OPREF-4 Chpt 6

=Book 4, Chapter 6 - Full House=
==Opalescent Reflections==
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===Sleepless on New Samarkand===
Yamashiro, New Samarkand
Diamond Shark Dominion
21 May 3057
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Ace had barely been an adult when he first met Abigail Enders and he knew that the years since then had changed him a great deal. The head of his Bloodhouse looked as if she’d been pared back to skin, sinew and bones by long days and short nights.
“Are you getting enough sleep?” he asked when she entered his office.
“What is sleep?” the Watch officer asked with a straight-face.
“That sounds like a no to me,” Ace concluded. If she was actually joking then she must be wrung out - Abigail wasn’t noted for humor, or for much of anything. It was one reason she’d slid out of active service in the Burrock touman and ended up in their Watch.
That was the way most of the Clans ‘recruited’ their intelligence specialists and it really showed. Ace hadn’t visited the ISF headquarters on New Samarkand - no one with any sense would, given the mess that was left of it after bombardment and the use of demolition options that violated several clauses of the Ares Conventions - but everything that he’d heard about the organization made it clear that the Inner Sphere spent far more resources on information gathering and it paid off for them.
The Star Colonel sat down without waiting for an invitation. “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
“Is this a joke where you tell me that the bad news is the absence of good news - or the reverse?”
“I am not so far gone as to make jokes like that,” the woman replied and then paused. “I will remember it for later, when I want someone to shoot me.”
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Aff. No sugar, no tea and make it strong.” she affirmed.
While Ace used the coffee machine hidden in a discreet cabinet of his office, he saw Abigail opening her attache case. “The good news is about your bondsman, Michel.”
“He is not a bondsman any more,” Ace corrected.
“It keeps things straight in my head, he is not the only Michel whose file crossed my desk,” Abigail told him. “Anyway, he won the grand melee for his bloodname.”
“Excellent!” The former Steel Viper was back in the homeworlds to compete for a bloodname. Ace missed the other warrior, who had matured into a good officer. He had few enough friends and having one spend more than a year away had left a gap that he hadn’t expected.
Abigail eyed the mug he offered her. “What is this?”
“You asked for black coffee.”
She sniffed it and then took a gulp from the cup. “I asked you to make it stronger.”
“That’s as strong as the machine will make it.”
Abigail sighed. “Truly we are at the far edges of civilization. Your bondsman tried to talk the Steel Vipers into musketeer rules but they are not as gullible as the Burrocks you were dealing with then.” 
Ace snorted. “I doubt the Steel Vipers are as angry at him as Felipe’s faction were with me.”
“He has not yet killed his house leader, so probably not.” She shook her head and gulped from the mug again. “So much for the good news.”
Going back behind his desk, Ace slumped into his seat. “That was quick.”
“There wasn’t very much,” Abigail told him. “Did you hear about the Zeerga disappearance?”
“Three galaxies of troops, eight warships and a huge supply train vanishing? Have they been found?” The entire matter seemed very far away but Ace did have occasional worries about what he might have to do if they turned up suddenly near New Samarkand.
Abigail shook her head. “Seven warships,” she corrected him. “The hulk of one of the cruisers was found one jump from Eden, apparently stripped for parts. It must have taken a while because the Snow Ravens are fuming that they could have caught the Zeerga there if they had scouted the system in time instead of rushing down the Exodus Road trying to catch up.”
Ace frowned. “One jump towards the Inner Sphere?”
“Spinward,” she told him. “Not that it means anything much, since they could have gone anywhere from there.”
“That is interesting but it is not the real bad news, quiaff?”
“Aff, the Zeerga are not the only disappearance.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “Do I need to bribe you with stronger coffee to get the full story?”
“I was not planning on it,” the Star Colonel said with a certain manic edge to her voice, “but if you have been holding out on me then I will insist.”
“Not holding out, but I can be inventive.” Ace pushed his chair back and went back to the coffee machine, filling it past the top with ground coffee beans. “This will either give us a stronger coffee or wreck the machine,” he predicted.
“I am willing to take the risk,” Abigail told him and drained her mug. “In token of your good intentions,” she continued, “The Khans of the Ice Hellions and the Hell’s Horses have not been seen in person for several weeks and their forces seem to be spread thinner than usual. Our estimates are that they may have pulled as many as three galaxies out of their normal deployments.”
“Three galaxies… in total?” he asked, giving the coffee machine the bare minimum of attention.
“Each,” Abigail corrected him tersely.
Ace whistled and then stepped back nervously as black liquid spat itself out of the coffee maker into the mug he’d put under it. “I get the impression this should be handled with tongs,” he muttered, eyeing it.
Clan Hell’s Horses had about nine galaxies as far as he recalled, but the Ice Hellions were one of the smallest Clans - three galaxies would be almost half their total strength. What could spur them to move such a force in secret?
Once Ace had cautiously retrieved the mug and handed it to Abigail she took a sip and grimaced.
“Too strong, quiaff?”
“Neg,” she assured him. “This is perfect.” She looked more alert, although Ace suspected he’d be doing her a favor if he ordered her to the medical center for a complete physical. Then again, they’d probably try to keep her from drinking more coffee and then he’d need to request new medics…
Ace settled back in his chair. “How long have the Hellions and Horses been on the move?”
“Long enough to have reached anywhere in the homeworlds,” Abigail told him. “Now, there are states out there between us and the homeworlds - more towards the Falcons, Vipers and Cats’ occupation zones but they exist. It is possible they are going to conquer one of those.”
“But it’s more likely they’re planning to come all the way to the Inner Sphere.”
She nodded. “Ulric Kerensky is moving reserves away from the Inner Sphere border. He has claimed to have no inside knowledge of the Zeerga, but if he expects them to attack the Wolves occupation zone that would make sense.”
Ace rested his elbows on the desk. “But we have the largest Occupation Zone and the coreward edge has garrisons that are barely enough to fight off pirates and pin down insurrections. We are just as likely to be the target, quiaff?”
“Aff. Khan Sennet is pulling the available Spina Galaxies off our supply lines to give us more of a reaction force.” Abigail shook her head. “It could be problematic if someone goes after our convoys, but…”
“They are sending too many forces for that to be the whole plan,” he agreed. “So late this year or perhaps early next year, we may have to defend our dominion from other Clans. I only hope that House Kurita and House Avellar lack the support from the other Great Houses to catch us from the other end.”
“Our best information suggests that their so-called Star League Council expects only to launch limited attacks,” the Watch officer told him.
“I suspect that any restraint will be short-lived if they find themselves with easy victories,” Ace pointed out. “We need to find ways to make sure that we look like too tough a nut to be cracked.”
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===Star League Counsel Changes===
Unity City, North America
Terra, Sol System
13 June 3057
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The heads of the great houses were meeting in the same large hall that had been used before. Despite some improvements, it was still much less grandiose than the original Court of the Star League (which was now safe for guided tours, though not for long-term use). Wei could probably have come up with some symbolic explanation for the hall being lit only by aide’s noteputers, the central holodisplay and spotlights but the truth was that it was mostly because the room was bare of any decoration besides dimly illuminated banners above and behind each delegation.
Mitchell Avellar and Jeffrey Calderon had each updated their wardrobes slightly to reflect that they no longer represented their fathers. Thomas Calderon had abdicated earlier in the year - totally of his own volition and in no sense due to a number of intense conversations with representatives of the TDF and a dozen planetary governors. In contrast, Neil Avellar had barely waited for his son to return from the last meeting. The night after Mitchell returned to Alpheratz, the President of the Outworlds Alliance joined his wife on a shuttle to a hired JumpShip, leaving a letter of resignation on his desk. No one had seen the JumpShip since it left Alpheratz, which made the senior Avellar’s location a mystery that conspiracy writers were already speculating about.
“We appear to be missing someone,” Chancellor Liao observed once the formal pleasantries had been completed. “Is the Fox visiting a henhouse somewhere, Archon?”
Melissa Steiner-Davion smiled serenely. “With our Marshal of Armies here to oversee the coordination of operations against the Clans, Hanse is taking a closer hand in AFFC leadership. The advantage of our shared rule is that this frees me to focus on diplomacy. I have his authority to speak for the Federated Suns as well as my own realm. I trust that this is satisfactory?”
For all its power, the Federated Commonwealth remained an alliance at the moment. The legal union would take place when Victor Steiner-Davion inherited, and thus both House Steiner and House Davion currently claimed separate seats on the council. It didn’t matter too much while matters were being settled as a matter of consensus, but if anyone tried to push for a vote then it could be problematic.
The younger of the two Liao rulers smiled thinly. “If Prince Davion considers himself more of a military leader than an elder statesman than who am I to second-guess him?” he said with what appeared to be humility.
“The first point of our agenda is the status of this Council,” Wei declared, to cut short any further sniping.
Thomas Marik gave her a thoughtful look. “In what sense do you mean?”
She turned slightly to face the scarred Captain-General. “The assumption has grown since our previous meetings that this body is convening as a continuation of the previous Star League Council, that is as the supreme authority over the Star League.”
Minoru Kurita adjusted his spectacles. “I see no problem with that.”
“I see one,” Mitchell Avellar disagreed. “In that case, half of those present would have no right to a vote here. Three of our realms were conquests of the Star League, not voting members - and two of us represent states that did not even exist at the time.”
The Coordinator pursed his lips. “My apologies. That is a solid point, I can only excuse myself by saying that I had never considered that you would not have every reason to speak and vote as I do.”
The young president shook his head slightly. “No offense was taken, Coordinator. The fact that there has been no suggestion of asserting those precedents is one of the arguments that allows myself, the Protector and the Magistrix to participate without alienating our own people.”
“That is the first of two reasons,” Wei acknowledged. “The second is that the original Star League Council stood at the apex of a large and complex bureaucracy that was shattered by the Amaris Civil War and the Succession Wars. All of us have inherited parts of that organization, buts we could not quickly reassemble it even if the political will existed.”
“Which it does not,” Jeffrey said quietly. “I would return to Taurus to find my father reinstated if the Star League attempted to assert the control it once did over our worlds.”
“I don’t disagree,” the Marik observed, “but what do you suggest, Primus?”
“A formal statement of purpose to clarify the matter.” She touched a control, sending the document to each of them. “This is only a draft, of course.”
Wei watched as the document was read. It didn’t take long, since it was intentionally concise.
“I see,” Sun-Tzu Liao was the first to speak. “So we are forming a Star League, rather than reviving the Star League. A neat distinction.” He stroked his chin. “This may be invalidated since it is clear enough not to require a legal team to interpret it.”
“I assure you, lawyers will be tearing the phrasing apart no matter what we do,” Melissa commented before turning to Wei. “This places the former Star League formally in abeyance?”
“Saving for the adoption of the original’s heraldry, yes. ‘One Species, One Realm’ was a catchy phrase for Ian Cameron but it was written in blood,” she replied. “ComStar would not be willing to adopt a policy of universal conquest.” Not while she was in charge, anyway.
Candace Liao looked up. “A ‘voluntary alliance to provide for mutual defense and for the mediation of conflicting interests between members’,” she quoted. “What if a nation wishes to withdraw? Or another wishes to join?
“I would think that the right to withdraw should be automatic,” Calderon told her. “As for admission - a vote of the Council?” Secretaries around the room were making notes.
“Naturally, I do not expect anyone to sign this until it has been refined to everyone’s satisfaction.” Wei confirmed.
There was a laugh and eyes went to Emma Centrella, who was politely covering her mouth. “And such an elegant end to the Succession Wars.”
Eyebrows rose and then Melissa Steiner-Davion also laughed. “Yes, if the old Star League is placed in abeyance then everyone signing the treaty will be voiding their claims to be First Lord of it.”
Thomas Marik looked disgruntled at the prospect. The claim to be First Lord was part of the Captain-General’s primacy over the Free Worlds League. “There would be a benefit to there being a single voice to the… new Star League. There is a reason that all our realms have a single ruler, rather than leaving a council or assembly as the supreme authority.”
“I believe I made it clear that I would withdraw entirely from this if someone tried to claim the post of First Lord,” the Magestrix warned, voice flat as she looked over at her neighbor.
Jeffrey Calderon nodded firmly. “I would do the same, and I think even the Inner Sphere would look poorly on such a claim.”
The Captain-General shook his head. “I am not suggesting that one of us be elevated above the others in the same way as House Cameron. However, the new Star League would be more credible if it had a spokesperson. Someone to mediate our meetings and take the lead in announcing our decisions to the galaxy.”
“A Speaker, if you will.” suggested the Archon drily.
“It works for my Parliament and your Estates General.” Marik pointed out.
Sun-Tzu Liao glanced around the room, seeing mixed feelings. “A Council Chairman or Chairperson, perhaps,” he suggested. “We could elect one for two years, the same way we are choosing a Commanding General.”
“Visiting Terra on a regular basis is problematic for those of us whose homeworlds are further away,” Avellar observed quietly, giving Wei an apologetic look. “Despite ComStar’s hospitality, it is probable that if this council is an enduring one that some of us will attend remotely or that a vote may have to be carried out without direct meetings. Having a designated spokesman to coordinate such votes would have some value as long as it was understood they had none of the military authority of the First Lord, nor the ability to break ties.”
That got hesitant nods from around the room. “If we do not elect someone, that would largely leave such activities to Primus Rong,” Melissa pointed out, “Which would be clearly too much to ask of her. If everyone is amenable to the election of a Council Chair, then I nominate Emma Centrella.”
The Magestrix’s expression briefly betrayed complete stupefaction. “I am honored.” she began hesitantly.
“I second,” Avellar interrupted. “You are the best person here to set an example of restraint in the role.”
“Does anyone oppose?” asked Wei formally. She wasn’t going to vote against the motion, as long as she wasn’t the one being asked to do the work. A Council Chair without the options for abuse held by the First Lords was a promising step.
“All in favor?” asked Candace Liao, raising her hand.
Only Thomas Marik and Minoru Kurita hesitated, which yielded a solid majority but so far everything had been done by consensus. Minoru Kurita looked thoughtful for a moment and then shook his head. “It is a reasonable compromise.” He added his hand.
“Let the vote be recorded as unanimous,” Thomas Marik intoned solemnly. “In establishing a full charter for our Council, we will need to make a clear distinction between the issues that can be settled by majority and which require a consensus.”
“I will be happy to hand that matter over to our new Chair,” Wei agreed happily. “We will need to re-arrange the tables.” At last, she would be able to sit down during these meetings and have someone else behind the podium.”
“I’m sure that can be done over lunch.” Centrella observed drily. “In the meantime, what is the next subject for voting?”
“Nominations for a Commanding General to take over next summer,” she announced. “We do have almost a year, but given they will be taking over during the counter-offensives we don’t want to leave that decision to the last minute. They’ll need to take over smoothly, so whoever is chosen they’ll need to understudy the Precentor-Martial for at least a month in advance.”
“Nominations now and a vote no later than the end of the year,” Centrella suggested. “We are relatively thin on military experience within the Council, but I would prefer that we have a candidate lined up before the counteroffensive takes place…”
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===Question of When===
Camora, Twycross
Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
7 July 3057
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Aidan had to fight to keep his temper from exploding as he followed Elias Crichell to the latter’s office. It wouldn’t help to sway the old Khan and doing so in public would be a loss of face.
Once the door closed behind them, the senior Khan of the Jade Falcons held up one hand to forestall any comments. He went to his desk and produced a small device that clicked and hissed as he waved it around apparently casually. After a moment, Crichell dropped it back on the desk. “According to Pershaw’s technicians, that would have detected any surveillance devices,” he explained, taking his seat.
“Where is mine?” Aidan inquired bluntly.
“On order. Ask Pershaw if you want a schedule, they are apparently not easily acquired. Also, the more people who have them, the greater chance that our enemies find out about them and work out a counter.” Crichell sat back in his chair. “That is not why you want to talk to me, quineg?”
“The Federated Commonwealth has broken the truce that they made after Coventry,” Aidan pointed out. “First on Incukalns and now on Arcturus.”
“True,” Crichell said crisply. “You propose that we resume our invasion, quiaff?”
“Neg.” Aidan took the seat facing the desk without asking for permission. “We are not ready and the Nova Cats, at least, seem willing to overlook the matter.”
That got an approving nod. “And while the Steel Vipers might be willing to act, they would not cooperate with us, most likely to hope to use our own actions as a diversion. We will remember this dishonor but our revenge will have to wait.”
“I disagree.”
“I believe you just conceded that a resumed offensive was unfeasible.”
Aidan gripped the arms of the chair. “That does not mean that we should let this challenge pass unchecked. Arcturus has not yet fallen. We have enough shipping to move the Gyrfalcon Galaxy to Arcturus by command circuit in three weeks. A sudden, decisive response will show them that we are not a soft target.”
Crichell inhaled slowly. “Poor strategy, Aidan. They are testing our strength, seeing how we have rebuilt from our losses. I have no doubt that you would be victorious, but it would show our hand - you play poker?”
Aidan shook his head. “Rarely.”
“Some other card game?”
“Not really.”
“Learn,” the aged Khan ordered flatly. “It is a useful skill. It is never wise to reveal one’s strength until one is ready to use it. They are testing our strength and we will test theirs. The winner will not be whoever holds Arcturus - though if we lose that world it should not fall easily. The winner will be the one who learns most about their enemy.”
Aidan frowned. “‘Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory; show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat’,” he quoted from a book Horse had found in a local library while he was convalescing.
Crichell paused and considered the words. “A quote from the Great Father?” he asked, “It does not sound like the Founder.”
“An older source, a previous military thinker I found reference to in the writings of the Great Father,” Aidan prevaricated.
“It is poorly phrased but it is accurate,” the older man concurred. “A full force counterattack as you describe would probably succeed but it would let them see how strong the Gyrfalcon Galaxy is compared to its state on Coventry. And while I think it is unlikely, they might even go as far to try to use their warships to isolate and destroy your force. It is better to keep our response proportionate.”
“And what do you suggest would be proportionate?” he asked.
Crichell smirked. “We will reinforce the garrison with detachments from other clusters, primarily made up of our less experienced warriors. Enough to keep the FedCom from winning or at least from winning quickly, while at the same time blooding them against the Inner Sphere. We have seen already that our warriors sometimes need time to adapt to such honorless opponents, this will give them the chance to experience it under relatively low stakes conditions.”
As much as Aidan didn’t want to admit it, the other Khan had a good point. “Then may I suggest starting with detachments from Gyrfalcon Galaxy’s clusters? We have not even faced raids recently.”
But Crichell shook his head. “It would not do for you to hog the glory. One detachment from Gyrfalcon but the other galaxies must have the chance, quiaff?”
“Aff,” Aidan conceded. “Very well, but I will go there to oversee them and see who is learning the most. We need officers as well as warriors.”
“Neg,” the Khan told him. “Your place is here at our command center, overseeing the big picture.”
“Our command center is nine jumps from the frontlines,” he challenged, pushing himself out of his chair. “Keeping a frontline galaxy here is already a waste and now you are keeping me from providing any leadership to the Clan. What is so important about this world? There are any number of better choices!”
There was a long moment as the two glared at each other. Surprisingly, it was Crichell that looked away first. “The answer to that is known to very few and your presence here is insurance against it becoming better known.”
Aidan’s mind raced as he tried to work out what it was. “If I am being held here to guard your secret then I need to know what it is, Elias.” And if it is something dishonorable, I will need even more to know the truth.”
“What is the one thing that we cannot replace here in the Inner Sphere?” the bearded khan asked rhetorically. “Factories are already being retooled to reduce our dependence on shipping, here and on other worlds. Simple materials are in abundance. Even warriors can be found here - freeborn for now, but in time we will have iron wombs and sibkos… some of the other Clans have already begun such work.”
Aidan thought about it. “You said simple materials, so… those that are not simple.”
“Correct,” Crichell smacked the desk with the flat of his hand. “One in particular, vital for constructing and repairing our Elemental’s armor.”
“Harjel.” The material was found only on one world of the Clan Homeworlds, a world that Clan Diamond Shark defended with ferocity. Other Clans had to trade or challenge for possessions for shipments of harjel - and they did, because the alternative would leave their Elemental infantry at a severe disadvantage.
Crichell gave Aidan a grim but triumphant smile. “Our scientists have discovered a source of harjel, or something as near to it as makes no difference on one of the moons of this star system. Work to harvest and process it is already underway. You can imagine the benefits to our Clan, but Twycross is in easy striking range of the Wolves and the Nova Cats. Other Clans would have to try harder, but with the threat of breaking their monopoly, I am sure the Diamond Sharks will make the attempt sooner or later.”
Aidan folded his arms and then sat back down. “Harjel,” he said again. “And factories to use it - aff, I see your logic. But keeping so many of our forces here will make it obvious.”
Crichell shrugged. “Since we are making our capital here, our military headquarters also needs to be here - at least for now. If we resume the invasion or if the Inner Sphere begins to launch more serious counter-attacks then obviously you will need to take command of dealing with that, but for now you and the Gyrfalcon Galaxy are our key reserve against an attack here.”
“Fine.” The junior Khan pushed himself to his feet again. He didn’t believe that it was the full story but Crichell was so used to lying that he probably lied even to himself. At least part of this was a desire to keep Aidan under tight control. “But as we are giving untested warriors the chance to see action, we must also offer opportunities for those who have proven themselves.”
Crichell nodded. “What do you suggest?”
“Trials of Bloodright have been stalled as we waited for enough warriors and equipment to arrive that we would not be crippling ourselves by holding them. Let every bloodhouse with vacant bloodrights hold a trial here on Twycross, under my supervision. If this is to be our new capital, we should show it off.”
“And it gives your… progeny another chance at a bloodname,” the old khan said cagily. He waved his hand. “Very well, you are right that we have delayed as long as we can on the trials of bloodright. Perhaps too long. Make the arrangements, both for this and to reinforce Arcturus.”
And for trials of position for warriors who have not seen action in the last year, Aidan thought. Like you, my Khan.
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