TOW49

Chapter 49 - The Other War
The Strana Mechty Summit
Kerensky Cluster
05/17/3062
Coyote Khan Sullivan Koga stalked through the upper corridors of the Hall of Ancestors looking out over the lights of San Mateo. “Marlowe, why am I only hearing about this now!”
The Watch Captain hustled despite his pace his footsteps were silent even as Koga's boots rapped the stone floor, “We had to wait for confirmation from the Diamond Sharks, OvKhan.”
“Why did the Diamond Sharks have to tell me Silas Kufahl's corpse ended up in some fisherman's net!
He was under Watch and had already been missing for two days. What happened to his tails?”''
“Unknown OvKhan. They have standing orders to maintain silence unless they detect something, except for a twice weekly maintenance signal to their controller on Strana Mechty.”
“Why did no Star Colonel report his absence?”
“He was not AWOL as far as they were concerned. According to his latest itinerary he was going to conduct diplomatic discussions with Blake Hawker, his opposite number in command of Omega Galaxy.”
“Did Hawker confirm this?”
“Neg, OvKhan. There were no communications intercepted between the two other than Batchalls.”
“As ordered. Galaxy Commanders are not empowered to conduct diplomacy. Even if this one thinks they should still be SaKhan. If Barbara or any of her Commanders want to talk terms they do so to the Triad.
So if he was lying and intended to go somewhere or talk to someone but did not tell his subordinates. Was he defecting?”
“There was no signal intercepted saying such a thing. Were you planning to move against him?”
“No, he may have been a Galaxy Commander but it was better for him to think he had command where he was visible rather than toiling away under the shadow of obscurity. He could not back it up in a Circle of Equals against Ravenna to maintain his title as SaKhan.
However, we have been getting close to the opposition leadership. Maybe he got spooked that we would find something damning.”
Marlowe motioned to the Golden Keshik guards to clear out. This was going to be another rough night. They parted taking up their sentry down the hall secreted in alcoves. “It is rather convenient that Clarissa's Watch Officers lost their tail only to have him end up dead in the water.”
“Have Silas's task force reported in now that this is known?”
“It is not widely known OvKhan, SaKhan Labrov has thus far only told you and Barbara. The Shark Medical Liaison on world is keeping it compartmentalized due to sensitivity. Loremaster Jerrico is unaware as far as I know.”
“Tell me more of this poison found in his system.”
“A type of Tetradotoxin, found principally in ocean life .There are several dozen deaths on Delios every cycle due to it due to improper preparation of seafood. The dose was small, only enough for temporary paralysis; but combined with the drowning that was sufficient to be lethal.”
“Something his supporters would think has just enough ambiguity on whether it was an assassination or accident.”
“It would seem that way.
In other news from Delios the Bandits have been quiet since Star Colonel Danforth launched CAUTERIZE yesterday. So far they have no contacts but continue the search. Recent intelligence reports that they Delios bandits are amphibious and well organized capable of disappearing Mechwarriors and their machines without a trace. No trace has been found of their heavy equipment so it is unknown if they possess any battlemechs besides those they might have salvaged from the field.”
“Disappearing Mechwarriors much like the late Silas Kufahl. Quiaff?”
“Aff. However that explanation may not satisfy Epsilon's Star Colonels once they are made aware of this incident. It is better to tell them about this development ASAP in order to head off dissent.”
Sully halted and punched through the drywall going all the way to the middle of her forearm without wincing. “DISSENT!
We are in this quagmire because of what Epsilon Galaxy's Warship did to the Sharks!
Commodore Hill admitted that he failed to authenticate orders to engage the Bloodlust. Orders that must have come from Epsilon's Command Chain. That unsanctioned engagement has stalled my reforms while making us look weak to the other Clans. Now we have this embarrassment of being unable to take a world of fewer than two million with two Galaxies while the Sharks are withdrawing even one.
If anyone even mouths a word of dissent in Epsilon I will personally shoot them!”
“I would not advise that course of action. Better to win them over with actions and a semblance of trust. You do not need to antagonize any more senior officers already on guard after the purge earlier this year.”
“I will fight any enemy of Clan Coyote foreign or domestic whenever I desire, always.
Silas' retrograde nostalgia worshipers are the worse breed of Warriors since those necrosia dipping Scorpions of the Seeker Corps. To worship an empire lost due to their own foolishness and failure; yet none are smart enough to see that. At least the Scorpions learn something, even if it might be wrong.
As my reformed sibkos rise through the ranks,” She brushed the gypsum dust from her fist, the fine white powder falling gracefully to the marbled floor, “They will leave the past behind like so much dust and assume their rightful place as a power in the Kerensky Cluster.”
“Seyla, Khan Koga.” Marlowe peered at the Khan's bloodied fist, red blood on white dust. “Should I summon a MedTech?”
“Neg, get me a Scribe.”
“What for?”
“I have to send a message to Kael Pershaw and it needs to have no room for wily interpretation. Barbara (Sennet, Khan of Clan Diamond Shark) and I need to have a summit on Strana Mechty under the aegis of The Loremaster of the Clans and deescalate.”
''
“You would admit defeat.”
“I will accept detente to focus on domestic problems. Khan Sennet will accept and the Jade Falcons will welcome our continued business with them if only to prevent more Clantech from falling into the hands of the Spheroids.
I also want to find out why the Sharks are still protecting their Delios Enclaves so vigorously.
The faster I can demobilize Epsilon the easier it will be to control its Star Colonels or perhaps they need to go to Priori in order to combat the Star Adders far from here with just enough supplies. With any luck the snakes will claim my rats and call it a win.”
“A wise move, Khan Koga.”
He tapped something on his Commpad, “A scribe is en route. I will try to find out what I can regarding Delios before you depart.”
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