OPREF-3 Chpt 12

=Book 3, Chapter 12 - Stacking the Deck=
==Opalescent Reflections==
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===The politics of the Wolves===
Katyusha, Strana Mechty
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
17 July 3055
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The sun was setting over Katyusha, casting the Hall of Khans's shadow across the eastern side of the parks surrounding the great structure.
 
Sarah Weaver was lying in wait outside the Hall, using the shadows for concealment. When her prey emerged, she struck.
 
"Stravag," hissed Marialle Radick as she realized her attempt to reach her transport without being intercepted by one of the other Khans had been thwarted.
 
Sarah bared her teeth. "Zeerga," she offered in semi-polite greeting. Radick probably did not know that the Smoke Jaguars considered the term an insult. "We should talk, quiaff."
 
"Neg, we have talked enough already." the Khan of the newest Clan denied.
 
"When have we spoken, Radick. When, in all the bickering, have we exchanged words?"
 
She watched as the younger Khan considered that and finally realized that Sarah was right. Showers had been active in the politicking around Clan Zeerga's territory on Strana Mechty, he probably could not help himself. But Sarah had remained silent on the issue.
 
By long standing law, territory on Strana Mechty was not contested between the Clans. Each had received an equal share of the world when the Clans were founded, and that had been maintained ever since. As clans were absorbed - or in one case annihilated - their enclaves had been carved up equally between the other Clans - most recently during the Burrock absorption.
 
Negotiating how those territories were divided was one thing but it had at least got precedent. There was no precedent for the creation of a new Clan and the obligation for every other Clan to give up territory to them, leaving each Clan trying to find a way to meet the required concessions while actually surrendering the least valuable territory.
 
The simplest solution would have been simply roll back the division of the Burrock Clan's enclaves, but that had been complicated - probably intentionally - by Ulric Kerensky declaring that Clan Wolf would be giving up the bulk of their enclaves on Cameron, the southern continent, which had originally been the property of Clan Mongoose and Clan Widowmaker. Now every Clan was trying to get the best deal… and almost every Khan was bending Radick's ear to get agreement from her.
 
Sarah was counting on being the thin edge between almost and all, to get her what was currently one of the most coveted prizes on Strana Mechty: a private conversation with the Khan of the newest Clan.
 
With a sigh, the younger woman opened the door of her car and gestured for Sarah to get in. "I reserve the right to throw you out of the car if you bring up enclaves," she warned. "And note how I say nothing about stopping the car first."
 
"That would be a nice trick if you could do it," the Smoke Jaguar challenged as she climbed in. "However, we may not find out as I do not care which enclaves you are given."
 
"I find that hard to believe," Radick told her, climbing in. "But I will take your word for it." The driver pulled away from the curb and the other mechwarrior turned slightly to look at Sarah. "So what is that you want?"
 
"Stop trialing for Hell's Horses warriors," Sarah instructed her. She thought Radick would appreciate directness.
 
"...said the flamer to the inferno warhead?" the Zeerga offered, sounding bemused.
 
"What?"
 
Radick muttered something under her breath. "Rumor has it that your Tau Galaxy may be as much as two-thirds abtakha, but you want me to stop building up my Clan by harvesting from other Clans?"
 
"I do not give a surat's tail for you raiding the Coyotes and Goliath Scorpions for crusader-inclined warriors," Sarah clarified. "If you would like, I can suggest other warden Clans who might have discontented Crusaders in their ranks."
 
"Then why your concern for the Hell's Horses?"
 
The Smoke Jaguar stretched in her seat. "You may be too young to remember, but before Malavai Fletcher became Khan, the Hell's Horses were aligned with Ulric Kerensky and his Wardens," she informed Radick. "There are still a large number of Wardens in their ranks."
 
"Then perhaps their Crusaders will be happier in our ranks," the young woman said stubbornly. "And you have done the same, so -"
 
Sarah smacked her fist against the door panel. "We took raw cadets and unblooded warriors relegated to be instructors. You have been taking bloodnamed warriors and that is shifting the the balance of the Hell's Horses' Clan Council."
 
"...oh." Radick bit her lip in thought. "How badly?"
 
"You would know better than I, how many bloodnamed warriors have been taken into your Clan. Malavai is a formidable Khan - and he cannot go asking that you do not challenge his Clan, that would be unforgivable weakness. But he generally has a majority of about fifty votes in the Clan Council on issues that divide Warden from Crusader."
 
She was fairly sure that Radick's Zeerga hadn't claimed even fifty warriors from the Hell's Horses, much less fifty bloodnamed warriors. But it would not take that many to tip the balance, just enough that a Trial of Refusal against the fearsome Malavai began to look feasible.
 
"I had not considered that," The Zeerga looked pensive. "How does this bother you, though? Clan Smoke Jaguar and Clan Hell's Horses have never been friends."
 
"We have mutual interests," Sarah admitted. "And there is the matter of the number of Khans we can count on for any vote on whether to break the truce. There are Khans I am less fond of that Malavai that I tolerate for their votes. The way that several Crusaders have tolerated your people trialing aggressively. For now."
 
"In principle, I would vote for that…" Radick told her, "But as things stand that would not serve my Clan's interests."
 
Sarah knew she was baring her teeth again. "Not until you have reunited your Clan."
 
The other Khan's eyes snapped up to Sarah's. "My Clan is now the Zeerga!" she asserted.
 
"Now, yes. But you were born a Wolf. And I think we both know that most of those under your banner will not be happy until they are Wolves once more." Then she turned and glanced out of the car window. "Since that will be over the dead bodies of Ulric Kerensky and his supporters, I have no problem with that."
 
"If we reunite then there will be two less votes."
 
"Two less Warden votes, if you succeed."
 
Radick took a deep breath. "This is a Wolf matter."
 
Sarah turned her head again and chuckled. "Yes, you fit the Wolf's mantle better than that of a zeerga. And do not trouble yourself: this is a matter internal to your Clan. While I approve, I will not taint your cause by openly supporting you."
 
"And your Khan?" the young woman asked suspiciously. "You can speak for him?"
 
"Leo has his own concerns."
 
"The Diamond Sharks?"
 
That got a nod from Sarah. The other Khan was not blind to everything. "They do not favor breaking the truce, because they believe it serves their goals," she predicted. "Sennet commands the largest touman and the largest occupation zone, she sees her Clan as dominant by default: why continue the Crusade when the status quo suits her very well?"
 
"She does not wish to be ilClan?"
 
"No, she merely wishes to stop any other Clan from claiming the title. The merchant Clan see themselves as dominant already so now they wish to remain there. What threatens them? The Combine?" She snorted. "The Outworlds Alliance? No, the only real enemy they face in the Inner Sphere is Clan Smoke Jaguar."
 
"Ah… I see."
 
Sarah nodded. "You deal with your enemy and we will deal with ours. And then? That will be when the truce is ended."
 
"And then Terra, quiaff?"
 
"And then Terra…" At that point all agreements would be void. Taking Terra and becoming ilClan was the ultimate prize.
 
Showers might think he was orchestrating everything, he must have celebrated Sarah's decision to send Tau Galaxy ahead while she continued to deal with the politics of the Wolves schism: but she was in control of the factories on Huntress, Tranquil and Vinton. And that meant that she had him by the jugular. He had enough supplies to fight the Sharks, but beyond that she had begun laying the groundwork for additional units drawing from sibkos that were just too young for Tau.
 
Her day was coming. She could almost taste it.
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===Talk between fellow Bloodhouse Warriors===
Serenity Valley, Jordan Wais
Outworlds Alliance
9 August 30555
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The spaceport was little more than a traffic control center, a few fuel tanks and enough open space to land a dropship. There were none of the ferrocrete pads and runways usually expected, instead a field that had become overgrown repeatedly only to be blasted clear time and again by the infrequent visitors.
 
"What a barren wasteland!" the newest of those visitors declared. Ellison Enders clasped Ace's hand and shook it vigorously. "I thought that the worlds of the Star League were beacons of civilization."
 
Ace discreetly tried to work feelings back into his fingers once the Goliath Scorpion released his grip. From Ellison's twinkling eyes, he had noticed. "This technically isn't the Inner Sphere yet. I believe the original spaceport fell victim to fighting during the Periphery Uprising and this field expedient replacement is… a little overdue for upgrade."
 
The older warrior chuckled. "I am certain that you industrious Diamond Sharks will see to it post-haste!"
 
"Given enough time and resources," Ace allowed. "It took two centuries to build the homeworlds to their current condition so it may take us a few years here."
 
A few was relative - Ace privately thought that he might be doing well to see significant change out here in his lifetime. Jordan Wais was about as far from Terra as any world of the Great Houses - five hundred and twenty seven light years distant - and while the Outworlds Alliance extended somewhat further out, it was far less expansive than it had once been. There were likely scores of lost colonies beyond it. Hopefully Barbara Sennet would not ask him to conquer those as well.
 
"This was part of the Star League though," the Goliath Scorpion declared. "My crew will be eager to see if they can find relics of this era. Warm up for the real excitement."
 
"Yes, I heard that you had been granted travel rights to our occupation zone in exchange for your support as a garrison. The details were sparse though. Where do you plan to go once your term of duty here is over?"
 
"New Samarkand!" Ellison's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "It was the last port of call for the Exodus Fleet before our ancestors left the Inner Sphere, there must be a wealth of history there."
 
"There is a Cultural History Museum there," Ace recalled. "House Kurita maintained, of course, so it presents a rather blinkered view of history." He had visited, alone, during the celebrations of taking the world. Val, he supposed, would not have appreciated it. "I believe it is still being maintained."
 
"It sounds like a good starting point!"
 
"I do not think I saw everything that it had to offer." He paused and tried to think of what might interest the Goliath Scorpion. Ah, of course. "They display an aerospace fighter that was once the ride of the founder of the Draconis Combine." An early model Sabre - ironic, Ace thought, since more modern examples of that same fighter had been used in the defense of Jordan Wais and other worlds.
 
"Wonderful!" Ellison declared. "I will pick your brains about everything you have seen! Now, does this forsaken planet at least have something worth drinking?"
 
"I have heard rumors that it may. Shall we investigate?"
 
There was a town that supported the spaceport, although it reminded Ace more of his childhood home than he was entirely comfortable with. Earthwork berms shielded Serenity Valley from the secondary effects of dropships landing (and from direct impacts if there was a crash) and from the winds that sometimes swept up the valley that gave the town its name.
 
It was an easy jeep drive from the drop port, if a bit winding in order to go around the berms, and Ellison looked around curiously as Ace drove. "This town is older than any in the homeworlds," he concluded, nodding to a four storey structure that mixed shops on the lowest floor with residences above - the stone used to build it had worn down with edges between them rounded and in some cases patched. But it seems as if history has passed it by."
 
"Perhaps it did," Ace suggested as he found a parking space not far from a side street that he knew had a tavern along it.
 
Ellison checked his sidearm before getting out. "You do not need guards?"
 
"Nine-tenths of the time we go out here there is no issue, and most of the trouble we have is being refused service," the Star Colonel told him. "Either they do not like our money, dislike we are armed or very occasionally simply protest that we aren't local. We have only had one case of violence directed at my people here - and the man was so drunk it was embarrassing to everyone involved."
 
"I am almost surprised you want a garrison here then. There is no resistance?"
 
"Very little in the sense that you mean," Ace told him and indicated the side-street. "Most of the outlying settlements are farmers, and at least associated with the Omniss - a religion that abhors violence."
 
"Yes." Ellison snapped his fingers. "I have heard of them. They are no trouble?"
 
"As far as I can tell, they draw little line between governments, pirates or invaders." He shrugged. "If I leave them alone, they cause no problems."
 
The older man frowned at the idea. "Ah, but you need a garrison here anyway? From what I hear, the Outworlds Alliance is unlikely to try to take these worlds back."
 
Ace found his destination. "The Alliance is the least likely problem. We are responsible for protecting these people, and for all the pirate bands we burned out along our way, there are more we never found. And I am sure the DCMS or AFFC would be delighted to be able to lay claim to the world, to offset some of their losses."
 
Some of those pirate bands were still tying down troops long after they should not have been. Ace was still torn over whether or not he should visit Antallos personally to disentangle the detachment of the Twenty-Seventh Cruiser Cluster and finish handing the world over to its garrison, or sending Steven Hawker and the rest of the Cluster instead. That wasn't the only fragment of Epsilon Galaxy that had been left behind as follow-up units lagged behind schedule to take over.
 
The tavern door swung open, a bell hung from it ringing to alert the occupants. Only a couple of tables were in use. The sight of two Clan warriors, both armed, got them a second look and the couple at one table stood and were on the way to the door before Ace reached the bar. They left money beside their half-finished meal, so the owner probably wouldn't be too unhappy, Ace supposed.
 
"Two ciders and a mineral water," he ordered at the bar, dropping some small change on the bar. He'd exchanged a few C-bills for the local's Escudos, since for now it was what all the stores were accepting. Changing that would be time consuming.
 
"What? I appreciate being given two drinks but when did you start hitting the water?" Ellison asked while the barman fetched two green bottles from a cooler behind the door, and then rummaged under the bar for a slightly larger bottle that Ace strongly suspected had been filled with tapwater and then capped again.
 
At the least, if it had been capped then it was done professionally, he thought, passing Ellison one of the ciders. "I am drinking," he told the older warrior, "Which means I am cutting this -" he waved the other bottle of cider, "- with water. It is quite strong otherwise."
 
"Your lack of fortitude is noted," the Goliath Scorpion noted. "I, however, have been drinking stronger stuff than this for years."
 
"If you have been driving a 'mech while dosed on that necrosia that your Clan swear by, you would not have been alive this long." Ace retorted. "Taste it first, before you comment on the quality."
 
They took over one of the many vacant tables and cracked the bottles. Ace watched with interest as Ellison took a healthy slug from his bottle. The grizzled Star Captain blinked furiously and then declared: "That is quite smooth." The pitch of his voice slipped upwards just a little as the cider hit his belly.
 
"If you say so," Ace noted, sipping rather more cautiously from his own bottle. The cider was indeed smooth going down. And then it kicked hard, if you were unwary. He drank from the water bottle next.
 
"So," Ellison asked, lowering his voice and leaning closer. "I have heard a rumor…"
 
"There are a lot of rumors. Some of them even have a little truth to them."
 
"Aff… but this one… I hear that some of your scientists introduced sea foxes on Pesht I did not know that any survived Ian Howell's actions."
 
Ace winced. "That one is true. A small number were preserved from the diamond sharks that he released. I gather it required cloning from samples taken from the dead to keep the population viable."
 
Ellison sipped more respectfully from his cider. "And how do they take to Pesht?"
 
"Quite well," Ace replied quietly. Unlike the earlier attempt to introduce the Diamond Sharks to those waters. "But Ellison, do not mention that to other Diamond Sharks. We are… sensitive when it comes to our Clan totem, old or new." And then there were the whispers that it was an omen. Ace had not realized his Clan could be as superstitious as the Nova Cats, if in other ways. Then again, only the most arrogant believed the claims that their skill would let them control everything on a battlefield.
 
"So, when will you oust Abigail and take over the bloodhouse?" Ellison said, changing the subject with malicious timing.
 
Ace very nearly coughed up his cider and as it was he put the bottle down sharply and reached for his water. "What?" he managed. "When did I ever suggest doing that?"
 
"Well you outrank her," the more senior member of the Enders bloodhouse pointed out. "And rumor has it that you have been fishing in political matters. Some would say it was a logical next step."
 
"I am not the most popular member of the Bloodhouse," he pointed out. "There are four votes I can count on being against me - Annika and her little coterie of Felipe worshipers." The membership of the bloodhouse had shifted a little over the last few years, but since the absorption there were five Enders outside the Diamond Sharks. Annika and those who still resented Ace for daring to win his trial of refusal against the previous house leader constituted half of those within his own Clan.
 
Ellison laughed. "Four votes against you, but you would have at least six votes since four of us outside of you Sharks are still grateful that you shut him up - and the fifth was your candidate for the bloodname. Even if the rest went with feral little Annika, that's close enough for a trial of refusal and I think that you would win."
 
"No, you think it would be entertaining."
 
"Yes, of course. But I still think you would continue your streak of murdering everyone in your path. After all, as the incumbent it is Abigail you would be fighting. Which is a foregone conclusion, so she would see it coming, resign and vote for you which would mean the vote is in your favor and you get to kill Annika, because she is far too egotistical to let anyone lose miserably against you."
 
Ace shook his head and poured some of the water into his cider bottle to dilute what remained. "I am already busy with my duties to the Clan. As a commander and, yes, in politics. Running the bloodhouse's affairs would be one more duty when I have little enough time. Unless Abigail does something foolish, I am content for her to continue leading the Enders." He snorted. "It is not like I would have a cohesive voting bloc anyway."
 
"It would let you start building one," Ellison pointed out. "As House Leader you would have additional nominations for trials of bloodright."
 
Tipping his bottle back, Ace sipped the contents, and said nothing.
 
The Goliath Scorpion's eyes went wide. "You sneaky son of a bandit! You cut a deal."
 
Ace smirked.
 
"How many," Ellison demanded. "How many nominations did she make on your behalf?"
 
By custom, each bloodnamed warrior put forward one candidate for a trial of bloodright, with the total brought up to thirty-one by the House leader and the winner of the Grand Melee bringing the total to thirty-two candidates . Since the Enders were so few in number, it had been agreed that each bloodnamed warrior could make two nominations. Assuming one legacy nomination by the last holder of the vacant bloodright, that meant Abigail could nominate eight warriors to participate: her own two and six more.
 
Ace held up his free hand, fingers and thumb all extended.
 
The older member of the house snarled and studied the cider. "You owe me more than one drink, Ace Enders."
 
"No fighting," the bartender called in a tone that was probably intended to be a warning. "I do not want to make repairs again."
 
Ellison paused and then studied Ace. "I thought you said there had only been one attack on your warriors."
 
"It was here." Ace admitted.
 
"Ah! Good choice of watering hole then." Ellison looked around hopefully, and then, seeing no assailants. "Tell me all about it!"
 
Ace studied him for a moment and then shrugged. "He was very drunk. A farmer whose field we had marched across, I think."
 
"And…?"
 
"He smashed a bottle on the table and came at me with it…" the young Galaxy commander reported. "Then he slipped on the puddle of beer from the bottle and fell over. He was lucky not to land on the glass."
 
"That was it?"
 
Ace nodded, then paused and added honestly, pointing at the floor. "He vomited all over my boots as well."
 
Ellison groaned. "This is going to be a very odd garrison assignment."
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===Preparing for unwanted Arrivals===
Castle Arianrod, Coventry
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
1 September 3055
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"You're lucky we got called in for this," Victor's brother warned him as they walked towards the largest briefing room on the base. "I was just getting warmed up."
Victor Steiner-Davion glanced across (and up) at Peter. ""Of course you were. That was why I'd out pointed you on every match for the last hour."
 
"Please, forty minutes. I've been fighting the Clans, I didn't have time to stay in practice. Unlike certain people, who have been living a lax life at an academy."
 
That got a snort from the older brother. "Ask anyone who instructs at CMA how much spare time they have. Most people assigned to teach at an academy would trade in an instant for problems they were allowed to shoot."
 
"And yet you had time to polish your tennis game like that?" Peter snorted.
 
"Mom insisted I do something social involving the fairer sex. Mixed doubles for tennis seemed a hell of a lot more tolerable than going to formal balls and dancing all night."
 
"And that's why you had an unfair advantage until I got warmed up."
 
"It's not an unfair advantage, it's proper preparation," Victor told him. "Would you be whining like this if it the First Hussars had kicked your company around because you hadn't drilled them properly - which you had, this was just an example," he added as his brother jerked around.
 
Peter's eyes narrowed. "Not everything is war, little brother."
 
"When it comes to women trying to get a wedding ring out of me, it damn well is, baby brother." Victor pushed the door to the briefing room open, ending the conversation.
 
They weren't late but they were also obviously the last to arrive - unavoidable as they had been off base at the tennis courts. While there was nothing inappropriate about that, neither of the Steiner-Davions had been on duty or on call except for priority summons like this one.
 
The fact that they were the most junior officers present - a Hauptmann and a Colonel - made it clear they were present in their royal capacities but they took the two lowest seats at the table anyway. Duke Bradford gave them both a nod before Marshal Simons cleared his throat. "As we have all arrived, there is no need to wait two more minutes to begin."
 
Such side-conversations as there had been between the senior officers present died down and all heads turned towards the commander of the Seventeenth Skye Rangers. While he was only one among the Regimental Combat Team commanders present, Simons was senior - he'd been promoted for extracting what remained of the original regiment against orders, then transferred while his men were folded into the Tenth Lyran Guards. When those same soldiers were transferred to form cadre for a reborn Seventeenth Rangers, another promotion had marked Simon's return - and made it clear that his actions had royal approval.
 
The Marshal who had denied the JumpShips needed for an official evacuation had been neither rewarded nor punished, but he was very unlikely to receive another promotion, much less a frontline command.
 
"Seven hours ago, a small fleet of JumpShips arrived at a non-standard jump point," Simons announced. "Within thirty minutes, two other fleets appeared, each at another jump point deep within the star system. None are using the point between us and Wellston," (Coventry's only moon) "But we have only a few days, rather than the usual sixteen before dropships from those JumpShips arrive over Coventry."
 
"Three different fleets?" Adam Steiner cupped his chin. "Why would a Clan scatter their forces across the star system?"
James Ito of the Tenth Federated Commonwealth RCT shifted in his seat. "If they have warship escorts they hardly need to worry about being engaged in transit."
 
"Each fleet does indeed contain a single warship as escort," Simons confirmed. "As for why three, the answer has become apparent: it appears that we are about to be invaded by three different Clans."
 
Victor raised his hand a few inches off the table for attention. "The three we might expect, or is a new Clan dealing themselves in?"
 
Simons looked down the table at him. "Your first guess was correct, Colonel. The attack forces represent Clans Jade Falcon, Nova Cat and Steel Viper. Initial estimates are that we will be entertaining a full galaxy from each Clan."
 
Heads turned around the table. "I don't think there's ever been a case of all three Clans working together to attack a world, at least not since they resumed their invasion," Ito observed slowly.
 
"The Vipers and the Falcons joined forces to retake Sargasso." Kommandant-General Andrew Terlecki Jr's Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry had been the unit that briefly managed to retake the world, so he would know. "But all three? Usually they would bid to take a world, but would they really send three Galaxies all the way here for two of them to turn back."
 
"One galaxy cannot reasonably take Coventry," Simons said heavily. "Two would be a gamble, with our current strength and the inexperience of some of our troops, but one that I would have some confidence in."
 
"Are you saying that you cannot hold Coventry against three galaxies?" Thomas Bradford asked angrily. "There are eight regimental combat teams here!"
 
"Theodore Kurita was unable to protect Luthien from four galaxies of Diamond Sharks," the Marshal said heavily. "He had twelve of the most formidable 'mech regiments in the Inner Sphere, supported by all the auxiliary forces he could ask for at the time. I do not consider it a criticism of anyone here to say that two-thirds as many forces on our side may not suffice against three-quarters as many of the Clans."
 
"Marshal, I will not claim that the Federated Commonwealth cannot survive without Coventry," the Duke said ominously, "But…"
 
"Your grace," Victor cut in politely, since as Duke of Sarna he was Bradford's social equal. "I have my doubts about the stability of the Federated Commonwealth unless we made serious efforts to hold onto Coventry. The Marshal is speaking to guide our expectations - he is the last officer whose resolve can be questioned."
 
Bradford paused at the words and then nodded. "My apologies for any implications I may have inadvertently offered, Marshal Simons."
 
"It isn't 3051 any more," Peter said boldly. "We have upgraded 'mechs and we know their tactics. Besides, with three Clans there is a great chance that they won't work together!"
 
Adam turned his gaze upon Peter for a moment and then looked over at Victor. "I believe Galen Cox is laughing at us, Colonel Steiner-Davion."
 
"He has reason," Victor muttered, reaching up and rubbing the shoulder that had been dislocated a few years ago. It had to be phantom pain, he'd healed completely and it wasn't impairing his tennis game at all. "My brother does make some good points, however."
 
James Ito folded his hands. "With all due respect, Colonel, your last action against the Clans was in 3051, so you may not be in the best position to measure the differences. Yes, we have better equipment now, but that isn't to say they haven't learned some lessons as well."
 
"A fair point," the prince agreed. "But my brother has fought them more recently and we've discussed that repeatedly." Then he leant back slightly in his chair. "My apologies for the interruptions, Marshal Simons."
 
"You were on topic," the Marshal allowed generously and then looked around the room. "Let there be no mistake, I intend to offer battle against the Clans. We have only days to rectify any issues outstanding with your units: you were all stationed here with the expectations of being sent back to the frontlines and now the frontlines have come to us."
 
A chart of Coventry appeared. "It is extremely probable that the Clans will focus the bulk of their attention on Veracruz and Dunnigan, where the bulk of Coventry's industry and strategic assets are located, but Sydnalia and Auckland also have potential targets that must be defended - which will be left to the Coventry DMM and the 8th Arcturan Guards until and unless it becomes apparent that they are safe from immediate threat."
 
"That leaves two RCTs each to face the main attack if they do neglect to attack those continents," Adam Steiner observed cautiously."
 
"Correct," Simons agreed. "Duke Bradford, may I ask you to coordinate the evacuation of Coventry Metal Works' key research personnel and persons of political significance? We will also evacuate all cadets save for those in their final year at CMA - those nearing graduation will be needed as replacements."
 
"Done," Bradford agreed. "The timing?"
 
"Forty-eight hours," the Marshal said flatly. "Every JumpShip I can arrange will be jumping in at the pirate point between Coventry and Wellston, then fast-charging their drives to be able to leave before the Clan warships arrive. At that point we will be subject to blockade by the three warships. As much as I would like to be able to guarantee reinforcements or an evacuation route after that, the chances are slim." He paused and then looked at Victor. "You and your brother..."
 
Victor shook his head. "I understand what you are about to say, Marshal but the situation is not the same as that on Trellwan five years ago. There was no hope of winning that fight, so evacuating those who could leave was the right call - however much I hate it. But now we have a chance, perhaps an even chance - and the soldiers will see my departure, and to a lesser extent Peter's, as a sign that we do not have that chance. The impact on morale would be severe."
 
"Galen told me you were stubborn."
 
He gave Adam a rueful look. "I swear to you, Adam, if I thought for an instant it would be the right call I would dislocate Peter's arm myself."
 
"Hey!"
 
Victor ignored his brother. "The blockade of Coventry is a real problem, but unlike five years ago we have a solution. What ships are we facing?"
"All are cruisers of the Aegis-class," Simons told him and then brightened. "Are you saying what I think you are saying?"
 
"There was an occasion in the Second Succession War when a squadron of warships blockaded Hesperus II," the prince reminded them all. "In response, the Lyran Commonwealth sent their one remaining warship into battle. I remind you all: LCS Invincible has been restored to full operational capacity. Against three cruisers that predate the Star League, I believe the grand old lady will be willing to repeat her last battle."
"Wouldn't that strip her off the Tharkad garrison?" asked Kommandant-General Ito cautiously.
Simons nodded. "But Tharkad remains below the truce line. The best way to ensure that no warship enters the capital system is to make it clear that the Clans must honor threats above that line. Do you believe the Archon will authorize the deployment, your highness."
 
"I know that the contingency has been discussed and conditionally approved," he replied firmly. "With your permission, I will send a recommendation that the Invincible be moved into position to support either an evacuation or a reinforcement fleet, should you call for either."
 
The Marshal ran one hand down his jaw, eyes lost in thought. "Opinions, gentlemen."
 
"It risks an irreplaceable asset," Ito warned, "But eight regimental combat teams is also far too large a slice of the AFFC to lose if it comes to that."
 
Adam nodded reluctantly. "I do not like it, but the Clans have forced the situation upon us. Very well, your highness. But we are still going to have to be fast on our feet to handle three galaxies with our current forces."
 
"It's too early to commit to any specifics but where possible, we will adopt a mobile campaign," Simons decided. "Plan on your units marching to avoid action where we can, presenting a continued force that they cannot ignore without being drawn into decisive engagements on their terms. Our only hard point that we really want to deny the Clans is the production lines at Coventry Metal Works, but that will inevitably make Port St Williams the one objective that the Clans will inevitably focus upon."
 
"So a lot of poking at them to draw forces away from there, without actually being caught," Victor observed. "That's going to lean heavily on our lighter 'mechs and hover cavalry."
 
"Perhaps not so much if we can draw them into the Cross-Divide mountains," proposed Terlecki. "You could lose an army in those valleys and mine workings. As long as we sally out to harass them from the mountains, they cannot ignore us, but the terrain will mitigate the Clans' usual advantages."
 
"It may be possible to move some of the tooling from Coventry Metal Works into the mountains," suggested Adam thoughtfully.
 
There was a pained noise from the direction of Duke Bradford.
 
"I don't know if we can before the landings," Simons admitted. "But unless they drop directly on them it may be possible to have some of the firms manufacturing armor and munitions pack up their factories. Supplying them would be a nightmare but it would allow an extended campaign if it comes to that."
 
"The longer we're drawing this out, the longer we're tying up some of the Clans' frontline troops," Victor pointed out. "How many frontline galaxies ddid you say they have, Peter?"
 
His brother perked up on being asked to contribute. "All three Clans have three frontline galaxies in the Inner Sphere, we'd be tying down roughly a third of their striking power with about… no, not even a third of our own heavy combat units!"
 
"Exactly," Victor agreed. "Which takes that much pressure off the fighting along the rest of the frontline. As nice as it would be for us to win, we don't have to. We just have to not lose and we'll be forcing them to commit troops and supplies that could be hitting us elsewhere."
 
"That," Terlecki agreed, "Is a strategy that could hit them hard. The Clans can keep their omnimechs in action with remarkably little maintenance time, but they still go through the same supplies anyone does - if anything they expend more resources in that time. And their cockpits are not made for long operations. It's not as bad as a Stinger, but I would hate to be in some of their light and medium 'mechs for more than a few hours."
 
"Very well." Simons turned to Victor's own commander, William Waters, who had kept a politic silence so far. "I would like your Hussars and my own Rangers to move into the mountains before the landings, to prepare the region for an extended defense."
 
"Sir."
 
"The Arcturan Guards and Coventry DMM will cover the outlying continents initially as I mentioned earlier, although you are authorized to withdraw rather than be destroyed if the Clans throw substantial forces at them. Otherwise you will act as a strategic reserve to be called on once we have a better idea of their strategy," the Marshal continued. "Kommandant-General Steiner, your Twelfth Donegal Guards are to reinforce the Third Davion Guards around Coventry Metal Works. If the Clans try a massed landing there, I must count on you to make it as bloody as possible for them."
 
Both Adam and Kommandant-General Seymour confirmed their understanding.
 
"General Ito, your charge is to evacuate Coventry Academy - cadets, machines, all data… you know what needs to be taken to the mountains."
 
"Should we demolish the installations to keep them from being used?"
 
"No," Simons decided. "We may well be able to recover them, and if they decide to make use of the complex then we know it better than they do."
 
Victor nodded appreciatively as the Marshal planned ahead.
 
"Finally, General Terlecki, your Deneb Light Cavalry will need to be on your toes. I want them to act as a reaction force once we know how the landings are developing. Expect me to throw you into the path of one of those galaxies, but I think you understand that your role is not to be a wall."
 
"No," the cavalryman agreed with a vicious smile. "We're to be the cheese grater."
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Chapter 3-12