InaG Chpt 23-3

==It's not a Gundam - Chapter 23 - Part 3: The Schemes of Good Men​- Book 2 -==
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===Miracles he presents before Us===
Junker Guild Office, Sian II
Sian, Capellan Confederation
July 3027
Tropical Sian was as scenic as it was oppressive. The natural beauty of the world was hampered by one of the most paranoid states to exist in human history.
His father's eyes were everywhere. The Capital especially.
It was for this reason Tormano arranged this meeting in the Guild Office.
The Pseudo-Embassy had many things going for it. Chief among them it's security with even Maskirovka unable to penetrate both it's overt and covert defenses. Second was that it was the way in which Capellan dissidents, or rather his supporters, found their way to Guild space. While Colonel Leiden was helping him extend an olive branch to his sister Candace and her faction, he was doing the same to other parties in the Capellan Confederation.
And that now included certain subsets of the Northwind Highlanders.
The Highlanders had served House Liao for generations. Faithfully adhering to the contract despite losing their Homeworld of Northwind to the Davions long ago.
That may have changed.
The Exarch's eyes were everywhere. The Capellan Capital especially. At least for the Junkers it was obvious. Every Guild ship, station, and structure had AI and said AI listened to their one and only Lord and Master.
If what they said was true then he was looking at one of the few Highlanders with some semblance of honor.
"Why did Lord Cameron ask for me specifically, Lord Tormano?"
Corwin Jaffray was not anyone special in the Highlanders'. And yet the Exarch selected him for some reason.
"What would the Highlanders do if they were offered Northwind?"
Years of court backstabbing allowed him to read the man's face like a book. The eyes said it all.
So the Davions still want to steal the Highlanders from us. Tormano mused in his thoughts.
The Exarch told him that FedCom would have gone on the offensive, starting a Fourth Succession War with a massive invasion of Capellan and Draconis space. Not just raids. Full on conquest. But that was before he arrived.
Before he and his miracles.
Before he brought peace by the pen and not the sword.
Before a different war, a war against machines upturned the plans of House Davion and Steiner.
"MIIO dangled the chance to go home for the Highlanders. Or maybe it was Mr. Sortek himself." Tormano surmised, "Of course without a War. And more importantly my friend's very existence has ... changed things."
Corwin did not speak so the Third Child of Maximillian Liao continued.
"Without the Highlanders' four regiments the CCAF would have lost plenty of worlds should the AFFS or FWLM strike. Fortunately I am on speaking terms with the Captain-General and right now the Guildmaster is on Tharkad to ensure this seed of peace."
"Is he-"
"He's Cameron enough." Tormano admitted, "As much as I am Liao enough. We both want peace as much as your Blackwatch wants it's First Lord."
"...How do you know all this?"
"The Exarch told me." he explained simply, "How he got said information? I don't know. But he has told me that a subset of the Highlanders maintains the Blackwatch traditions."
"Then why didn't he ask for THEM and not ME?"
"Simple: He sees you as loyal and keeping to your word. He and I cannot trust men willing to betray the trust their lord gave them."
"With all due respect there is no shortage of men loyal to him. Even some of my former comrades."
There was no small number of mercenaries signing onto the Guild security force. Some former ELH and Highlander included. But most were still in processing, many not likely able to see their messiah in the flesh due to the needs of the coming battles.
"This is where we disagree. The Knights of St. Cameron may be the personal force of the Exarch but they have not resurrected the Blackwatch or the Gunslingers. We will need both if we are to revive the Star League proper."
Tormano admittedly felt guilt for using his friend but he needed every advantage.
Corwin's face was full of conflict. His loyalties were being pulled left, right, and center. But Tormano was a Liao and any Liao was more a snake than a Draconis Samurai could ever be.
"Cameron formed his Cooperative. The Mariks are joined to it-"
"And you are the Liao." Corwin realized, "Just like how the League was first formed."
Here, his Father was god ... and Tormano was Lucifer plotting his downfall.
----
===An Audience with the Archon===
Throne Room, Royal Palace, Tharkad V
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth Space
July 3027
Things were never simple as Archon. With a Cameron running around? Even less so.
Rumor was one thing. Truth was another.
She had beaten it into the head of the Estates-General and her Advisers that the Federated Commonwealth was necessary. Now more than ever.
In truth the Exarch's arrival on Tharkad was purely performative. Their officers had coordinated. The combined might of more than half of humanity was going to strike, hopefully ending the First Circuit's ambitions once and for all.
But the Lyran Commonwealth, let alone the Inner Sphere, needed this to remind them of the 'Equals' part of 'First Among Equals'. Especially with that monstrosity the Exarch had. To call it a WarShip would be to undersell it.
The Royal Guards of Tharkad were dressed and armed in their finest. Every single Mech, ASF, Dropship, and tank was polished and in parade colors ... and fully stocked and loaded.
The Lyran Navy absolutely refused to let the Bulge anywhere near Tharkad orbit, already filled with as many press ships and noble yachts as there were LCAF combat craft. It sat at a jump point surrounded by a nuclear-tipped squadron of carriers as the Ptolemaios was escorted to the chilly surface. All the pomp and ceremony didn't end there. Katrina wished it did.
The honor guard on the ground was just as fanciful as the one up in space. Chiseled Lyran soldiers in parade dress greeted the Exarch, joined by a smaller but still noticeable contingent of AFFS men and the man and his entourage was led into the palace and throne room
Katrina herself sat on her throne, flanked by two Griffins.
Even so, in the heart of Lyran power, Exarch's presence was felt. He stood tall and mighty unfazed by the guns of two Royal-grade Battlemechs pointed in his general direction or the dozens of guards, visible and not watching his every move.
His entourage of Junker and Leaguer men and women bowed, among them Secelia Dote. The daughter in all but blood to Janos ... with a ring on her finger.
That will shut those idiots up. Katrina thought to herself.
The Exarch didn't bow. Instead he took off his mask, holding it to his chest like a gentleman would a hat.
The crowd gasped. The Archon's eyes narrowed oh so slightly. Seeing was believing and no amount of makeup or surgery could fake what was before her: a young Ian Cameron.
"Lady-Archon." He spoke, "Exarch Cameron, Guild Master of The Junker guild. I thank you for the invitation."
Her court talked amongst themselves. Guild Master. Not First Lord or Director-General. Guild Master.
"The pleasure is mine, Lord Cameron." Katrina spoke, "I welcome you to Tharkad."
----
===Squabbling Siblings===
Celestial Palace
Zi-Jin Cheng "Forbidden City", Sian II
Sian, Capellan Confederation
July 3027	
Justin Xiang, once Justin Allard, the son of the First Prince's spymaster and a Capellan noblewoman. Accusations of treason led him to disgrace, finding fame in the gladiatorial arenas of Solaris before finding himself in his mother's homeland as an increasingly close confidante of one Candace Liao.
Or so it seemed.
Both MIIO and Maskirovka had kept their eyes on Justin since his exile. What they had was what was written about him in the tabloids.
Betraying or feeling betrayed the Federated Suns with an axe to grind against Davion. The consistent number of fights and wins against Davion-aligned Solaris Jocks told everything.
The Guild did not have it's champions unlike the other Houses. Their affiliates did but no Solaris Stable flew the Junker Wrench.
Instead they played kingmaker. And it was through this avenue that Tormano got his foot in the door.
Leiden had met Justin and Candace in one of the dozen or so Mechbays of the Forbidden City. This one in particular to host guests of honor. Tormano arrived to see Xiang's Centurion in the middle of yet another refit.
Yen-Lo-Wang named after a God of Death stood still carrying some scars leftover from its fights on Solaris. Not just bulletholes and laser burns but dozens of cruel gashes and dents. The Mobile Suit era reached even Solaris where melee was not an IF but WHEN in any match.
The AC/10 was replaced by an AC/20 then a full on sawn-off Dober Gun. It's hand was turned into a battlefist, adopting the 'Iron Nail' style of combat claw that allowed it to rend Standard Armor like paper.
Yet the exiled prince of Sian could not help but stare at the color scheme.
"The Rising Sun." Tormano spoke, "A very japanese design."	
The topic brought Justin off-balance while Candace raised her brow, finally realizing what the red disc and rays reminded her of.
"It wasn't intentional." Xiang coughed.
"I hope so." Tormano mused, "Otherwise I believe you ended up in the wrong Great House. I believe Luthien is some light years away from here."
"Enough jokes Tormano." Candace frowned, "What do you want?"
"Did Colonel Leidan not tell you?" He replied.
"Did you!?" he whispered harshly into the Colonel's ear.
Yang Fang shrugged his arms, "I communicated your words."
"He communicated nonsense." Candace spoke "Peace with Davion? After EVERYTHING? What has that pretender filled your empty head with?"
"My friend is FAR from a Pretender unless you think all the upgrades you are lavishing your newest boytoy came out of thin air."
"Boy Toy-" Justin mumbled in confusion.
"There is a difference between having access to Lostech and being a CAMERON." Candace scowled.
"If you know him as well as I do the Exarch would prefer NOT to be a Cameron or THE Cameron."
"Too late." Candace scoffed.
"Why are you here Lord Tormano?" Justin questioned.
"What else? Enlisting my dear sister's aid in ending this pointless bloodshed between us and the other Great Houses ... and putting down the Mobile Dolls once and for all."
"The decision will be up to Father. Not you or I Tormano."
"Oh I am aware. And it is why I am asking you to help me persuade him."
"And not Romano?"
He stared at her pointedly, "You know why."
"She could." Xiang spoke up, "But we have no reason to support you."
"The reason is that I do not speak just for myself; I speak for the Junker Guild."
Candace narrowed her eyes, "Are you a son of Sian or are you a son of Junker?"
The only Tierens in Liao hands were in Tormano's possession. His own personal forces. They towered over the Battlemechs of the MechWarriors sworn to his Sister. Not to mention his father's. They were a personal gift by the Exarch to him and sign that he had House Cameron's favor. And some would say authority.
He held her gaze, "Both. You and Romano can fight over who becomes Chancellor once our father passes away. My only question is where Junker's investments will go in the next few years."
Sian did not need to fear Junker's wrath. Sian, and by extent the rest of the Inner Sphere, had to fear being left behind.
"You, Romano, and I squabbled over a throne here on Sian. Our father and the other Successors bicker over a long gone throne on Terra. The Guild does not. I no longer do either."
Since the reveal of The Bulge Tormano realized how much Exarch's TRUE backers eclipsed both the Star League and the SLDF in technology, wealth, and military might. It was sobering but also enlightening. The look in Candace and Justin's eyes said they realized some inkling of what he meant.
"So the Exarch is serious in restarting the Star League." Justin observed.
"He is serious in bringing back the peace and prosperity of the Star League at least. You may have Sian. Perhaps even Terra itself. But whether either remains relevant will be up to you."
"Blackmail will not work brother." Candace hissed.
"The Guild and the Cooperative is more than just Junker or House Cameron. Or me."
"Then what is it?" She questioned.
"A guild and cooperative. Either you are part of it and share it's benefits or you do not."
"The same threat Junker gave to Taurus." Justin said incensed.
"A statemant of fact." Tormano countered.
"Semantics." Candace dismissed, "You may say you are both Capellan and Junker Tormano but I do not see a Liao in front of me."
"I doubt that has been the case for years." Tormano shook his head.
Candace sighed, "What does Lord Cameron want?"
"Ideally peace. Preferably by choice. Understand this sister: The Exarch could crush our House like a bug."
He had made his calculations. The Cooperative's combined economic and military might could destroy the Confederation one way or the other. That was not even mentioning their allies or the opportunists waiting to feast on their beleaguered enemy.
"You dare-"
"I dare." He glared back, "You and Romano will inevitably try to murder each other or Father tires of either of your's existence. Capellans will fight. Capellans will die. At each others hands. I WILL pick up the pieces of the Confederation once you are all done with your games!"
"It sounds to me you are making a bid for the throne yourself." Xiang countered.
Tormano scoffed, "Do you realize how much power I would be giving up if I was Chancellor? No. I see how it ends: Sic Semper Tyranis."
Justin's face tightened. Tormano narrowed his eyes. The Exarch had told him that Xiang was a possible double agent. Possible. Not definite. The latin phrase was a password. How the Guild got wind of it Cameron was opaque about.
Candace moved to say something but Justin stood between them, "Leave us. Please."
Two disgraced sons stared at each other.
The one trying to save the Capellan Confederation broke eye contact first.
Colonel Leiden and Tormano stepped out of the Mechbay more displeased then they were entering it.
"That went well." Yang Fang spoke.
"As well as can be expected." Tormano grimaced, "Where next?"
"The Taurian embassy. The Canopian and Aurigan representatives are already there."
"And the Free Worlds League?"
"A no-show. But I have had Marik-aligned mercenaries contact the Guild Office about Standby orders."
"Not alert. Not standing down, but standing by." The prince mulled, "Best we can do. As long as they stay on their side of the border I can work up a ceasefire from there."
"We still require your sister's assistance." The Colonel pointed out.
"It would be nice." he admitted, "But I will prepare for the worst. Now come. I want to be fashionably late and not just late."
----
===Change of Tack===
Throne Room, Royal Palace, Tharkad V
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
July 3027	
Lap dogs and brown nosers. If not that then wannabe yes-men all wanting to get into the good graces of the future First Lord. The party was in full swing and Exarch proved to be the center of attention in her own house. Second only to the oppurtunists in number jockeying for his attention were those who dreamed of a Star League; some who she knew to be Lyran patriots.
To embrace both Cameron and Steiner was not a contradictory concept. But it had complications. Katrina didn't want to embroil themselves into a cold war with Junkers. She didn't want to deal with the possibility of Lyrans turning on Lyrans should a hypothetical war becoming hypothetically hot. The current war was already bad enough.
"Are you still thinking about hypotheticals, Katrina?" Nondi probed
"How do you know, Nondi?"
Nondi's hesitation throwing in with the Davions were gone. Her sister, begrudgingly, supported joining both houses. If only because the Lyran Commonwealth sadly could not match the might of the reborn Camerons alone. Even in Wealth and Industry, something they had in abundance.
"I am your sister." She explained simply.
"I have to think about our legacy."
The Junker and Canopus treatments weren't entirely successful.
Nondi's gaze softened, "Two years ago I would have sent my men to a psych eval if they told me that Cameron was returning with an army of Superheavy Battlemechs and flying Castle Brians. Nothing is set in stone Kat. Nothing."
Suddenly at the door on end of the throne room the herald spoke: "Announcing the Arrival of Lady Melissa Steiner, Archon-Designate and Dame Nina Keith of Jalastar!"
Jeana Clay, her daughter's body double, stepped into the party joined by the Mechwarrior of the Gundam. The Exarch looked on. The Silver Eagle had been protected by some of the finest the Guild had to offer. He knew. Somehow. Simon's agents were trying to find out how advanced Junker intelligence was, though an organization with a hundred electronic eyes and a thousand digital ears spoke their methods.
Clay bowed to her like a dutiful daughter would her mother, Nina bowed like a shy girl completely out of her depth.
"Lord Cameron."
"Lady Steiner." He greeted back, "Grison was a good man."
Jeana froze. Katrina did as well. Grison Clay. Jeana's father. The man who saved Katrina's life and whose daughter now risked everything for her family once again. It spoke a terrifying amount of intelligence at the Exarch's fingertips if he knew even who the body double was..
"I would be honored to have had a man like him by my side." he continued, "You and the Lady Archon would make him proud."
He did not mean to hurt them. But there was a tinge of remorse. His strategy often seemed to rely on knocking both his peers and adversaries off kilter with surprises. Of which he had many.
"I-I hope to love up to his expectations." Jeana spoke.
"You are." He said, "don't think otherwise. And the same goes for you Ms. Keith. For all their creations Ensign Keith and Lieutenant Boscht you are their greatest. I am sure of it."
"You knew them?" Nina raised her voice.
"I knew of them." He mused, "I've heard of his adventures. Him and Ensign Uraki were thick as thieves from what I heard."
"I never met Uncle Kou..."
"Their story can be told another time. Yours Miss is just starting."
"I-I don't know..."
"You mustn't let mistakes weigh you down. Acknowledge them and take what you've learned to move on." He smiled, with the warmth of a father or older brother, "That is the privilege of being an adult."
His charisma was inhuman. If there was any proof of how Ian Cameron could have forged the Star League this was it. The Exarch navigated the intricate labyrinth of court. Deals and agreements were struck, sycophants managed, well-wishers greeted, opportunists dealt with, and allies gained. Though it was in her throne room and her Griffins standing guard it was clear that the Guild master of Junkers controlled the room with words alone.
-----
As the party continued the Archon watched from afar as every member of her court played their part. While they did so the LCAF and AFFS were mobilizing their forces and the LIC and MIIO activated their agents. August would see bloodshed not seen since the Second Succession War. It was only a matter of time.
"He could have conquered the Inner Sphere." Katrina realized, "if he wanted to."
"We should be thankful he doesn't want to." Nondi Steiner sighed, "I don't want to base our strategies over the whims of another."
"Neither do I."
The UC-DB remained their best chance to bridge the gap with the Junkers. Her analysts theorized that Cameron and Keith's technology came from the same source given similarities. The Exarch name-dropping Nina's family? It lent credence to it.
She looked on as Secelia Dote and the Marik contingent tried to make smallchat with their sworn enemies. And the same went for the delegates of all the embassies on Tharkad, the Combine and even Comstar among them. She had wolves inside her home and she had to live with it. The only wolf she tolerated was set to meet with her, Nondi, and Yvonne Davion. Apparently the Exarch had gotten to the Dragoons as well. Wonderful.
"I need a list of targets the LCAF will be hitting." Katrina spoke to her sister.
Nondi raised her brow, "You plan to change the Order of Battle so late?"
"No. But I want to change certain priorities."
"Such as?"
"Salvage ... and recruitment."
"Salvage I can do. It's been hard to knock that mindset out of the LCAF since ever. Recruitment? What are you planning?"
There were plenty of Lyran operations freed up from no longer needing to spy on FWLM movements. The Niops Association was going to fall. They just didn't know it yet.
"Making sure Tharkad University is properly staffed for the forseeable future. Let Simon know I need him in my office. We need to plan out a parallel operation to the one in August."
"...What do you plan to call it?"
"Paperclip. Operation Paperclip."
-----
==Chapter Notes==
*; Author's Chapter Notes : Part 3 took longer than I expected and I am not completely satisfied. But its time the Inner Sphere goes to war.
----
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Chapter 23-3