juan. “I did not make this decision lightly.”
“And your men?”
“Unknown at this point. For now, we return to Evcilier with triumphant news. I can’t say what will happen after that.”
“You have impressed my superiors. Attacking Satalice was ballsy.”
“I know. But you’re the one who organized the raid.”
“True, but you pulled it off. You and your Star Swords.”
“That we did. Our next foes will be easier. Against our force of Clan mechs, the Combine doesn’t stand a chance.”
“If you decide to join up.”
“I have made my decision. The mystery remains as to whether the battalion will go with me.”
“I am not worried. Messer gave you complete autonomy in constructing that battalion. Those men owe their loyalty to you first, not him. By trying to kiss your ass, he planted the seeds that will allow Fourth Battalion to split cleanly from the other Swords.”
“You really think so?”
“Juan, my old friend. I know so. I was one of your men for a while remember. Messer is too distant, or too friendly with 1st and 3rd Battalions. 4th’s your unit, not his. I’ll think you’ll be surprised.”
---
Elsewhere on the Star Lord stood another solitary figure. Hauptmann Antoine Anderson walked up to the figure.
“O’Malley believes the Swords battalion will side with us. Miranda is not as convinced.”
“An unusual assessment. If the unit’s own commander does not believe they will turn, how can O’Malley think it?”
“Richard believes Juan is still trying to come to grips with his decision.”
“That makes him a questionable asset. I do not want to put too much reliability on this rebellious Swords battalion. Order a Loki team to Evcilier. Have them root out any unit leaders that are strong loyalists to Victor or the Alliance idea. Once they are found, have them incapacitated, but not killed. They’ll be martyrs then and Miranda will never get his unit to fall in line.”
“It will be as you say, mi’lady.”
“How is Duke Ryan coming?”
“Operation Amaris is going smoothly. With these five mechs and the NAIS tech stolen by the Capellans for us, the Conspiracy regiment should be complete.”
“And the mercenaries?”
“Richard informs me that negotiations with the Northwind Highlanders began earlier this week. It is too early to tell if they will assist us, either in Operation Amaris or after.”
“The more units we have for Operation Amaris, the better. Dieron will be a fortress with all the Kurita and Victor-loyal units on it. If we’re going to crack that fortress, we need all the help we can get.”
“The Highlanders may be reluctant to strike at Fed Com units. That isn’t what we hired them for.”
“Then pay them more.” hissed the woman. “I want no dissension. Is that clear?”
“Yes, mi’lady.”
Castle MacLeod
New Belfast
Tamar March, Federeated Commonwealth
25 January 3053
The castle was all decked out in regalia. Ever since Duke Jameson had postponed the castle’s annual Twelfth Night celebration a few years earlier to celebrate Lisa’s homecoming, that change had become tradition. Now the “Homecoming Ball” was to be celebrated every year in late January.
Joshua, Daniel, and Lisa were readying themselves in their chambers. It was to be Daniel’s first public appearance since his birth a month earlier. Lisa was in the bathroom getting ready and Joshua was growing impatient. He rapped on the door to get her attention.
"Are you still feeling okay?" he asked. “You still want to do this?”
“And disappoint my family? No thanks.” said Lisa, opening the door to let him in. “It’s just one of those off days for me where my medication doesn’t seem to be working.”
“At least you can now take medication. It has helped.”
“I know.” Said Lisa as she checked herself in the mirror. The dress she wore was new, larger than any in her wardrobe. Lisa had yet to shed the extra weight gained during her pregnancy. Joshua thought the weight accented Lisa’s figure even more, but Lisa only saw herself as fat and unattractive. “God, I’m going to look horrible. Fat old whale.”
“Stop it, you look fine.”
“Joshua, I’m not happy with my appearance.” said Lisa sharply. “The last thing I need is more things to make me unhappy.”
“And yet you seek them out. I said stop it and I meant it. You look fine.”
“If you say so…” she said quietly. “Where’s Daniel?”
“Asleep on the bed. Let him have his rest. Tonight will be a busy night and he’s going to be cranky by the time we’re done.”
“We should retire early for his sake.”
“I was thinking that.”
Lisa smiled as she straightened Joshua’s uniform jacket. “Perhaps, have a little time of personal celebration?”
Joshua grinned. “Does that mean what I think it means?”
“No more pregnancy and with my emotions finally on an even keel.” She put her arms around Joshua’s neck and pulled her husband down to kiss him on the lips. “A sign of things to come.” said Lisa after breaking away.
“Now that is a good sign.” said Joshua.
“You’ve been very patient with me, Joshua. You’ve been without your wife for far too long.”
“That’s the spirit that made me fall in love with you to begin with. It’s good to see it again.”
“Is Daniel ready?”
“Aye.”
“Then let’s be off.”
---
Dr. Jefferson was at the festivities, nursing a cup of spirits. After all, he'd been family physician for the MacLeod family before Joshua appointed him to his current post. He was an old friend of the family and seemed to be enjoying himself as well. Joshua walked over to him as a horde of children, mostly the kids of the castle servants, surrounded Lisa wanting to see the baby.
"How has she been?" asked Jefferson. For the first time, Joshua felt that there was genuine concern on Jefferson's voice.
"Better.” said Joshua. “She’s depressed about her appearance. But the meds seem to be working.”
“That’s good news. Dr. Mullins tells me though that Lisa continues to be uncooperative during their therapy sessions."
"He's shared that with me as well. It depends on her mood. She’s still has some mood swings that even her medication doesn’t seem to control very well. But things are improving.”
“Glad to hear it.” Said Jefferson. “She does seem much better today.”
“Yeah, these are the times when I remember why I married her.”
“Don’t ever forget that, Joshua.” said Jefferson, getting surprisingly personal with Joshua. “No matter what, she loves you. That much hasn’t been destroyed.”
“I know.” Said Joshua confidently.
“I was her family doctor from the time she was born. I was there when her mother died. I was there when she first realized her love with Daniel. I was there when she brought you to us as her new husband. I just know.” Jefferson took Joshua by the arm and pulled him off to the side of the room. As they walked, he continued. "Lisa’s best therapy is you. More than anything, what Lisa needs is her husband by her side. She feels incredibly guilty about what happened in April, more than most people I've seen who've suffered what she did. She needs to know that she wasn't responsible for what happened."
"I've been doing that for almost ten months now, Doctor. It doesn't seem to be working."
“Saying it doesn’t mean anything to her, Joshua. Actions speak louder, as the old cliché goes. Just being there through these hard times is doing more along this front than anything you could tell her.” he paused. “She’s doing this for you. She knows you’re not happy. So she fights to make herself better, so you’ll be happy with her again. That’s what motivates her. If you give up now, it’ll crush her. We’ll never get her back again if that happens.”
“I never knew she was being that selfless. I just assumed she didn’t want to get better.”
“She’s trying, but you’re right. There is a part of her that doesn’t want to heal, but rather just wants to crawl in a hole and let the world go by. But her love for you won’t let her do that.”
Joshua paused to consider his words for a second. “Thanks for the advice, Doctor.”
Joshua smiled as Lisa disengaged herself from the curious children and walked over to her husband.
"Talking about me, I assume?" said Lisa with a sly grin.
"Of course. You're always the center of attention, my love." Said Joshua.
"Looks like your father's about to start everything." said Jefferson. "I'll see you later, General. I'm going to take my seat."
“What did he say?” said Lisa.
“Some words of encouragement.” said Joshua, bringing her and Daniel into his embrace. “We’d best follow suit and take our own seats.” He kissed her on the cheek and led her and their son to the table.
Being the third in line to the ducal throne, Lisa and Joshua's seats were close to the Duke himself. He politely pulled out her chair for her, taking Daniel into his own arms for a moment. After placing the young boy into his baby seat beside Lisa, Joshua took his own seat.
"Did I mention how beautiful the new mother looks tonight?" said Joshua, flirting.
“Stop it.” said Lisa sharply. “You’re a lousy liar.”
“Have I ever lied to you, Lisa?” said Joshua with sudden seriousness.
Lisa, surprised by his change in tone, looked at him. “No. No, you haven’t.” Her face looked abashed, as if upset at offending Joshua.
“I’m not starting now.” he said almost flippantly. “Nor will I ever.”
Lisa gave a weak smile in return. “I’m sorry.”
Joshua ran his finger affectionately under her chin. “You do look stunning tonight.”
“Okay, so you’re a lousy exaggerator.” retorted Lisa, Turning the tables on her quick-witted husband. “But flattery will get you everywhere."
“Good.” said Joshua devilishly. “I hope so.”
Lisa smiled seductively at him. She leaned over and kissed him on the lips just as her father stood to open the festivities with a welcome.
---
"No, stop, Joshua, please stop." said Lisa. Joshua sat up and moved away from her. Lisa was shaking as if frightened half-to-death.
“Are you okay?” he said. Impulse made him want to reach out to her, but experience told him that was the last thing on earth he should do when Lisa was in the middle of one of her flashbacks.
She closed her eyes and began to cry. “I'm sorry, Joshua. I just can't. I tried.”
The room was dark and quiet save for Lisa’s sobbing for several seconds. The party was long over. Daniel was asleep in his crib, no small task. Joshua and Lisa had retired to what they both had hoped to be a romantic interlude, their first real attempt to make love since Robert’s rapes. They were wrong. Lisa was not as ready as she thought.
Joshua was angry, but tried to contain it. He knew it wasn’t Lisa’s fault, so getting upset at her would only worsen matters and not help them. He let out his breath.
“It’s alright.” he said to her calmly. “You tried. No one will blame you for that.”
“But I want this so badly.”
“I know, but don’t push yourself. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t blame you if you did. What kind of wife am I? I’m moody, mean, frigid, listless....” Joshua got the sense Lisa could enumerate her faults all the way until morning, so he cut her off.
“So what?” he said sharply.
“I’m not the woman you married.” she said bitterly. “She died back in that camp.”
“No, she didn’t, Lisa. She’s still in there, somewhere.” Joshua reached out and touched her chest near her heart. “And I believe she’ll be back someday.”
“We may be 90 years old by then.”
“And I will be by your side until then, ninety candles on that birthday cake or no.”
“You really mean that?”
“I made a promise to you never to part until death. I meant it then. And I mean it now.”
Lisa closed her eyes and felt the tears returning. “I don’t deserve that.”
“We don’t deserve a lot of things we get, Lisa.” said Joshua flatly. “But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I love you and want to stay with you forever.”
“I hope you have the conviction to hold to that.” said Lisa hopefully. Joshua became puzzled at the statement though.
“Does she not believe me?” Joshua thought. “Or does she think I’ll lose my will to do this as time goes on? In all honesty, she may be right, but I’ll be damned if I’ll admit it tonight.”
With that, he lay down beside her. Without a word, and to Joshua’s surprise, Lisa turned in and snuggled close. He put his arms around her and watched her as she slept.
Next Chapter
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