BtH27

==Chapter 27 - By the Horns==
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The Obsidian Fortress
Sosa, New Syrtis
Federated Suns
November 2nd, 3025
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“Hanse will blow a blood vessel!” sputtered Tamara Hasek, the commanding Marshal of the 5th Syrtis Fusiliers RCT. “Michael, he will demand your head if you go off half-cocked!”
Michael Hasek-Davion smiled. “Will he? New Ganymede is THE major source of Taurian germanium. Taking that system will ensure that our yards at Panpour and Galax will have ample reserves—our information shows that only Taurian militia are garrisoning that world,” Michael snorted. “Between your 5th, Tamara, and Robert’s 1st Capellan Dragoons, you should have no problem taking and holding New Ganymede.” Colonel Robert Johnstadt nodded his agreement.
“True enough, cousin,” muttered Iona Hasek, “but New Vallis is a Corps Headquarters for the TDF! They have almost two regiments of regulars and mercs there, PLUS all of those Constabulary and militia units. I know that with the 6th and 8th going in there together, we should have enough to take the system but . . .,” she winced, “Michael, what if the Bulls break out their nukes?”
“New Vallis and New Ganymede are valuable—but not that valuable. Now, if this was New Vandenberg or—God forbid—Taurus, yeah, I’d lay even odds that the nukes would fly. But not even Thomas is crazy enough to nuke his own people if WE don’t start atrocities,” Michael said with a grim smile.
Colonel Stephan Cooper shook his head. “And then you want ME to move the Assault Guards—on my own authority, no less—and hit Jansen’s Hold? Your Grace, I know that Marshal Ashley is on leave, but you can’t think that I would be willing to launch an attack without authorization from New Avalon!”
“Coop,” Michael said fondly, “of course you wouldn’t do any such thing. Just as, if I had in my possession . . . audio and video recordings of . . . certain behaviors made by prominent officers assigned to the Davion Brigade of Guards,” Michael smiled as the regimental commanders face drained of blood, “such as the dreadful things that the said officer enjoys doing to prostitutes of Capellan origin and the lengths he goes to make certain that their . . . tongues will never render testimony against him.” Michael tsk-tsked at the man. “If I had such, then I would turn them over to the High Command of the AFFS at once! Certainly, Hanse’s reaction to one of his own chosen few being such a . . . perverted and criminal soul,” and Michael bared his teeth as Cooper wilted, “would be rather . . . extreme?”
No one spoke for several moments, and then Michael nodded. “You do have the authority to order the Assault Guards RCT to move—if you deem it necessary for the Federated Suns, Colonel. I suggest you discover that this move to Jansen’s Hold is necessary. Otherwise, who knows what information will wind up in the hands of Quintus Allard.” Michael paused, and then when Cooper slowly nodded, he smiled. “The New Syrtis March Militia will hit Jansen’s Hold alongside your Guards, Cooper—this first wave should take and hold all three worlds from any possible counter-attack which the Taurians can organize while under Interdiction.”
“FIRST WAVE?” blurted Stephan Cooper.
“It all depends, Coop,” Michael said with a chuckle. “On how weak the Taurians actually are; if we CAN go farther—say to Sterope or Illiushin or Perdition—then I might just do that. But I might not. New Ganymede is the prize here—and a valuable one it is. New Vallis and Jansen’s Hold will protect the flanks of our new system, and if that is as far as we dare push, then I will be satisfied. Once the First Prince learns of it, he will have no choice but to support me—he won’t dare make me hand it back to the Taurians.”
“What about the Cappies?” asked Cooper. “We are out here to watch them, not to invade the Concordat.”
“I imagine they will be busy gobbling up systems of their own—but knowing Max and his spawn as I do,” Michael smiled again, “they will go directly for Pinard and New Vandenberg. No, the CCAF will be embroiled in a fight that I wouldn’t wish on Takashi Kurita for those two systems. We can safely count them out of this.”
“But it all depends on us attacking before the First Prince can shut this down,” Tamara pointed out. “Just one agent reporting to Quintus and this is over, Your Grace.”
“Oh, dear,” Michael said in a hurt voice, “did I forget to mention that Precentor New Syrtis has been kind enough to schedule the HPG here on planet for a major overhaul? We cannot receive or transmit orders for the next ten days—luckily, I have all of your regiments present here now. You lift tonight—you will avoid all systems with HPGs and you will take your objectives before any such order can arrive to stop you. Is that understood?” Michael asked.
One-by-one, each of the Marshals and Colonels nodded, and Michael smiled again. “Good. Then, ladies, gentlemen—a toast! Victory!”
“VICTORY!”
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