WoWS3 Chpt 53

<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 53 - ==
----
===Wedding bouquet & drinks===
Royal Palace's Chapel - The Triad'''
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
----
The ceremony was lovely yet uneventful despite the collection of guests. The most notable thing really was the lack of guests on the Groom’s side of the chapel. As much as Archon Trillian Steiner-Davion had forgiven him and hitched her wagon to Duke Vedet Brewer’s he was clearly not as popular of a man as he used to be.
But really the true test for if there was going to be an incident or not was the reception. As this is where the booze would be served and all the raw nerves of the guests who had axes to grind would be tested.
“Come on, Juanita. Time to honor a tradition. All the single women are to gather up for the bouquet toss.” Amanda Roberts said with a sigh.
“But we already know who is getting married next.” Juanita complained.
“Do we? There’s a lot of time between now and this fall. Plenty of time for another wedding to sneak its way onto the social events calendar.” Helena Cameron chuckled.
“You’re old enough too, Petra.” Alice smiled.
“So are you, and if I’m putting up with this tradition, so are you.” Juanita grumbled.
“Could you imagine if I did catch it? Who would I even marry? Maybe the son of that Duke over there…He’s cute…” Alice almost pranced over to where all the single women were gathering.
Helena waved at the other women as she held up her ring finger with her wedding band.
Trillian stood with her back to the gathered crowd of women and tossed the bouquet high in the air.
Somehow in the mad scramble of pushing and shoving, Petra was forced to catch it or be smacked straight in the face.
“Wha… Does this really mean I have to get married next?” Petra said slightly horrified.
“No. No one really actually pays that much attention to that tradition or superstition. But it is so ingrained in all of us that we still make the motions.” Helena said as she joined them.
“But here on Tharkad, when it is a Royal Wedding it does come with a small boon for who does catch it. You get to sit at my right hand during the reception banquet, decide what song shall be played for the first and last dance, and you get that blue and gold box there as a parting gift. I recommend opening it later when you’re alone.” Trillian said as she walked up to them.
Petra smelled the flowers.
“Here, let’s go find someone to get these in a vase. I think the grownups are going to talk boring grown up stuff.” Alice held out her hand as Petra took it.
“You rigged that somehow didn’t you?” Helena said quietly.
“Duchess Utz owed me a favor. So she was glad to play bulldozer to make sure Petra caught it. I felt with everything that has happened she could use a little fun.” Alice said with smile.
“You made up the boon too then.” Amanda realized.
“Ja. It is harmless enough that no one will complain.” Alice admitted.
“It’ll be our secret and of course Alaric caught the garter belt.” Helena peaked over at the crowd of single men.
“You know I think after what you did on McKenna’s Pride he’s actually into you now.” Trillian smirked.
“That would track with my luck and his psyche profile.” Helena shook her head.
----
===Face to Face time with the Wolf===
----
Juanita silently walked over to Alaric.
“I do not believe we have met. You are?”
“Juanita Pujol Garcia.” Juanita answered.
“Interesting name. You are one of Helena’s AIs are you not?”
“I am.”
“Well it seems they are getting ready for the first dance, care to join me so we can talk further?”
Juanita nodded as she extended her arms for a traditional waltz.
The band did not start playing a traditional waltz.
Juanita looked around as the other guests were likewise confused but quickly adapted.
“I do not know what I am supposed to do now… I expected only formal types of dance. I did not download the files on any other styles.” Juanita was still visibly confused.
“Here. Follow my movements. Step where my feet used to be as I move them out of the way and try to time it to the beat once you get the feel for the style.” Alaric said as he smiled.
“You know the style of dance for this music? How?”
“Believe it or not my mother taught me. She learned it by sneaking out to clubs in her youth.” Alaric answered as he picked up his pace on moving his feet out of the way as Juanita nearly stepped on them three times since they started dancing.
“Why teach me?”
“Because Helena is partially wrong about me. I may have accepted the Falcons into the Clan, but I have no intention of becoming another Amos Furlough or creating a Star League that would reward such acts. But to create what I desire, I do need to conquer Terra.” Alaric told them.
“Because of Clan culture.” Juanita stated.
“Partially. The other part is I am indeed an outsider. I will not be respected unless I send a powerful message. So unlike your liege lord I cannot simply land on the world and expect it to bow down to me.”
“There is no guarantee they will do that for Helena.”
“If you are who I think you are, then you know as well as I do that there is. She has the name and without Stone, they will flock to her. Her name is the only hope they have left. Levin continues to surprise me that he maintains his position. Everything the Watch can verify about the man indicates he is simply unsuitable for the position.”
“I do think that is likely to be fair.”
“Here is another thing I will tell you then. She is no better than I. She uses her name, her legend to get what she desires. She now seeks the power she used to profess to disdain.”
“Because she’s seen too much of what happens in the pursuit of that power or when it is in the wrong hands. But unlike you she knows not to seek it alone. That much power is meant to be shared. And despite the pitch you made Daoshen, yes we’ve uncovered that, we all know you really promised him that so you would not have to face a four front war.”
“I do believe you mean six. I am no fool. I know as soon as I commit to Terra my dear cousin will take the opportunity to reclaim some of her worlds. And Nikol would be a fool not to as well. So far I have also repulsed every attack the Combine has made on Dieron but yes you are likely right that we will have to devote enough resources to the conquest of Terra that when the Dragon makes its next attempt we may not be able to hold. Or maybe we will. Either way it will be a butcher’s bill the Combine will not be able to afford.”
“Thanks for the dance.” Juanita bowed as the song ended.
----
She returned to Helena as she finished a dance with the Baron of Glengarry.
“Bad as we thought?” Helena asked.
“Possibly worse. I don’t know if it is finding hulks or new builds in record time, but he has Warship production and undoubtedly the Pocket Warships and Assault Dropships that they used to great effect in the War of Plunder.” 
“Dieron?”, someone suggested.
“Yes. It is pretty clear he has a strong naval presence there and has been using it to repel Combine counter attacks. I think more than we know about.”
"Uh-oh." Helena muttered, and Juanita looked.Amanda was walking toward the Wolf delegation, glass in hand.
"This could be be bad…" Helena said.
“Do we stop her?” Juanita asked
"This could also be hilarious." Helena said with smile
Amanda Roberts stopped, took a second drink from a passing Steward's tray, then continued.
"This could be absolutely hilarious…or a disaster." Juanita suggested
"Alaric!" Amanda's voice carried. 
“Another new face. I seem to be popular tonight.” Alaric Ward answered. “And who are you?”
"Your intel people are better than that." Amanda said, and held out the second glass, "You can drink it, with me, or wear it."
“I am trying to be ‘polite’.” Alaric took the offered glass.
"Yeah, doesn't fit either of us, does it?" she gestured at the room, "but we're here."
“Aff. As much as my mother tried to teach me to excel in such environments I find Clan ways more suitable.”
"Just like I'd find the folkways of home for the same reasons." her tone lowered to conversational level, "let's play a game, what didn't you tell Trillian and Helena about the incident out past Wotan?"
“I told them enough.”
"Enough for them." Amanda clarified for him, up close, he could see her inebriation. "Not 'enough period’. Wotan is well outside the Wolf Empire and you don't have anything out there or someone would've bumped into it."
“You are drunk. Perhaps you should ask me what you intend to ask when you are sober.”
"When I'm sober, I'll be too polite to ask." Amanda told Alaric.
“Very well, now that the secret is worthless I will tell you. Khan Vlad Ward hid the McKenna’s Pride in the Dark Nebula. Back then Clan Wolf’s holdings were much closer. I ordered it retrieved. It seems other parties learned it was there as well.” Alaric told her.
"Have they advanced?" Amanda asked. 
“To be honest I do not know since I do not hold sway with those systems. Many are still in the hands of independents and a few hold out Falcons that Trillian has not quite finished eliminating yet. So I imagine she would know before I do.”
"Damn, I was hoping your guys were better than ours, you don't know…what a waste…" she sighed, and took another swig. 
“Distance. My goals lie in a different area of space. My resources are finite.”
She nodded along, "Yeah, you can't keep tabs on your psychotic, omnicidal exes. It's the Sons all over again, they're festering and nobody's watching."
“Or worse, if they are, they are not sharing the information.” Alaric nodded.
"I was surprised you didn't raise an objection when they asked during the ceremony, word was, you held Trillian in some regard."
“Vedet is a lead weight for Trillian. Marrying him was a mistake on her part. So it is to my advantage she weighs herself down with that failure of a man despite my fondness for her.”
"Fair enough. They all expected me to slap you or start a fight. Allie was one of mine, Alaric."
“I imagine you would if I were directly responsible, but my responsibility in the matter is indirect at best. As such I have made a gesture of restitution. It does me no good to deny you her remains or be cruel about her demise.”
Amanda stepped up closer, almost in his face, rocked up on her toes, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
Then walked away, leaving a very surprised Wolf Khan in her wake.
“That was unexpected.” Helena admitted.
Amanda rejoined Helena's party, and dabbed her mouth with a kerchief. 
"What was that, Mom??" Petra demanded in a low tone.
"Never do what they expect." Amanda said in an equally low tone. "He'll be spending hours in a medical lab looking for poisons, lab viruses, engineered bacteria…they won't find anything because there isn't anything to find, but it'll work on him a tiny little bit." she refreshed her makeup using a compact. "Never let them see you coming, Petra."
“If not him, his subordinates.” Helena added. “Even if he knows there is nothing to find, his subordinates will still insist. They cannot trust that we wouldn’t. To them we’re dishonorable barbarians with no trick too low, evil, or dirty for us to use.”
“So now what?” Petra asked.
"Now, you will go find some nice boy in an academy uniform, and you'll flirt a little bit, I'm going to find a place to sit down and rest. This has been…draining." Amanda answered, "stay out of trouble, Petra. Don't make a scene."
“And I’ll be close enough to keep an eye on you myself.” Helena smiled. “But far enough away to not embarrass you.”
"Helena, a word to consider?" Amanda suggested, "He as much as told me what we suspected-the Wolves haven't been paying attention to their even-more-psychotic cousins. Your initiative with the Scorpions is safe."
“Good. I just hope we’re all wrong and that the Homeworlders are not moving already. I know they will eventually, but we can’t fight that many wars at once.”
"Yet." Amanda said, "We can't afford to fight that many wars yet. I'm going to have to talk to Dave and get our long-term strategic planning updated."
“I know. We’re going to have to devote some of our ships that way no matter what. Even with the HPGs back up the Independents still might not get the word out in time to warn us and they might not even give the Falcons the chance.”
-----
===Considering the Options===
-----
"Interesting." Alaric watched the thing that looked like Amanda Roberts weave her way back to Helena's party. More than a few residues of the actual person there.
"Did you get a clean scan, Phaedra?" he used a mastoid mic and subvocalization.
"Aff…no telltale like we have on record for the Envoys of Kolossus. Are you sure she is counterfeit??" Phaedra asked
Alaric held his expression carefully neutral. "No.”
”How should we proceed then, my Khan?” Phaedra asked
"Without covert action." he ruled, "We stick to the public cover story for now."
”Aff, my Khan. I best terminate my transmissions now before they detect our conversation.” acknowledged the Scientist
In a sense, it was troubling, but in another on another level Alaric was gladdened. He knows how to defeat human beings, after all.
Whatever else, the key people in Helena Cameron's circle were still human.
Yet so much of her navy was updated CASPARs. That did still trouble him but even with Bolan and Dieron he clearly did not have the industrial capacity to win the waiting game, even if his warriors had that kind of patience.
But adding Terra, Titan, and Mars? What of the Clans that would honor what came after? That would tip the balance in his favor. Alaric thought
In a way it is a shame. She is formidable but I cannot tolerate her mere existence anymore than she can allow me to take Terra by force.
He walked over to his cousin.
“Trillian, I must admit that was an interesting choice for starting off the dancing.” Alaric commented.
“Hazards of letting a teenage girl alter the playlist, but a small price to pay if it brings her some joy.” Trillian told him.
“Vedet is a lucky man.” Alaric smiled.
“Yes he is.” Trillian noted.
“If he fails to make you happy cousin, do let me know. I would be glad to do you the service of expressing how poor of an idea it is to disappoint a Steiner-Davion.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Now for my confession. You seem to be taking all of this well.” commented Trillian
“It is a happy day for you Trillian. If I am to build a new Star League I cannot solve all my problems by being a disruptive or violent force.”
“You’ve learned the lessons of how to play the political game well.” Trillian admitted.
“You are proving a capable student in your own right but you clearly have much to learn.”
“Perhaps. Do you really think Daoshen will keep to your bargain?” he asked.
“Daoshen has been boasting a little too much I think, but no. He is Capellan. As soon as he thinks he has the opening he will try and stab me in the back. It is their way. So I am prepared for it but I still expect it to be interesting.” she explained to him.
-----
===Talks between lost cousins===
Fresh air. You don't really get to appreciate it, until it comes with a free disconnect from the tension of the royals indoors.
Petra pulled her coat closer and shivered on the balcony.
"What have we here?" a Woman's voice interrupted her shivering. "All by yourself?"
She turned. The woman wore a Clan Wolf dress uniform and Star Commander's rank-far too low to be among the glittering nobles and senior warriors, if not for the insignia of Naval Crew.
"It's too busy." Petra said.
"You mean the tension among them is too high…so…Kolossus is making Bootleg Roberts, What is your designation, kid?" in the dim outdoor light, she looked like she could be Petra's aunt.
"Petra…you…Mai?" said Mai Roberts
"Guilty. I am still unsure if I am supposed to start a fight by being here, given the conditions, or pave the road to an understanding…so, Petra…you are a Roberts, quiaff?"
"Uhm, it says so on my pass port…My mom's inside, I'll scream if-" Petra
"Not here to hurt you." Mai held up her hands open, in a placating gesture. "But you ARE derived from the Roberts line, how many generations?"
"First I think." Petra confessed, "I…the last anyone knew, you were with Snow Raven, what happened?"
"Alaric offered a trial with something Sterling McKenna could not refuse, and it was fought on the ground, so we lost, and I was part of the stakes."
"That doesn't make sense, the Wolves could get the DNA from their own sample-"
"Skills, not Genes." Mai pointed up at the sky, "Where Vlad parked? Needed an expert navigator to get it out again."
"So you were there when…" Petra began to ask.
Mai nodded, "I planned the jumps and the attack. If you are going to be angry with someone over the outcome, it would be me." Mai pulled a deck chair out, and straddled it, "I did not know who owned the ship."
“Would you be angry at the hand that carried out the order or the heart that gave the command? You would be the hand in this case.” Petra stated.
"A very mature view." Mai nodded. "I still feel some…dissatisfaction, Petra. It was not a clean fight, nor a clean victory, and it was wasteful."
"Now, you sound like cousin Phoebe." Petra said, "or Peregrine, always with the 'this is waste, that is right because it's efficient'."
'Huh, 'cousins' hmm?" Mai propped her elbows, "So the Envoys, they are all drawn from Amanda Roberts and her DNA?"
“More than most people can keep track of, but that’s what happens when you have a large family.” Petra told her Clan cousin.
Mai chuckled, "I have met…'uncle' Daryl before. He holds similar views regarding every class from my gene-mother's giftake…there is. Admittedly, something attractive about being so close to one's source…and you recognized me."
"Hard not to, you're famous." Petra said, "You were the 'head' of the Roberts Bloodhouse among the Ravens-senior most warrior with the best record and the right genes. How did you really end up being shopped to the Wolves?"
"I believe Sterling McKenna has a long term plan in the works, hence letting herself get talked into putting protomechs up against elite 'mechwarriors in front line machines under disadvantaged conditions without more than a pair of helicopters for air support…I got shot down."
"Ugh!" Petra shook her head, "That blows."
"Aff…is she real?" asked Mai
"Who?" Petra asked
"The woman playing my gene-mother, and your mother. Is she the real Amanda Roberts or just a copy?" Mai asked
"Uh…my mom, is my mom. I don't know if she's YOUR mom, but she's mine." Petra asserted.
Mai nodded thoughtfully. "You should get inside before you freeze, Petra Roberts. It is well below the point that light jackets are only a relief for a few minutes."
“You really think an understanding could be made between all the people in that room?” Petra found herself asking.
"For a short time, maybe." Mai noted, "a common enemy, or common cause, could do it briefly, but in the end,they would return to their natures…and some means would have to be found to contain the violence and channel it."
“Yeah. I think part of the problem is Helena and Alaric are just too diametrically opposed.”
"They are closer than you suppose, Petra Roberts. The true problems between them are in the ways they are alike. The differences can be worked through, the common traits are what make them enemies. I experienced something similar while working under Garner Kerensky bringing the Pride back-a superb officer, great leader, who really cares for his charges, and we could not stand one another. Our similarities made for an impenetrable wall. We eventually worked out an arrangement wherein neither of us had to spend more than a few minutes in the other's company."
“Oil and vinegar. Can work together but never really mix.”
"Aff." 
"Are you going to keep working for him?" Petra asked.
"I am still hoping to find a means to…un-do…this assignment and return to Clan Snow Raven. I find Wolf politics to be…simplistic and unpleasantly black-and-white, and their habits in space to be appalling."
Petra simply nodded as she walked back inside. “All this politics and pageantry are something I don’t really grasp. I prefer my science.”
"There is a purpose to ritual, Petra. A reinforcement of positive habits is part of it, and part of it is that it provides the population with a sense of continuity and stability." Mai explained, "Amanda Roberts established many of the rituals that are still done among the Privateer Fleet. In part to create that same sense of continuity and create tradition where none existed before, and to an outsider? Aff, very weird."
“Being a teenager is not fun though. All these competing hormones…”
"I remember." Mai told her, "Unlike…your 'cousins' I had to live through the whole experience of growing up-though mine was in a sibko and had demands civilians do not have to endure."
“That’s what we’re all really dancing around though isn’t it? No matter how we dress it up, civilization always has demands.”
"Every civilization does. The argument brewing from the conflict between Alaric, and Helena, is what sort of civilization will be appropriate, what guide will lead to the best outcome for the most people."
“Helena doesn’t like stuff like a fight is good enough to put people into service. Too much like slavery for her.”
"I know." Mai said ruefully. "I am living proof of that. However, Honor-as in my word, my oaths, must be observed. I agreed to live under those rules, and that comes with obligations. I am presently waiting for those obligations to change. IN the meantime, I must do my duty to the best of my ability."
“Well, isn’t the hard part of your job done? Doesn’t Wolf have Navigators who can take it from this point on? Certainly if the Clan way is honorable and not slavery you should have an option now.”
"Navigation, flying? Those are the easy parts. I am still working through the difficult parts." Mai explained. "Navigating the politics of Clan Wolf, for example, is not something I enjoy."
"You called them 'simplistic'..." Petra observed.
----
"I also termed them 'black and white'-simplicity does not mean easy, and anyone who claims otherwise has never shared a table with fanatics." 
“They have Haake Sukhanov. He was a Snow Raven. So why does it have to be you that teaches what he should be able to teach?”
“That is a question I ask myself a thousand times a day without a good answer…" They turned a short corridor, and "Hello, Alice."
“Mai. Surprising to see you here of all places.” Alice smiled.
"Aff, I had hoped when I spotted Billie's hull that you would be here, are you enjoying your freedom of movement?"
“I admit I am starting to understand what some of my aunts are talking about in how our hulls are the last hindrance between us and true freedom but the shopping here is wonderful.”
"Good to hear, Petra here was outside freezing herself. I do not suppose you could be kind enough to see to getting her warm, quiaff? I have duties to perform…"
“Of course. I think I see a fresh batch of hot cocoa being made now.”
Having turned over Petra to Alice, Mai headed for the exit, she'd done her obligatory visitation to Tharkad, and stayed the requisite 'polite time period' on the surface, but this was not a place she wanted to remain. Not that among Clan Wolf's crew would be better, just not here, where an awkward meeting might happen.
“There is one more person you should speak with.” Helena blocked Mai’s way. “You should speak with Amanda herself before you leave.”
Mai sighed heavily. Well, there goes my escape plan. "That would be…awkward." 
“Perhaps, but it should still be done.” Helena nodded. “You’re not going to be able to forgive yourself fully until you face her.”
Mai fingered her current uniform. "I think a meeting with…the founder of my bloodhouse would be awkward, given the circumstances, and not a font of forgiveness."
“Mai, I’m the master of excuses for not dealing with my demons.Trust me when I say you have to face them eventually. Now is a good opportunity to face those you created by doing your duty by killing Allison Hazen.”
"He gave the whole record over…interesting." Mai mused. "What about the next time, Helena Cameron, if I miss my guess, we will likely be on opposing sides soon, I may have to kill more 'cousins'."
"That…can be dealt with." Helena stated. She glanced at Juanita, "Has Alaric left yet?"
"No, ma'am." Juanita acknowledged.
“Good. I may not entirely like it and may be a hypocrite for doing what I’m about to do but you will have your freedom, Mai.”
"What if I do not desire it?" Mai asked.
"Then you'll have to go sign paperwork and enlist." Amanda pushed past a potted plant and a tapestry. "I made a few mistakes, the first time around, letting them horse-trade with my offspring is one."
"We have to do it right, or it won't be seen by the Wolves as legitimate." Juanita observed. "Something he will see as of equal or greater value, from you, Highness…and a contest he can win."
"****** that. I'll go punch him right now and take her…" Amanda Roberts growled, and Helena stayed her.
"No, Juanita's right, it's a ritual, and can be won with less bloodshed and no pretexts for escalation."
'You have a plan already?" Amanda asked.
“The beginning of one. I’m just not sure what I have on hand that he’d consider of equal value. Especially since I won’t slave trade.” Helena stated.
"We better hurry..or you had." Mai nodded in the direction of the ballroom, where Petra and Alice were weaving their way toward the Wolf Clan contingent.
“Shit. Okay the only thing I can think of off the top of my head to offer of equal value is Dave Foster’s collected writings and lectures. Let’s go.” Amanda told her genedaughter
-----
===Bidding for a Trial for Freedom===
----
"You have my sister." Petra Roberts stood in angry defiance in front of the Khan of Wolf Clan. "You took her as property, in a bet."
Alaric looked down at this…stripling, child, not old enough to be out of phase two Sibko, maybe fourteen if you screwed your eyes the right way.
"Roberts, so a bootleg or a copy?" he asked.
"I said sister not…that." Petra stated, "one at a time or all together if you want, I'm taking her home."
"Bold words." he nodded, narrowed his eyes, "Petra, right? The Scientist…the one who supervised the HPG repairs over Port Lazarus, quiaff?"
"Yes."
"Well, Petra, you do not have standing to challenge me, or my warriors, but…here she comes..someone else does."
“Yeah. We’ll be taking Mai. So as the challenged you get to dictate form.”
"Come, let us reason together, you do not have the martial force for a proper ground battle here…and a brawl would no doubt be rude. What is your initial bid?"
“I will stake the collected writings, lectures, and other media compiled by Dave Foster but as far as what I bid to face you that does depend on form now doesn’t it?"
"If you throw in your hyperspace research, that is almost acceptable stakes." Alaric commented, "Especially the secrets of what your friend Kolossus has in play in the Port Orphan system."
“Agreed.” Helena agreed
"That's MY WORK!!" Petra barked.
"Aff, and you may keep it and your 'sister'. If she wins, but if she loses...I keep both." Alaric Ward stated.
“So what is it to be, Alaric? How do I get Mai Roberts back?”
"Our hostess would have to agree on the venue." Alaric stated, "But a contest of wit, strength, courage and skill strikes me as appropriate. Something unaugmented, challenging, but ultimately not grounds in your primitive society as a justification for all out war."
“Agreed. No matter what I’ll hold to the remainder of our truce.”
"What's this?" Trillian and Roderick approached.
"We're negotiating the return of Mai Roberts from Wolf bondage." Amanda commented, "Highness. It's at the 'negotiate a method' phase…and we may need to rent a venue."
"Oh, REALLY now… Who's standing as loremaster to make sure nobody cheats?"
"I was going to ask you, if it is convenient." Alaric said lightly, "or Roderick. This is, after all, your world."
“As is proper, I have no objection to our host being an arbiter.” Helena nodded.
"What is the bet so far?" Trillian asked.
"Scientific information on Hyperspace, the collected writings of Fleet Admiral David Foster, against Mai Roberts." Juanita recited.
"Huh…steep." Roderick mused, "I'll take that action-I know that Director General Helena Cameron didn't bring a lot of ground forces, if it's acceptable, I will commit ground forces in proxy to prosecute this claim…including my self, if nobody has objections?"
“I think I do.” General Harold Thurston Howel the Fifth made his presence known. “Director-General, the First Regiment of the Royal Black Watch will be glad to pound these Wolves into releasing Mai Roberts for you.”
"Uh, what about collateral damage?" Petra asked hesitantly, "This whole world is so crowded..."
“As challenger I get to set location. But until Alaric declares form, I do not get to do so.” Helena said evenly.
"It will not be a 'coin toss'." Alaric noted, alluding to the infamous 'edge' call from the first Clan War.
“I got a regiment of troops or we can put our best fighter pilots against each other, or we can match wits directly.”
Alaric looked thoughtful, then, he began to chuckle. "Dropships." he said. "Mai is a naval specialist. We have assault dropships, as do you..and those do not come with a Nirasaki processor or artificial intelligence."
“No, the Dropships we brought do not.” Helena admitted.
Amanda flexed her shoulders, "One on one or fleet action?" she asked, adding, "Are we allow boarding ops, or is it just a gun-fight?"
“Since it is one person I think one on one will be sufficient and I see no reason not to include the option of boarding if it presents itself.”
"Harry, I need to borrow a platoon of Marines." Amanda stated, "You know who I am, right?"
“I know who you claim to be. Let us see if you are really her. That too will be part of the stake I think.”
"Yo, ho, ho." Amanda said, "tomorrow okay for you, or do you need a couple days to pick your players?"
"MOM!!"
"Hush, Petra, It isn't like I haven't done this before."
“She will also have my best platoon of marines to back her.” Harold nodded.
“And a good crew.” Helena added. “The best crew really.”
"Day after tomorrow is fine. We should give the Archon the time to clear the zone for the trial." Alaric judged, adding, "You will want Hegira, quiaff? I am amenable."
“Hegira is for retreating from battle, but for the sake of diplomacy we will grant it as an option for all sides.” Helena answered.
"No." Amanda stated, "No, this is for keeps."
"I will keep the…diplomatic…option open." Alaric said, "In recognition of our hostess and her priorities."
"That's fair." Helena agreeded.
"******, I have to be sober for this…" Amanda grumbly stated.
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
53