SotU2 Chpt 13

=Chapter 13=
==State of the Union - Book 2==
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Arc-Royal
Donegal Province, Federated Commonwealth
24th February, 3065
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Conner Sortek had expected to find Morgan Kell and Clovis Holstein in the former’s office. And perhaps the famous Daniel Allard, current commander of the Kell Hounds, would be present. He was right about the first two but he wasn’t expecting the lean figure in grey leathers that lounged against one side of his father’s desk. “Khan Kell.”
Phelan Kell smirked. “And they say that Clansmen cannot lay ambushes.”
“Well their entire invasion was a sneak attack.”
The Khan threw back his head and laughed, rather than taking offense. “I was certainly taken by surprise!” He had, Conner knew, been captured by Clan Wolf in the first attacks of the invasion. How he had risen from captive to the leader of that part of the Clan who had crossed the truceline to act as defenders to the Inner Sphere was a story much dramatized by the publicists… but how accurate those renditions were, that was a question he had never yet answered.
“Behave.” Morgan Kell growled, with more affection than warning in his voice… although there was some of both. “Welcome to Arc-Royal, Hauptmann Sortek. We haven’t seen the Royal Guards present for a while.”
The original Third Royal Guards had been posted to the Clan front a decade ago, and the former ComGuards now serving under that designation had been back to face the Jade Falcons much more recently. But perhaps that didn’t count in the eyes of the legendary mercenary. “Well, we’re on the move,” Conner assured him. “although in this case it’s just a flying visit on my part.”
“I assume that since you chose Arc-Royal to meet with recruitment candidates that you have something else in mind.” The elder Kell nodded towards Clovis. “And asking for his presence confirmed it.” He rose from his seat, somewhat stiffly. “We may as well sit down to talk.”
The office was L-shaped, with the entrance near the corner. While Morgan’s desk was backed by the window, the other end held a conference table and chairs around it. It was a practical arrangement and kept direct sunlight away from the light of the holo projector above the conference table. Morgan sat at the head of the table, flanked by Clovis and Phelan, while Conner found himself seated at the foot. Hardly less intimidating than the desk really.
“Arc-Royal is actually a convenient spot for assembling the candidates being considered for the First Royal Guards,” he began. “As the center of the Arc-Royal Defense Cordon, a lot of the military shipping lines have focused here. And then there’s Clovis’ work on putting the Mackie back into production here. But there are some matters that the Archon-Prince didn’t want to handle via HPG.”
“He doesn’t trust ComStar?”
Conner shrugged. “To the extent that he confides in me, he trusts them in some things and he trusts their security somewhat less. The Word of Blake compromised their intelligence assets substantially in order to take Terra away from them, and he’s not convinced that the resultant purges have actually closed all their leaks.”
“It’s a nasty guessing game,” Clovis agreed ruefully. “I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that… unless I’m wrong?”
Conner grinned and produced a data disk. “Only in that he’d like your opinion as well as Khan Kell’s people’s view on relocating the Trellshire Heavy Industries factory from Twycross.”
“Um…” the little man looked concerned. “It’s clearly doable in theory, but without the technical staff who set it up to begin with…” He looked over at Phelan.
“I suspect that I would need to draw heavily on my limited pool of technicians,” the Khan said slowly. “we have commitments. Is he expecting the Jade Falcons to try to retake Twycross? My sources indicate that they’re very much done with the world - losing the Falcon Guards twice there is seen as more than just a coincidence.”
“Retaking the world is one thing, but raiding the factory to capture what’s built there or remove the production line is more likely.” Conner pushed the disk across the table. “If the Falcons don’t move in, there are sources suggesting that Clan Diamond Shark may take an interest in seizing it as a foothold in the Inner Sphere.”
Phelan sat up sharply. “That’s news to me. What is the source?”
“I can’t tell you that, sir. I don’t know the answer myself, but the Archon-Prince takes it seriously.”
“Need to know, Phelan.” his father reminded him.
“If another Clan is moving into the Inner Sphere then I think I do have need to know.”
Conner shrugged and produced another data disk, hoping that this one would pacify the younger Kell to an extent. “I think the main reason the Archon-Prince wanted me to act as a courier though is this.”
Phelan accepted the data disk. “Which is…?”
This was something that had been confided to Conner. “In repayment for the damage taken by your corvettes Killing Blow and Valiant during the fighting over Tharkad, the Archon-Prince offers Clan Wolf-in-Exile two Fox-class corvettes from those due to be laid down later this year.”
The political price of that might outweigh the billions of sovereigns (the new, reunified currency of the Federated Commonwealth) that such ships cost to build. Conner was gratified to see all three men go wide-eyed at that.
“That is… extremely generous,” Phelan said slowly. “I had hoped for a commitment to repair the two ships, so I have to wonder why Peter is offering me two new vessels, even if I will have to wait until… sixty-seven?”
“Sixty-eight,” Conner clarified. “Arrangements for the vessels scheduled for launch through to the end of 3067 were already too advanced, but two hulls are planned to complete at Galax and the same at Alarion the following year. The Galax construction times are shorter so tentatively it would be those, although if you prefer those from Alarion it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Another year might not be a bad thing,” Morgan told his son. “you’ll need to prepare crews.”
“Yes, and training them will be an interesting challenge. But you haven’t answered my question. What does Peter want?”
Conner looked at Morgan Kell. “Actually, this involves both you and your son. The Archon-Prince is very likely to be nominated as First Lord during the next Whitting Conference, and it would be politically difficult for him to decline.”
“Well, he is the only alternative to Thomas Marik, who would be a disastrous choice at this stage.”
“As it was explained to me,” Conner said carefully. That had not been a fun briefing, and he could fully understand now why his father had wanted to steer clear of politics wherever possible. “without the Clans as an outside threat, there’s a certain perspective that the Second Star League has served its purpose.”
“What?” Phelan’s voice as low and dangerous.
“During some backroom negotiations during the last conference, the Captain-General suggested that the Star League’s new role would be in constraining the reunited Federated Commonwealth. However, with Peter as First Lord, the concern would be that he would abuse the office as some of his predecessors did, and try to turn himself into a permanent first-among-equals.”
Clovis sighed. “Is he?”
“I really don’t think so. He told me he’d pass it up election if he could, but the hit to his prestige would be too high. However, there’s a real possibility that Sun-Tzu or whoever holds the Marik seat by the time it matters will pull out rather than have a Steiner-Davion elected.”
“So what does he want?”
“It’s political.”
“Dammit, I am really tempted to pass up the corvettes.” Phelan sighed. “In more detail?”
“Right at the moment, he wants to stack the Star League Council with as many other delegations as possible, so that anyone who tries to leave will face diplomatic and economic isolation. It also means that many more votes that will be available to anyone trying to constrain him.”
“Does he want to lame the office?” asked Morgan seriously.
“Given the way Sun-Tzu abused it to retake St Ives, and Theodore Kurita did the same to annex the Lyons Thumb, that might not be a bad idea. In any case, he’s trying to encourage more periphery realms to get involved, and given how friendly Christian Mansdottir and Ragnar Magnusson were at the last conference, it would be no surprise if Clan Ghost Bear was sharing that seat at the next conference. If that goes through, it’s likely that Clan Nova Cat will also request a seat.”
“Don’t tell me that he wants me to apply for membership?” Phelan looked appalled. “I do remember how much of a problem it was for father to attend back at the first Whitting Conference. He almost had to get married again.”
Morgan sighed heavily. “Please don’t remind me. Candace Liao is a fine woman but neither of us is interested in remarrying.”
“Unless you can reunite Clan Wolf entirely, it’s unlikely you’d be able to make a convincing claim for a seat of your own.” Conner reassured the Khan. “And as long as the Khan of the Crusader Wolves is Vladimir Ward…”
“Not happening,” Phelan agreed with a gratified look. “finally a silver lining to that cloud. Actually, remind me to give you our latest data on the Clans’ supply movements for Peter’s intelligence staff. And maybe his intelligent staff too, if he has any. The Falcons’ new saKhan seems more focused on the other Clans, which opened up some cracks for us to gather information. Vlad is pulling a lot of resources out of the Homeworlds. If he is serious about launching a new invasion after the original Truce deadline expires in 3067 - and I think he is - then he has large plans for it.”
“Actually, what Peter was hoping was that you would approach the Wolf's Dragoons and the Northwind Highlanders about forming a joint delegation, to represent the mercenary trade. After all, while your Clan aren’t mercenaries, you and they have all contributed heavily to the SLDF’s activities since the Star League was reformed. It’s not so unreasonable that you should be represented since the Blakists are and they only really control Terra. The Dragoons and Highlanders each have their own homeworld and Peter’s negotiating a treaty that will recognize their independence.”
“That’s quite a concession on his part.” Clovis rubbed his stubby fingers together. “About the kindest words he had for them back during the Civil War was ‘disloyal’.”
Conner nodded, ignoring the slightly startled looks on Morgan and Phelan’s faces. “That’s part of the reasoning. He feels they’ll be all the more appealing as a potential vote against him if they have a clear use for the Star League as a guarantor that he’ll hold to the treaty.”
Phelan glanced at his father and then sighed. “I suppose it makes some sense. I have spent some time on Outreach, so if we contact Jaime Wolf he can act as an intermediary for bringing in the Northwind Highlanders.”
“Look on the bright side,” Clovis noted. “at least with McCarron’s Armored Cavalry now part of the regular CCAF. Sp you don’t have to worry about Sun-Tzu trying to wrangle them a place in your delegation.”
Conner noted that the two Kells found that idea just as horrifying as he did.
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