TBntG-3 Chpt 23

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 23 - Book III - The Clan Invasion==
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==Plans and Stumbling Blocks==
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"Lot's of bluffs. Lots of little raids," Will said. "All up and down the line." 
 
"And," Mary told the Primus, "A sensitivity to casualties." She gestured down at the red icons showing Tharkad and New Avalon. "Even here. The newest clans units are dropping some of their old habits, but they've been attributed so seriously…" She shook her head. "But the OZ is what I'm worried about. They have a sensitivity to casualties, but it's a planned sensitivity. They fight until the conditions aren't favorable and then withdraw." Mary glanced over at the tech. "Two months high-speed projection, please." 
 
Moments later, the map, showcasing the vast region, started ebbing and flowing. red Clan territory faded, replaced by yellow for contested, or green for taken.
 
"He's withdrawing."
 
"He's consolidating." 
 
"Do you think they know about…" Even here, Will didn't talk about the jump tracker. It wasn't even written down. 
 
"No. I think he's counting numbers and figures we're going to try to push in and cut him off." 
 
"Which we are." 
 
"Which we were." Mary shook her head. "Unless someone has a secret jump drive immobilizer, trying to encircle someone who is willing to withdraw is hard. Worst case, it could open us up to a counter attack. No, we'll have to go back to the original plan before the jump sensor systems came online. We can use them to track and hit his spaceborne forces, but trying to win in one offensive… no. Especially…" She glanced over at the tech and he called up a scattering of images. Some in Lyran space, more in Kuritan space. "Well, Primus, do you know what I'm looking at?"
 
"Just because ROM is behaving doesn't mean the boys and girls aren't keeping their hand in. We're looking at worlds where the local leadership sufficiently pissed off everyone that they won't exactly greet us with flowers." 
 
"Right. Unfortunately…" She shook her head. "Hanse and Melissa would like to hang the people who gave us this problem by the neck until they're dead, dead, dead, and so would Theodore, only a bullet takes less time."
 
"It's worse in the Combine. A merchant can protest high taxes, but…"
 
"But they can still get executed for daring to step out of place, even if they were in the right." Mary shook her head. 
 
There are some things we don't say, not even to the Primus of Comstar, and the fact that I'm happy the Ghost Bears and Wolves have equipped enough locals to make retaking the region… difficult, is one of them. But for all Theodore was a liberal Coordinator, the bar for being liberal in the Combine wasn't so much "low" as it was "buried."
 
"Regardless, I'd like Comstar to do me a favor."
 
"Which is?" asked the Primus
 
"When we take those worlds, I'd prefer Comstar to take the lead on civil relief. I've… gotten agreement from the overall authorities."
 
"I doubt people would like to see us taking the side of revolutionaries."
 
"No. But you'll have cameras. Lots of cameras. At least on the Federated Commonwealth end of things, a good chunk of this crap flourishes because they keep it quiet. Shine enough light on it…" said Mary
 
"A very political attitude." 
 
Mary closed her eyes. "I keep trying to avoid it…"
 
"But it always comes back. We can do that." commented the Primus
 
"Good. The last thing I need is some idiot noble deciding to punish the locals. Frederick will use that. Do you know—" Mary sighed. "Of course you do, it was ROM that reported to me. Whoever heard of a Clan force hiring PR representatives?"
 
"Man's smart. Unfortunately, he's also loyal." Will shook his head. "What about the Nova Cats and Diamond Sharks?"
 
"I've got requests from the Magistracy and Free Worlds League. As long as they don't shoot at us, our allies would prefer we don't shoot at them." Mary gestured. "Lots of information about quiet trade going on. Magistracy is the junior partner to the Concordat, the Free Worlds League needs friends after Janos' misstep. They both want a friendly border."
 
"And trade with friendly Clans could help both of them."
 
"Yes." Another political thing. After all, Mary wasn't the only one who could read spreadsheets. They were now in a position where losing outright was no longer a threat. So people were considering what might happen "after."
 
"General Cheng." Will motioned with his head, and the tech took the hint, leaving.
 
"Sir?"
 
"ROM has provided me with some information regarding the Draconis Combine."
 
"What?"
 
"Private requests that Theodore Kurita embrace the spirit of the Dragon and publicly name himself First Lord." 
 
Mary went tense. There was disaster, and there was… "I haven't heard of this."
 
"Theodore has… refused, but some of my people in ROM think that was the point. A refusal. A refusal of…"
 
"The cornerstone of Combine foreign policy since the Star League collapsed." Mary frowned. "So let me guess, it's going over about as well as Edward suggesting Janice Calderon marry a Davion would."
 
"Exactly."
 
"What are we looking at?" asked Mary.
 
"Impossible to say," Will said. "The problem is that since the Combine isn't well, very welcoming of sincere protests, people are very good at staying quiet… until they're ready. Now historically, a lot of Combine fights stay inside the palace, at least for leadership. Keeping people well aware of who is in charge, that's different. But…" 
 
"But Theodore is trying to change the culture." Mary nodded. "I'm not an idiot, and it's interesting what units are being seconded to us." The more liberal ones. I've been using them but I think that's the point. Mary looked down and started calling up information, ignoring Will for the moment. 
 
Great. Most of the new blood are on the clan front. Away from the core worlds. 
 
"There's another thing ROM told me, and it's…" Will looked grim. "Uncertain as yet. They can't confirm it."
 
"What."
 
"There may be discrepancies in their strategic arsenal, as well as possible overstock in the tactical arsenal."
 
Mary stared. "What? Primus that's something that—"
 
"Could shatter the alliance if we say it? Yes. And we don't know. Not yet." 
 
Mary stared at the readout. "Does Theodore know?"
 
"Maybe. Depends on how loyal his intelligence people are. But the Clans took out most of the people who were loyal to Takashi in their intelligence department. As well as a lot of the records that might be helpful. Lots of records went missing. I wonder if they were all due to the Clans."
 
"Primus, I know I cannot give orders to Comstar, but I will give suggestions. Very, very strong suggestions. Find out about those weapons and what is happening in the Combine. I need to know, because I…" She shook her head, "cannot launch an offensive. Not yet. But equally, Hanse and Melissa aren't exactly invulnerable. They have managed to convince people that we're holding the Clans, but now that the panic is over, their citizens want their capitals back." 
 
"Also, if you find out that anyone is about to use WMDs…" Mary frowned. Does it count as treason if the general says it? I guess I may find out. "Send orders to ROM. They are to consider the imminent use of WMD's sufficient cause to warn any likely targets, even if they are Clan, and to take all measures to minimize civilian casualties." 
 
She glanced over at the big board. I can win this, Goddammit! But once again, the Inner Sphere decides that if you see someone in front of you, it's time to stab them in the back. In fact—
 
Oh. Oh. Shit. She let her gaze follow the map of the Combine to the parts held by the Clans. Rasalhague. The Dracs don't even let people go to the wrong church, and there they are, a group who rebelled, got their own nation, and now willingly work with the Clans. Someone who refused the generosity of the Dragon.
 
"Primus." Mary said. "I need to find out about those nukes, verify if they're making more, who has them, and where they are going. I also need a meeting with the Coordinator, as soon as possible, and I think it would be wise if Comstar was the one to transport him back here. With as much security as you can give him."
 
"You think he's not safe."
 
"I think we really should have paid more attention when he ensured that none of his heirs were actually in the damned combine."
 
"Very well, but General Cheng? I'd launch that offensive. After all. Bad actors may not act—if they think they have more to gain by remaining quiet." suggested the Primus.
 
"Right."
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"There are times when you wonder about what might have beens.""Like, 'What could have happened if we'd realized just how bad things were in the Combine a month earlier.""But we didn't."General Mary Cheng: interview Solaris Broadcasting Service, 3090.
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