CYTM44

=Chapter 44=
==Can you tell me where can we start over?==
Elizabeth House, Nha Tranh
Kowloon, Lyran Alliance
3061
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"You're picking sides after all." Evelynn didn't ask.
"I picked sides.  The side I picked is the side that is for safeguarding the Realm from invasion."  Liz relaxed back and cradled a bowl-like cognac glass half filled with plum wine.  "SO...Archer Christifori, what do you know about him?"
"Not a damn thing." Evelynn stated, "No rep, no rumors, except that he's turned on Crazy Nondi after his sister was kakked...but we do know a few things about his sis."
"Lay it on me." said Liz
"Journalist, reporting on official and semi-official corruption in the Archon's administration, killed by a bullet."
"I see.  What do your friends on Victor's side say about the man?" ask Liz
"I don't-" Evelynn began 
"Yes, you do." Liz told her, "I can see it in your eyes."
"I don't have eyes." defensively said Evelynn
"Okay, I can see it in your message traffic and some of your positions." Liz countered.  "We're not going all in with Victor's faction, or any of the factions backing him against Katherine."
"But..." Evelynn try explain
"But, Christifori's AFFC and LAAF records say he's a field commander. He fights when he faces the Clans." Liz stated, "So, we're going to send him some care packets.  Ammo, spare parts, and medicine.  Arrange the drop."''
"What makes you think I can do that?"
"You brought me a damned mercenary command when I needed them. Now when they were in desperate straits to train the GFM." Liz told her, "That means you have an in with intelligence somewhere.  I'm directing you, my heir, and my vassal, to arrange supply drops to keep several people in the fight. Just nothing overt, nothing easily traced back...and I want you to work out a plan to evacuate LAAF troops from worlds where they've been left to die while Nondi fights her damn civil war.  Work it with Li and Vu Dao, when we come out of my closet. It's got to be as legit as physically and humanly possible-as an honest broker and possible mediator, with zero questions about patriotism."
"What's your endgame, Liz?"
"Keeping the Lyran Alliance intact while this fire burns itself out."  Liz stated, "I have an advantage, I can give orders, and those can have long term consequences, but a life sentence for me is under ten years. If I commit treason and don't get the death penalty, they can't hold me longer than that without a Oijia Board or a direct appeal to god. So I don't need to observe some of the limits and consequences people who might want to do what I'm about to do have to face. There's not a lot they can do to me that is worse than skipping a couple of doses of my meds."
"Oh my god, you said '****** it' didn't you?"
"Uh, '****** it'." Liz stated, "I've taken on default the duty of the national government in this region without the taxes or the privileges. As the people appointed over me are either corrupt or incompetent, sure." she said, "I'm not aiming for a throne, Evvie. You, Chuck, and everyone else is right. I can't stay out of this. So I'm picking the side of the Lyran Alliance, not Victor, not Kathy, the Nation's side.  I want plans to move equipment and troops or withdraw equipment and troops, from the Clan border. That's because they're coming.  Marthe Pryde would have to actually be a shut-in and doped to the gills not to see the opportunities here with the nation's military at one another's throats!"
"You need a list of who to help then." Evelynn said.
"Damned right.  Get me a list of commanders who aren't complete ****** morons. Who aren't willing to get dragged into the mud of this...sibling spat between two spoiled brats, who will fight if they have the backup and the gear."
"I'll get that list." Evelynn replied
;*Author's Note: This version of Elizabeth harks back to the first iteration of the character.  She honestly could care less who's on the throne on Tharkad. If the government works, her only 'foreign policy' is to keep things in her immediate neighborhood stable, and resist the invading Clans with everything she can muster. Admittedly, she's got a lot she can muster.
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