BtH105

==Chapter 105 - By the Horns==
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Cháteau des Calderon
Samantha City, Taurus
Taurian Concordat
August 2th, 3026
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Thomas Calderon sighed as he looked out the bay windows of his private office.  He could see the trees swaying in the distance as the wind which preceded this late summer thunderstorm buffeted the branches and trunks.  The thick clouds—all dark grey heavy with the promise of rain illuminated by the flash and crackle of lightning—hung low, turning the afternoon into a gloomy and miserable affair.  Even without the droning voice of Semyon Cantrell.
“. . . to sum up, my Lord Protector.” the Exchequer of the Concordat continued, “the entire economy is entering a boom phase.  Your decision to open the border to trade with Federated Suns has given our manufacturers new markets and virtually every stock traded on the Exchange is sharply up and continues to rise. Add to that your announcement that the TDF will be adding two new regiments of ‘Mechs---six battalions!—to its force strength over the next eighteen months and the first round of payments we have received for copies of the Vickers Core.” Semyon paused and he smiled.  “Well, my Lord, suffice it to say the government is flush with capital more so than we have been in centuries.”
And then the smile faded.  “But we need to keep a careful watch on the banks and a tight rein on inflation—boom economies can become bust economies all too quickly, Sire.  We may need to slow our rate of growth down a bit to keep things from swept up into a bubble all too ready to bust at the first sign of bad news.”
“Not to mention that even with having more funds flowing into the hands of banks and stock traders doesn’t necessarily translate into the common man having more cash in his wallet, Semyon.” Thomas added.  “Keep it under control as best you can—but let’s do what we can to stop inflation from adversely affecting the common people.  If that means hitting the banks and other lending institutions with fines and new regulations, well, you bring it to me and I’ll sign it.”
“We are watching the situation closely, Sire.” Semyon acknowledged as he made one last entry into his notebook and closed the case.  “But so far—so far—they aren’t getting out of line and fanning the flames of greed too much.”  The Exchequer added with a grin.  “Not much more than normal, anyways.  We’ve not had to smack more than a handful and those were ones we were already watching because of their past financial chicanery.”
“Good.” Thomas grunted as he turned away from the window.  “What about the plans for the new colonies?”
“Well, before he left on his mission to locate Fleet Marshal Vicker’s Exiles. Hall and his Far Lookers had surveyed about a dozen systems with habitable planets.  We are really in good shape to go ahead and start planning for colonization—although that will strain our available interstellar transport.  And stretch the TDF if we need to provide garrisons for all of them.”
Thomas snorted.  “I’m not planning on colonizing a dozen systems in a single year, Semyon!  Pick the two best and we will begin there.  Once they get up and running, two or three years down the road, we’ll start another two or three and just keep on going.”
“That will certainly make the Far Lookers happy.” Semyon noted as he began to stand.  “Although the CRP will complain about how you are looking away from our ‘Lost Worlds’ so as to avoid a conflict with your new Davion friends.”
“Hardly friends.” Thomas whispered, and then he shook his head.  “Let them complain—that is all they have done for the past two decades.” and he shook his head again.  “Although, their complaints have increased in volume—both in decibels and numbers!—over the past six months, I will have to admit.”
Semyon nodded in agreement.  “Those fools do not seem to comprehend just how the Concordat is prospering from your changes in policy, Sire.  I think they live on hatred and vitriol.” he finished with an exasperated sigh.
Thomas winced.  Part of the reason that the CRP was so outspoken was the silent support he had given to Grover Shraplen before the man overdosed last year.  Grover had been one of his oldest friends and Thomas knew that he had allowed that friendship—the trust he had placed in Grover—to influence his own policy.  But now, with all that had happened in the past year, Grover’s death and the subsequent revelation of his financial connections with Sian and the House of Liao, Thomas had been forced to reevaluate almost everything he thought he had believed in.
“I was a damn fool.” he whispered as he watched the first drops of rain splatter against the bay windows of his office.
“Sire?”
Thomas turned his back to the rain and he gave the Ministry of his Treasury a half-hearted smile.  “I’ve never trusted the Davions, Semyon—too much bad blood between them and the Concordat in the past and they have never done anything before now to fix that.  But, I never bothered to do anything myself to try and set our relations right.  I used that hate and fear,” Thomas chuckled bitterly as he accepted and then voiced his own innermost fears about his mental stability, “my bloody paranoia to fuel my Protectorship.  I let Grover fan those flames all the while he was taking Max Liao’s money to undermine my realm.”  He paused and then he sat down at the desk.  “I was a damn fool.”
“I wouldn’t say that, Sire.” Semyon protested, but Thomas waved him silent.
“It is the truth.  I ignored what Henri and Brenda and even Edward was telling me to instead put my trust in a man that betrayed not only me but the Concordat and all of her people.  Now I suppose I am reaping what I have sown.” he shook his head.  “Mother would be so disappointed in me; you know,” he said in a quiet voice, “she never liked Grover and tried to discourage my friendship with him.”  Then Thomas gave another bitter chuckle.  “Which only made me more stubborn in proving her wrong.  If Grover was a traitor, what the hell does that make me?”
Semyon paused for a moment and then he leaned forward.  “It makes you human, my Lord Calderon.” he said in a voice just as quiet.  “We have all had friends and acquaintances who we thought were one thing and proved themselves something quite different.  You wanted to think the best of Governor Shraplen—you wanted him to be worthy of your trust.  Just because he wasn’t doesn’t make you a bad man, Sire.”
“Just a fool, Semyon.  Just a foolish old man who put the entire Concordat in danger.  If I had kept on listening to Grover, who knows what I might have done.” and Thomas’ voice trailed off, leaving only the ticking of the clock to break the silence of the office.
Until Thomas shook his head.  “Enough of this maudlin self-loathing.” he muttered.  “Is there anything else for today?” he continued in a louder, stronger voice.
Semyon shook his head.  “That about covers it all, my Lord Pro-. . ..” and he was interrupted by a knock on the door of the office.  Thomas and Semyon both frowned as they looked at the clock; it was not time for the Protector’s next appointment.
“Come.” Thomas ordered.
“My Lord Calderon.” the uniformed guard of his security detail spoke as he opened the door, “Marshals Calderon and Vickers, Ministers Calderon and Jouett request a few moments of your time.”  The guard paused.  “They say it is quite urgent, my Lord.”
Thomas sat back in his chair and glanced over at Semyon who seemed as puzzled as he was.  “Show them in at once.” he ordered.
“My Lord.” the guard said with a bow and he exited the office; moments later Brenda Calderon, Raoul Calderon, Helena Vickers, and Henri Jouett were ushered in and the door was closed.
“Should I leave?” Semyon asked as he closed his folder of papers and notes.
“Henri?” Thomas asked, as he raised his chin towards the Exchequer.
“Perhaps it might be for the best, my Lord Calderon, if the Exchequer stayed.” Henri answered, and Thomas frowned because Henri’s face was pale and drawn.  So too were the faces of Brenda and Raoul, although Helena’s looked angry.
“What has happened?” Thomas asked as he felt a sudden knot in his stomach.
Brenda and Henri paused, but Raoul walked over the liquor cabinet that Thomas kept in his office and he poured two glasses of whiskey—and Thomas raised one eyebrow as he brother set one glass in front of the Protector on the desk, keeping the second for himself.
“We just received news from New Vallis, Tom.” his brother said quietly.  And he held up one hand as the blood drained from Thomas’s face.  “No.  Edward is fine.” and Raoul sighed.  “For now, at least.”
“For now?  What the hell is going on!” Thomas snapped as he stood and laid his hands on his desk, leaning forward.
Henri winced and then he steeled himself.  “Sire, Special Operations and Intelligence on New Vallis has discovered a conspiracy to assassinate Edward Calderon.”
For a moment, Thomas said nothing, but the blood drained from his face and he felt his arms tremble as he leaned against them.  He sat down suddenly—almost fell back into his chair, and his mouth worked, but just a strangle of air came out for what seemed an eternity.
“Wh-wh-what?” he finally sputtered as he sat there and stared at men and women standing and sitting in front of his desk.
“Edward is just fine, Thomas.” Raoul quickly added.  “SIO uncovered the plot before he landed on New Vallis and we have most of the conspirators in custody.  They have been charged and will be tried for their parts in this scheme.”
“How.” Thomas began and then he collected himself and lifted the glass, draining it in one massive gulp, and almost immediately had a coughing spasm.  “How did this happen?  What happened?” he asked after he had recovered.
Henri shook his head.  “A very small faction of the CRP on New Vallis decided that with the treaty that Edward brokered between us and the Federated Suns made him a traitor to the Concordat.  And they planned to remove him—permanently—from the succession.”
“SIO-New Vallis discovered the plot,” Raoul added quickly as he sat down the second glass of whiskey near Thomas’s hand, “when they overreached and tried to recruit other members of the CRP in their criminal enterprise.  Those citizens of the Concordat were appalled at what the conspirators had planned and reported the conversations to SIO-New Vallis.  The SAIC there used their reports to obtain warrants from the Courts to monitor their communications—voice, video, electronic, and postal—and gathered enough evidence that their convictions are all but assured.”
Thomas’s hand shook as he took the second glass of whiskey and gulped down about a third of the glass in a single swallow. He then he stopped, put down the whiskey, and looked back up.
“Most of them.” he repeated Raoul’s words and Henri, Raoul, and Brenda all winced at the ice in the Protector’s voice.  Semyon looked stunned, but Helena just stood there with little expression on her face.
“Most of them, Tom?” Brenda replied quietly.  “Some of the conspirators managed to elude SIO, but they are being sought—and they will be found, arrested, tried, and convicted.”
“Edward’s still in danger?” Thomas asked quietly as he drained the second glass and stood on trembling legs.  “Brenda, I want orders cut to return him to Taurus immediately!”
“That is not a good idea, my Lord Protector.” Brenda Calderon began, “Edward is a serving TDF officer and you pulling him back before he even begins his duties on New Vallis will send very much the wrong message to the officer Corps of the TDF . . .” but she was interrupted.
“I DON”T GIVE A DAMN!  HE IS MY SON!” Thomas bellowed.  And then he sat down heavily again.  “He’s my son, damn it!  I want him home and I want him safe.”
“Protector Calderon.” Helena spoke up softly, and Thomas looked up at her with unshed tears welling up in his one natural eye.  “If you do that, we can keep Edward safe—but he is safe now on New Vallis.  We—the TDF and SIO—have taken every possible step to ensure his safety, but you will be telling the officers and men of the Defense Force that you value the life of your son more than their own.  And what does Edward want?  What does your son want, Thomas Calderon?”
Thomas gave out a gasp of air as he shook and the tears finally began to descend his cheek.  “He would want to stay there and show those bastards they can’t make Calderon’s run.” he finally said in a quiet voice.  “Henri, Brenda.” he said in a voice that held a small quaver.  “Can you promise me that you will keep him safe?”
“We will do our best, Sire.” Brenda answered and Henri nodded.
“But you can’t promise me he will be safe?  That you will apprehend all of those who are part of this?”
“Thomas.” Raoul said quietly as he refilled one of the glasses on his brother’s desk and placed it in a trembling hand.  “No one can absolutely guarantee that Edward will not be harmed—just as we cannot guarantee that no one will ever take a shot at you or me or the rest of our family.  We have to trust our people—our loyal people—to do their jobs and do them well.  And Edward would never forgive you for calling him home and making him look the coward in the face of this conspiracy.  You know that, brother.”
Thomas sobbed and then he nodded his head. “You tell Corey and your SAIC, Henri, that they will keep my son safe and alive.  They will!” he growled and he drank deep from the third glass, and with that the trembling in his arms and hands and legs began to subside.
For a moment there was silence and then Thomas finished the third glass and he set it down on the desk.  He took another moment and he gathered himself and then he looked up at his family and advisors and his jaw was fixed.
“Henri.” he growled, “I want every last member of the CRP to be detained and questioned.  Every single one of those bastards!  I want every one of them who had anything to do with this shot!”
“Tom.” Raoul said quietly.  “We have the conspirators in custody—most of them.  We will find anyone else connected—you don’t need a witch hunt or an inquisition.  We have this situation under control.  They will be tried under the law and punished accordingly.”
“NOT GOOD ENOUGH!” Thomas snapped.  “I WANT THEM DEAD!”
“Protector Calderon,” Helena said quietly, “you can give that order.  SIO will carry it out.  Even if the Courts object, they can do it.  If you give that order, then you, Sir, will be destroying the Concordat and all it stands for.”  Thomas started to snarl something, but Helena raised one hand and he stopped.  “We will find the guilty—they will be punished.  But that punishment will be handed out by the Courts and in accordance with our laws.  If not, we are nothing more than mere bandits out here, as barbaric as the Inner Sphere thinks we are.  There will be nothing left of the honor of the Concordat and the Taurian people—nothing left of your honor.  Or that of Edward.  Or mine.”
“Let the Courts handle this, Tom.” Raoul added in a soft voice.  “We will stand these bastards before a firing squad, but we will do it legally.”
“This is just one faction of the CRP on one world, Thomas.” Brenda said as well.  “They don’t all mean you and your family harm—hell, we found out because members of the CRP thought these ****** were going too far and told us!  If we do what you want, that will never happen again.”
For a moment, everyone in the room was afraid that Thomas would get stubborn—that he would issue the order anyway, but finally Thomas nodded.  “We will do your way.” he whispered.  “But, Henri.” he growled and his voice grew stronger.  “I want SIO to monitor everyone that belongs to the CRP.  Read their mail, eavesdrop on their communications, go through their computer files, do what you have to do, but we are stopping this now before they can get lucky.”
“We will need warrants for that, Tom.” Henri said quietly.  “I don’t think the Courts will grant us anywhere near as many as you want.  We can get some, certainly, especially on those who have shown they are members of the hard-line faction, but we won’t get warrants to listen to everyone not matter what we do.  We can do it without warrants, but getting a conviction if we find something will be all but impossible if you bypass the law.”
Thomas began to snarl, but after looking at the faces of his advisors, his family, and the pictures on his desk of his children and wife and mother and sisters and nephews and nieces, he finally nodded.  “Fine. Fine.” he snarled.  “Get your warrants to monitor their worst elements.  And if they are planning anything, throw those bastards in some dark hole to rot!”
He stood and pressed the intercom button.  “Bring my car around—I am heading to the HPG Station to speak with my son.” he ordered.
“Yes, Sire.” came the answer.
“Also, Henri.” Thomas began, but the Intelligence Minister shook his head.
“We’ll make certain they don’t get a second shot, Tom.” he assured his Protector—his friend.
Thomas nodded. “Well, in that case, I have a call to place and all of you have work to do.”
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