FSML-3 Chpt 11

=Chapter 11=
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==Frederick Steiner and the Man Who Knew Too LittleBook 3==
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===Frank conversation between cousins.===
Honor of Skye, Skye
Federation of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
June 12th, 3024
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Frederick knew that Katrina had paid a horrendous amount to have realtime conversations via HPG with her daughter and her sister. Sensibly, she’d spoken to Melissa the previous night and left Nondi for the morning. Between the frank exchange of views she’d just come from and the ongoing wrangling of the Chancellor, his cousin looked like hell.
“Take lessons in diplomacy,” she told him when he said as much. Katrina was curled up on a couch, nibbling on some cake, looking very un-Archon-like. “You’re going to need them.”
“I have a diploma from the Sanglamore.” he replied, sinking into the chair facing her. “It says I’m an officer and a gentleman. Is that close enough?”
“Not even close.”
Frederick was a few years Katrina’s elder. But now, as he looked at her, he got the disquieting impression that she was the more aged. Even as she tried to relax, she looked more like one of their mothers’ generation.
“I’m told being imprisoned changes you. Burdens you.” he said slowly. “What can I do to support you, Katrina? If you don’t slow down, you’re going to burn out before you recover.”
Gray eyes flicked to him and then she put her plate down. “I had to expend every bit of credit I have with Nondi to keep her from retiring. I really can’t afford for her to do that right now.”
“You didn’t give the orders.”
“I should have been free to do so.” His cousin rubbed her eyes. “She’ll give me five more years - as commander of the Army.”
“You’re booting Ed Regis?”
Katrina jerked around and glared. “You don’t think he deserves it? He’s not supposed to be a yes-man! First Alessandro steamrolled him and now that damn woman did the same in my name.”
Frederick exhaled slowly. “Is he your scapegoat then?”
“Not as such,” she said in clipped tones. “I’m giving him the high command slot.”
“...what?” The supreme military council of the LCAF was customarily headed by the Archon.
She nodded. “I can’t carry the same load now, Frederick. I considered you… but there’s another job I need you for. When Nondi retires for good, Ed will go again. At that point it’ll be your problem.”
Under other circumstances, Frederick would have been delighted. But like this… “Five years? Surely you’ll be better by then. And Melissa will be fully grown, she can also help.”
Katrina slumped against the couch. The silence dragged. Frederick watched her mull over whatever it was she was trying to say. The eloquent Archon was struggling with words - emphasizing more than anything how much she’d lost of her customary energy.
Finally she reached into the pocket of the woolen overdress she wore and tossed a small plastic bottle onto the table. It bounced past her cake plate and rolled towards Frederick, who caught it. The label was incomprehensible to him - he might have pronounced it, with an attempt or two, but he had no idea what the multi-syllable words meant.
“What is this?”
“My cancer meds,” the Archon told him.
He leant forwards sharply, clenching his fist around the bottle. “I didn’t know you were taking anything.”
“Nor did Aldo.” She was still studying the ceiling. “If he had, I doubt he’d have been so generous as to provide them to a prisoner.”
The pills rattled in the bottle. Frederick realized his hand was shaking. “Like Arthur?”
“Too late for him. He had more exposure to the radiation we ran into in the Periphery, by the time it was picked up it was too late for him.” A tear formed in the corner of his cousin’s eye. “I’ve lost… about a decade of my life expectancy.”
“How long do you have left?” He hated himself for asking, but…
But Max had told him 3040. That Katrina would abdicated a year before, to spend time with her grandchildren. Take ten years from that…
Katrina mopped away the tear on her face and rolled slightly to look at him, lying on the couch. “I may see Nondi retire. I probably won’t see Melissa come of age.”
“Gott…” he swore.
She nodded silently.
“There’s… there’s the medical data from Helm. From Halstead Station! There must be something.”
“There was.” Katrina reached out her hand to his, the one holding the bottle of her meds. “It helped with that.”
“I should have refused the orders to go to Wyatt. Gone to Tharkad myself.”
“I’ve been wrestling with the things I should have done, precautions that would stop me being replaced like that.” She gave him a weary look. “My security is going to need changes, as will Melissa’s. This can’t be allowed to happen again.”
Frederick nodded in agreement. Once had been bad enough.
“But we can’t change things that have happened. We can only go on.” She levered herself upright again, and Frederick moved to support her. She pushed him away. “I’m not dying quite yet.”
“You said you had another job for me.” He put the bottle down on the table.
A sharp nod. “I need a new Margrave for Tamar. Nondi tell me that the Dracs are digging in - I assume that Theodore read the situation when the Kell Hounds arrived. But we can’t let them do that. I want you to blast open a road to Tamar and secure it for the Commonwealth. You’ll have carte blanche. Margaret Aten already respects you. Liberate Tamar and Selwin Kelswa will probably worship the ground you walk on. You’ll need that when I’m not around.”
“I’d like to promise that that won’t take five years,” Frederick said slowly. but Theodore Kurita is sharp. I think I can beat him, but he won’t make it easy.” It wouldn’t be like the Gotterdammerung that he’d heard about from Max - that had taken unique circumstances… but there were some ideas he could use from the other man’s recollection of it. Sevren... they'd retaken it sooner than Max had predicted, only to lose it. Would he now retake it in 3024 as Max had told him all those years ago? History correcting itself? He shivered at the thought.
“Take your time. Do it right.” Katrina tucked the bottle of meds away. “You know what comes after that.”
That baffled him for a moment, but then he remembered an earlier conversation. “Nondi on Tharkad to look after Melissa… and me as regent?”
Katrina lowered her eyes. “I might need to ask Donna for that first part. I’ve never seen Nondi so angry. Never. But yes, I want you to be regent. Unless you’d like the throne now? I’d finish bargaining with Liao this time, but if you want to take over and handle him and Hanse Davion then it’d give me far more time with Melissa.”
In that other history, I outlived Melissa, he thought. If Max was right, I outlived two of Melissa’s children! “If I was Archon, I’d pick my own heir.” he said gruffly. “Melissa has potential, but there’s Ryan or Nondi’s children. Or other children that may come along.” His and Nelitha’s - something that Max had never seen happen.
“Ah.” Katrina smiled quietly. “I will be selfish then, and choose my daughter and Arthur’s over you.”
Frederick nodded slowly. “Then if you do not live to see her of age, I will be her regent… and surrender the Commonwealth to her when that day comes.”
“She wants the academy now. She is also angry, just not with me. Keep her from doing anything stupid.”
“I generally require assistance with keeping from doing that myself,” he pointed out. “but I’ll try to give her the benefit of my experience.”
Katrina nodded quietly.
“Has Aldo spilled who was behind this?” Frederick asked. “I can believe he could have broken the biolocks, but actually creating someone who managed to pass for you - for months! - is a taller order.”
“There are trails…” she admitted. “His computers suggest a Maskirovka cell was involved, but he also claimed that he’d subverted them. As much as Chancellor Liao may have benefited, I can’t imagine that he’d have come into the Commonwealth and risked himself if a scheme he was aware of could have blown up and leave him implicated.”
“It would be brash,” Frederick conceded. And that wasn’t a trait usually associated with the cunning Maximilian Liao. “Kurita also benefited, but Simon Johnson would have probably noticed if they were directly involved.” The LIC’s leader had always focused much of his attention on the Draconis Combine, partly because of his personal hatred of them and partly because the ISF genuinely merited that degree of concern.
And then there was ComStar - but proving their involvement would be almost impossible, even if they were behind it. Whatever Max sometimes claimed, they weren’t responsible for every bad thing that happened in the Inner Sphere. Fifty percent, at most.
“Officially Simon will be standing down,” Katrina told him. “A proper handover once I have a successor chosen. Unofficially, he has a new mission, behind the scenes. Find out who did this. And when he does, if I’m not around to prosecute them... I’ll have to leave that to you.” Her eyes were solemn. “Please, Frederick. Don’t let that revenge consume my daughter.”
What else could he do, but bow his head, to his Archon?
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===The Shifting Sands of Terra===
Hilton Head, North America
Terra, Solar System
July 19th, 3024
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“If you had told us of this plan, Primus, then a vote of this council would almost certainly have been against it. Which is why you didn’t tell us, I am sure.” Thomas Marik’s voice wasn’t raised, but the most junior member of the First Circuit didn’t need to speak loudly for his words to have effect.
Julian Tiepolo had no choice but to take the abuse… for now at least. “For reasons of operational security, the First Circuit is not usually informed of the details of ROM missions.”
“You replaced one of the Successor Lords with an imposter and you didn’t think we needed to know?” Ulthan Everson looked infuriated - this had happened in his own backyard, so to speak.
“Aldo Lestrade replaced the Archon with an imposter.” the Primus corrected him. “With technical assistance that can be traced back to the Capellans if the LIC look hard enough - which I am sure they will. I won’t point out the multitude of benefits we would have accrued if Lestrade had succeeded, but even this failure came very close to destroying the alliance between Steiner and Davion.”
“Close,” Marik pointed out, “but not close enough. Primus, we are now looking at a triple alliance.”
“I am painfully aware of that, but it is not a result of this operation.”
“That is correct,” Pedrigor Aliz agreed, the Precentor of Atreus supporting Tiepolo loyally. “Liao was already open to meeting with Steiner if another House Lord agreed - and we know Davion was already willing. This could very well have foiled that.”
“It could have also brought that alliance smashing down upon us!” snapped Marik. “Three houses is how the Star League was founded, if you remember?”
“...this is hardly a new Star League,” Huthrin Vandel asserted soothingly. “It is indeed a threat,” Precentor New Avalon continued, “but even the Steiners are far from the power that the Terran Hegemony once held.”
“Terrence Liao was a less able Chancellor than the current Liao.” murmured Vandel’s Capellan counterpart. “I fear a comparison of Hanse Davion and Katrina Steiner to Albert Marik and Ian Cameron might not find them lacking when this is done. We cannot afford to allow this to continue - otherwise we may turn around and find a new Star League not-so-politely asking the Ministry of Communication to meekly return to the fold.”
Tiepolo shivered at the very thought. “I accept that the mission failed in its primary goal, but something had to be done. Do any of you think I should have simply allowed Steiner to proceed unhindered?”
“I believe you should have told us first.” Marik growled. The Precentor of Luthien drew his robes around himself and then straightened them deliberately, some personal ritual to keep his temper under control. “If we then agreed to it, then Pedrigor and I could have supported measures in the understanding that Marik and Kurita weren’t dealing with the real Katrina Steiner.”
“Nonetheless, the Primus is correct that action was and is required.” Vandel said smoothly. “Since the replacement of Katrina Steiner has failed - and we can certainly never risk such an operation again, since it would risk exposing us - we must therefore consider other options.”
“The Marik and Kurita alliance will need to be shored up.” Aliz grunted.
“Easier said than done,” Marik admitted grimly. “Kurita is not impressed with my father’s responses and I find it hard to argue - the Free Worlds League was remarkably ineffectual. My uncle Anton’s rebellion has done more damage - politically and militarily - than my worst fears. Even if the soldiers and warmachines have been replaced, the leadership is lacking.”
“Do you wish to return?” asked Tiepolo curiously. Janos Marik had not named an heir, leaving Thomas’ brother Duggan and their cousin Duncan as the leading candidates to serve as the next Captain-General. But with the right support, Thomas could be a strong rival to them - and a Successor Lord who willingly served ComStar would be far better than a dupe controlled via a schemer who had never been under ROM’s tight control.
With all eyes on him, Precentor Luthien shook his head slightly. “It would be divisive at this time. While I would do so if it served the Order, my current position is too high profile for anyone to believe that I was not still heavily influenced. That would be an easy tool to use against me.”
A fair point, the Primus admitted with a nod. It had been one reason he’d been advised against promoting the son of one of the Great Houses to the First Circuit. “So we have to give the young Coordinator reason to continue the alliance on the one hand, while rebuilding House Marik’s influence.”
That would be ironic, given their part in the civil war - which had crippled the threatening resurgence of the League’s economy. But politics made for strange bedfellows at the best of times.
“As disappointed as the Coordinator may be with the Free Worlds League’s performance, he cannot believe that he can stand alone.” Vandel observed thoughtfully. “Theodore Kurita doesn’t strike me as a fool.”
“He’s quite pragmatic,” agreed Marik. “Unfortunately, that may translate to not wanting an ally who’ll drag him down.”
Villius Tejh cleared his throat. “Perhaps we shouldn’t limit our thinking to the Inner Sphere. The Taurian Concordat has historical precedent for conflict with both the Federated Suns and the Capellan Confederation, something the current Protector is very conscious of. While I’m less familiar with the Canopians, their Magestrix has been reaching out to the Free Worlds League.”
“That’s a good point.” Vandel folded his arms. “We must accept that technology is spreading beyond our ability to control. It’s possible that we’re seeing the rise towards another cataclysmic conflict like the First and Second Succession Wars. That being the case, we should also look towards our own defenses.”
“Terra is impregnable against the Successor States,” the Primus protested. “And anyone who tried would suffer the consequences.”
“I’m sure that’s what our staff thought at the Summer HPG, before what amounted to a prank - one within reach of any vaguely competent chemist - forced them to evacuate the compound. Interdicting the system probably felt very satisfying, but to anyone who didn’t actually smell the vile concoction. It likely seems like a gross overreaction and damaged our standing.”
“Have you ever smelt that…” Tiepolo tried to remember the name of the compound.
Vandel nodded. “Thioacetone. I asked one of our acolytes to prepare a very small quantity, so that I could understand the circumstances.” His face twisted. “I cannot fault the staff on Summer for their initial reactions. If I’d not expected it, I’d have feared for my life as well. We need a full review of our security around HPGs so that we have options other than an Interdiction if we come under attack. As for Terra…”
“My military training was limited, and I can’t speak for the effectiveness of the Space Defense Systems around Terra - although I understand they are significantly less extensive than those that Amaris relied on against Kerensky.” Marik observed. “However, if one of the Successor Lords did manage to land forces on the surface, let us say an army comparable to those that fought on Dieron or Tamar? The current strength of the ComGuards would not be adequate. They are well trained, but they lack experience and they would be outnumbered.”
“What would you consider sufficient?” asked Aliz.
Tiepolo felt his face twitch and barely avoided directing a betrayed look at his protege.
The Marik made a point of considering the question for a moment before answering: “On the ground, I would recommend something along the lines of three SLDF infantry divisions - two mechanized and one jump infantry - each with an additional armored brigade. That would give us more than nine ‘mech regiments, adequately supported. In space, my main concern is that the defenses are fixed. Our only mobile option is a handful of warships, and the Succession Wars have shown that a small number of WarShips can be overwhelmed by lesser vessels that are still in reach of the Successor Lords’ even now. I’d recommend bringing our fleet up to perhaps twenty WarShips along with supporting DropShips and Aerospace Fighters. Which vessels should be reactivated or built would require consultation with experts.”
“That would be incredibly expensive.” the Primus warned the First Circuit.
“More expensive than potentially losing control of the homeworld?” asked Marik. “There is an ancient aphorism, Primus: the most expensive army is the one that proves to be second-best.”
“While it doesn’t address our long term concerns, I believe our brother has suggested a course of action that is in the best interests of our Order.” Vandel murmured. “All in favor of a high level review of our security, and providing us with a more detailed proposal?” He raised his own hand in affirmation.
Marik also raised his hand, as did Everson. For a moment Tiepolo hoped for a deadlock, but then Tejh indicated his own approval. “I see no harm in at least studying the problem.”
“Let us make it unanimous then,” Tiepolo proposed, wishing to co-opt the idea now that it was unavoidable. He got a small nod from Aliz. “I’ll put Rachan on it, since his work in the Commonwealth has come to an end.”
“I think not!” exclaimed Thomas Marik.
“I quite agree.” Vandel insisted. “Rachan obviously has some skills in causing trouble, but that’s not we need here. Since Thomas has quite rightly pointed out that his time on Luthien has made him too public, I suggest that he return here and take charge.”
Tiepolo blinked. Was Precentor New Avalon going to remove one of his own allies from the First Circuit?
“My fellow Precentors, I recommend that we consider a restructuring of the First Circuit.” Vandel continued.
“What? WHAT?!”
Everyone looked at him and Tiepolo realized he’d spoken aloud.
“Calm yourself, Julian.” Everson chided. “Please go on, Huthrin.”
The Primus paled and fell silent as he realized a trap was closing around him.
“I feel that the current membership, comprising the Primus and the representatives of the five national administrations of our HPGs means that we sometimes lack experience on key areas of concern. I suggest that we add three additional voting members: Precentor Terra, who will be responsible for the civilians under our rule both on Terra and elsewhere; Precentor Venus, who will be responsible for both our overt information gathering and distribution under Delta section as well as overseeing Precentor ROM; and Precentor Mars, who will be in charge of the ComGuards and the security of our order against overt threats.” Huthrin gave their most junior member a slight nod. “I think Thomas would be a fine fit for the latter position.”
“That would leave us three positions to fill;” Tejh noted. “Venus, Terra, and a new Precentor Luthien.”
“Vote.” Tiepolo croaked. “First, we should vote on this measure.”
“Of course.” agreed Everson quickly.
Julian Tiepolo grasped his error. He could have stalled, could have debated. Could have called a recess and reminded them that adding members diluted their own authority. But with half the members acting as if the changes were a done deal he’d gone directly to a vote.
As hands went up in favor of Huthrin Vandel’s reforms, it was a vote that he now couldn’t stop.
With momentum behind him, Vandel quickly secured approval to fill the new seats, backing nominations by Tejh and Everson of their own current proteges. Tiepolo’s own nomination of Tojo Jarlath as Precentor Venus failed narrowly, but that was the nail in his coffin.
The vote of no confidence that stripped Julian Tiepolo of his position as Primus and forced him into retirement was almost insultingly cordial.
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===Interstellar Negoiations Continue===
The Triad, Tharkad
Protectorate of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth
August 31st, 3024
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Max Mustermann had never been to Frederick’s apartment in the Triad before, due to the same distrust that had kept him away from the government complex for years. That was over now, although ironically this would probably be one of the last times Frederick stayed here - under the arcane customs that governed House Steiner, his future marriage meant that he would be moving to a family-size unit rather than a bachelor’s.
Given that the apartment they were in had more floor space than the house Max remembered growing up in, as one of three children, he didn’t see the need. But there was no point arguing either. Nelitha might need a couple of hundred square meters of closet for her dancing shoes, so it was better to be prepared.
The balding baron wouldn’t be kept out any more, for that matter. He hadn’t been given a blanket authority like the one still held by Morgan Kell, but Simon Johnson had agreed without any apparent prompting that among the security changes in response to recent events. The suspicions against Max were clearly groundless and that the idea of keeping the future regent’s secretary out of the Triad wasn’t going to fly. High, if not quite top level, clearances had been forthcoming.
“Do you think Theodore is aware of the Clans?” he asked, looking down out of the window. “Fighting over Tamar - when it’s going to be right in the path of any likely invasion - seems a bit… pointless.”
Frederick was at the desk of the apartment’s office, working through his preliminary planning to retake the embattled world. It was too early to set anything in stone but he wanted an outline before he talked to Strategy and Tactics about his options. “Given that he’s apparently planning to double the size of the Pesht Regulars, I think he does.”
“He’s what?”
The general searched his desk and then pulled out a file. “Yes, it’s recent intel. Warlord Sorenson has been charged with taking them from six regiments to twelve - and that’s to be actual size, not paper claims. In addition to guarding the periphery border, Kurita wants them available as a strategic reserve for the three military districts bordering Pesht.”
“That’s a big change. Max muttered, accepting the file and looking through it. “Damn… and they’re not going to be glorified cadres anymore.”
“There’ll be some of that, but no. Currently they’re a safer version of the Sun Zhang Academy Cadres - experienced officers but green mechwarriors, the latter being given some time to get their feet under them, rather than being flung into battle to blood them as quickly as possible.” Frederick sighed. “Now the Sun Zhang Cadres will be more like that and units like the Pesht Regulars will be where new officers will be sent to learn the ropes, with experienced mechwarriors under their command. Not the best, but soldiers who have experience without the aptitudes to go up the ranks.”
The older man nodded. “The Clans will likely hit Rasalhague and Tamar, but Pesht will be on the frontlines. The invasion I read about took quite a chunk out of it. Having a stronger force available in the area by default will help. In that case, why did he fight for Tamar when there’s every chance it’ll be lost?”
“Well, you didn’t see the Clans coming for another quarter century. That’s quite a long time,” Frederick pointed out. “he needed to score a victory off us - did you think he’d go for Dieron again?”
“It didn’t work out well for his father,” he admitted. “but you know he’ll want to make sure your counterattack goes just as poorly as Marcus Kurita’s return to Dieron.”
“While I need to take it back without forcing him to respond in such a way that we’re playing tit-for-tat until the Clans arrive - whether that’s five years from now or fifty.” Frederick closed the file that he was looking at. “Since no defeat can possibly be too small to constitute an insult to the the manhood of the Combine’s samurai, that means I need to hit them so hard that just stopping me after I take Tamar feels like a win for them.”
“Not easy.”, Max commented
“No - although a convincing defensive victory for Theodore might just be enough to that he and Marik decide that their best bet to survive the current alliance is to wait us out and hope that we fall apart.”
Max snorted. ;;“They might be right about that. Michael Hasek-Davion is already screaming and throwing his shoe at the First Prince about the idea of a peace with the Capellan Confederation.”
“Throwing his shoe? No, never mind, I get the idea. With Michael's ‘legitimate concerns about Capellans treachery’,” Frederick muttered. “Hanse isn’t going to be able to strip too many regiments directly out of the Capellan March even it this treaty goes through.”
“It might be a rear-area for rotating units that need time to recover from action against the Combine, which could allow the AFFS to maintain a higher operational tempo in the Draconis March.” Max paused. “Although honestly, a few years of peace on both borders would also do every military force some good.”
“A few, yes. But at the same time a generation of MechWarriors who’ve never seen war isn’t a force I’d really like to lead against the Clans.” The general shook his head. “I know, you told me that that’s exactly what I would have done - but you also said that the casualties were… what?”
“Just about fifty percent.” Max admitted. When he’d first awoken on Summer, he’d not understood what that meant. Not viscerally. Not the way he understood it after Helm and Dieron.
“If we have decades to prepare then we can do better.” Frederick banged his fist against the desk. “We have to - from what you said, the Clans occupied ever-increasing swathes of the Commonwealth for at least a century, on terms that make the Capellans and Draconians look like humanitarians.”
“I’m not arguing,” Max assured him, gesturing for calm. “but a few years of peace would let units be moved, new soldiers integrated and supplies built up. We might even get the results of Project Normandy to work with.”
Frederick snorted. “Have they even started construction? Or did I miss something?”
“Not new production, they’ve just got the Ajax so far.” he admitted. The damaged Overlord-class dropship had been assigned as a proof of concept for Project Normandy, which was supposed to eventually yield a class of assault dropships based on the same hull. Production of engine and hull components was supposed to be underway for the eventual construction of new ships at Alarion.
Supposed to be.
“They did sort out the missile launcher systems though. Capable of firing anti-fighter, artillery and even anti-shipping missiles.” Max continued, deciding not to dwell on the fact that the latter mounted the same warheads as fighter-launched nuclear missiles.
Frederick nodded. “It’s progress. I suppose I’m a bit spoiled by all the progress we’ve made so far. We could use some of those dropships for Tamar - any Combine fighters that think they’re getting a chance at taking out one of our Overlords would have a nasty surprise. But that would also let ComStar know more about them. It might be best to keep them in reserve until we have enough to make a move there.”
“You’re not thinking Terra… Odessa?”
“Exactly. It’s the only one of ComStar’s hidden worlds we know we can find… and it’s within strike range of Tharkad. If we didn’t need a navy that would have a chance of coping with what might be there, I’d be pressing to go after it now.”
“The defenses could be anything from a handful of aerospace forces and marines to a squadron of warships.”
Frederick nodded grimly. “We need information there. Another project for the future - although maybe before Melissa finishes at the Nagelring. She doesn’t qualify for MechWarrior training, and she’s talking about going into the naval courses. Can you imagine if she insisted on joining an attack on Odessa IV? Still, Tamar comes first. Kurita is already digging in there, if we let him think he’s secure then he’s got no reason not to try and push us off the world entirely.”
Max glanced at his watch. “Ten months before the ceasefire with Marik expires. After that there could be a counter-attack on the Protectorate-Sirian region. Can you put an operation together that fast?”
“An operation, yes. The sort of knock-out blow we’d need to get the result I want? No.” Frederick shook his head and then a smile cracked his face. “I almost think that it’d be easier to just stage the entire thing in cooperation with Kurita. Almost.”
That got a snort from Max. “He might even go for it, but the trust issues would be a bit of a problem.” He paused and spread his hands as wide as he could. “Just a bit.” Then he saw Frederick had spread his arms in the exact same way and both men laughed.
“If Donna was here, she’d be telling us to hug.” Frederick snorted and leaned back in his chair. “I hope Katrina beats the odds. It’s strange to think I wanted her out of the way when we first met, but now all I pray for is that she lives long enough for Melissa to come of age.”
“I wish I could give you reassurance, but I have no idea at this point.” Max crossed the room and sat facing Frederick. “But the smart money does not generally get wagered against Katrina Steiner.”
“No. No it doesn’t.” The Archon’s cousin looked at Max seriously. “I’m afraid you can’t go back to your retirement, Max. Duran, yes, but I still need your support.”
“Does it involve challenging Theodore Kurita to a duel - Orion versus Orion?”
Frederick snorted. “He’d tear you apart.”
Max was mature enough to know that that was the solid truth. “Ja, that would be my objection too. So what do you want me to do?”
“Katrina’s clone has been debriefed extensively, although she’s going to need years of therapy. We’re pretty sure at this point that she’d been programmed - she sincerely believed that she was Katrina. Whoever she was before is gone.”
“Unfortunately, that would track with what I remember of the other one.”
Frederick inserted a datachip into his desk. The Holodisplay sprang to life and the head and shoulders of a blonde woman sprang to life - one who still closely resembled Katrina, but even without the added lines that imprisonment and cancer had carved into the Archon’s face this was no longer someone who could pass for her. “Meet Erika Mustermann,” the Steiner told his friend. “She has no past, and she’s going to need to build an entirely new life. I seem to remember someone who managed that - with far less resources than Katrina and I are willing to put behind this.”
“You’re giving me a daughter…? You really shouldn’t have.” Max cupped his head in his hands. “You really shouldn’t have.”
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Thus Ends - Book 3
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