BtH32

==Chapter 32 - By the Horns==
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Dropship, TCDS Black Bull
Zenith Point, Flintoft
Federated Suns
November 5th, 3025
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Ardan sat quietly as the twenty-three year old man across from him absorbed the news—in a rather surprisingly calm and rational manner, he thought to himself. But if the silent and reflective heir to the throne of Taurus was calm, his companions were not. The moment that Ardan had revealed what Michael Hasek-Davion was attempting, the cacophony had begun—until that boy, that man, had simply raised one hand and slowly silence came back into existence.
He—Edward Calderon—certainly had not been what Ardan was expecting. Not that he had really given much thought to his expectations—until this very moment, that was. Standing just an inch—maybe an inch and a half—shy of six feet (and Ardan snorted; even in this age of universally recognized metrics, the archaic term of ‘feet’ was still used to denote height!), the Taurian Prince was stocky rather than lean. One could almost say ‘soft’ was the word to use—until one noted that the muscles beneath Edward’s skin were well-toned . . . and his green eyes were like flints of pure malachite. No, Ardan thought, soft is a cover that he wears . . . for camouflage, perhaps?
Contrasting with the green eyes, Edward’s hair was dark brown—not black, nor sable, nor even a shining mahogany—but just plain old dark brown. Dark brown hair closely trimmed, just as his face was clean-shaven.
But it was the look on Edward’s face which gave Ardan Sortek shivers—it reminded him of a much younger version of Ian Davion . . . long before he had been killed on Mallory’s World.
“This,” Edward finally said, “this could be bad.”
“An understatement, Lord Calderon . . .,” Ardan began.
“We Taurians have many traditions,” Edward interrupted sharply. “You may not realize it by looking in, but we are a rather egalitarian society. Our nobles are those who have earned their titles in service to the Concordat, Marshal Sortek. I may be a Calderon—perhaps even the heir-designate for the Protector—but until I earn my title, I should not be addressed as ‘Lord’, ‘Prince’, ‘Your Grace’ or any other of the feudal trappings you people have enshrined.” Edward smiled. “Unless you are a sworn servant of my Father’s house in which case you may, legally, be entitled to address me as Lord Calderon—although you would have to renounce all obligation to Hanse Davion in order to be sworn as such.”
“Then what should I call you?” Ardan asked with a chuckle as he shook his head in an empathic gesture of NO.
“My rank of Subaltern I have earned, Marshal—it is, somewhat, equal to your AFFS rank of Captain. Or you may address me as Messer, or Mister, Calderon, but for today,” Edward’s smile broadened, “perhaps you can just call me Edward. And I will address you as Ardan—unless that insults your dignity, of course?”
“Your ship, your rules—Edward.”
The young man bowed his head slightly. “Touché, Ardan,” and then his smile faded. “Protector Calderon will—I am sad to say—renounce any collaboration with the Federated Suns if even a single one of those units set foot on a Taurian world and attack our people and our industry. Reason does not enter into this; this gesture of sending me is the limit of how far he is willing to go towards trusting you Davions. If your Michael Hasek lands his troops, the Protector will call me home at once—and there will be no exchange of information and financials between Taurus and New Avalon.”
“Prince Hanse did not authorize this and he is willing to use nuclear weapons on these units—including one of his own Guard regimental combat teams!—in order to stop it. Does that mean nothing to you?”
“It means a great deal to me, Ardan—but I am not my Father; nor am I Protector of the Taurian Concordat. It pains me to say it, but if even ONE of your troops manages to land and kills a SINGLE Taurian on our own soil, I will be recalled. And the Protector will instead make a deal with Janos Marik for the Core.”
“If we stop them though—will he recall you?”
“We are under Interdiction, may I remind you,” Edward said with a grin. “If you stop them before they enter Taurian space, he will not. Even if they enter Taurian space and you manage to get them to turn around and leave—if my compatriots in the TDF and TCN allow them to leave,” and Edward’s grin turned cold at that, “he will probably agree to any bargain that Hanse Davion and I strike. But you can kiss that good-bye if Michael lands any troops on the surface of those worlds.”
“Understood,” Ardan growled softly. “I’ll just have to make sure that Michael doesn’t cross your border, then.”
“That would be for the best, Ardan,” Edward answered a bit more warmly. “And, need I remind you, that we Taurians believe that all officer and diplomats need to be capable of acting on their own initiative when orders do not suffice. I have a small contingent of the finest soldiers at the Concordat here as my escort—can we be of any service in this matter?”
Ardan snorted. “One company of ‘Mechs, one of armor, two of infantry, and less than three squadrons of Aerospace Fighters—you aren’t offering me much to work with, Edward.”
“Ardan,” Edward said with a broad grin as he shook his head and went tsk, tsk, tsk. “This is a Taurian ship, bearing aboard her the Heir of the Protector—travelling into the very heart of our most hated long-time foe . . . well, only considering the SLDF and the Star League are dead and gone, that is. You mentioned that Marshal Cline and his 2nd Hussars are going to be packing nuclear weapons drawn from your depot on Frazer?”
And Ardan froze—then he slowly nodded.
Edward grinned and chuckled a bit. “Well, it just so happens that we are carrying four . . . ah, devices . . . of our own—just in case Hanse Davion decides that a hostage would be better than an agreement. You understand, of course?”
“Suicide devices or deliverable weapons?” Ardan asked coldly.
“A little of each, actually,” laughed Edward. “Rest assured, I do not in any way intend to nuke New Avalon—but Father insisted that I have the option; just in case. Now about those traitors of yours—would four Santa Annas deter them from going where the angels fear to tread?”
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