OPREF-3 Chpt 3

=Book 3, Chapter 3 - Stacking the Deck=
==Opalescent Reflections==
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===Struggling Alliances & Shifting Frontlines===
Hilton Head, North America
Terra, Sol System
9 April 3053
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After not far short of two months wrangling three Liaos into something resembling agreement, Wei Rong had hoped that her return to Terra would allow her some peace and quiet.
 
Sun-Tzu Liao wasn't incredibly happy about losing eleven Capellan worlds, even if he could blame most of it on his mother. Candace Liao wasn't happy either, as she'd apparently been hoping to cede back enough military production that her birth nation wouldn't look so incapable that it might collapse if the Duchy of Oriente invaded. (To be fair, that province of the Free Worlds League had an army that rivaled some major periphery states). And while Wei wasn't privy to Kai Allard-Liao's discussions with his mother, he didn't seem very happy about the outcome and would be serving as St Ives' ambassador to the Federated Commonwealth for the foreseeable future.
 
For her part, Wei came back to more meetings. She couldn't even bring herself to tease her secretary, as Tanya Serebryakov had a boyfriend now and they were rather sweet. Even if they seemed to be stalling at the holding hands stage of the relationship right now.
 
So instead of visiting, for example, one of the Caribbean resorts and admiring the view of young men and women in skimpy swimwear on the beaches, she was in a conference room two levels below the surface of Hilton Head island. The Liaos had clearly got the better of the peace deal, in her opinion.
 
Sitting across from her at the table, Andrew Norris looked tired. "I doubt there's much that I can add to the reports sent already," he told them. "The Diamond Sharks are rebuilding the factories demolished on Luthien and it's going at least as quickly as the updating of factories to build Hippogriffs for the ComGuards."
 
"You saw this yourself?" Wei asked him.
 
Precentor Luthien shrugged. "The Luthien Armor Works arcology really isn't that far from the Imperial City. I didn't see what they're doing inside it, but the structural work is hard to hide."
"It's consistent," Elswick Cameron agreed. There was no single leader of ComStar's intelligence services, but of the four departments that divided up the duties, the head of Mu was first among equals. "Sharon, your intercepts said tooling is being shipped in from the Clan's homeworlds?"
 
Sharon Fore-Acre was already bringing up data. "There are three factory complexes - two on Luthien and one on Irece - being rebuilt by the Diamond Sharks. We have a list of seven designs to be built in them - two at the Luthien Armor Works arcology, two at the Wells Technology factory and three on Irece at Lexatech's Land-Air Mech factory."
 
"Seven is a lot of designs. I'm not sure the Federated Commonwealth is adding that much production at the moment," Norris noted. "It's certainly more ambitious than the Combine is."
 
Cameron steeped his fingers. "We know that some of them are upgrades of designs used by the SLDF and House Lords - the Griffin, the Shadow Hawk and Phoenix Hawk, for example. What we're not seeing is their most advanced OmniMechs. It seems probable that either they want to avoid any risk of raids acquiring their best technology by keeping the production outside the Inner Sphere, or the technical demands are such that they aren't able to readily transfer it to sites that will need to depend on local workers."
"Even without Omnimechs, it's a formidable range of capabilities." Precentor Martial Focht leant forwards, glaring towards Cameron. "Once those factories are operational the Diamond Sharks will be able to replace their losses far more easily than they could during the initial invasion. We can also assume that they'll be providing spare parts and munitions the same way. This significantly changes the logistical situation. Are any of the other Clans doing the same?"
 
The analyst shook his head. "There are repair facilities, using existing factories - Twycross, Alshain, Tok Do, New Oslo and Rasalhague . But those are on the level of what the Sharks are doing with repurposed civilian factories on Pesht: rebuilding salvaged hardware to equip garrison units. Actual construction of the Clan's own hardware hasn't been brought to the [Inner Sphere]] by any of the other Clans that we're aware of."
 
"They're here to stay." It took everyone looking at her for Wei to realize that she'd said that out loud.
 
"Primus?" asked Four-Acre.
 
"There was a report on the Diamond Sharks building medical colleges," she said out loud. "They're investing in their conquests, trying to uplift them."
 
"I'm not sure I see the connection," admitted Focht slowly. "But I spent far more time with Clan Wolf than with the other Clans."
 
"I thought it was a hearts and minds endeavor," Norris said thoughtfully, eyes distant. "The Combine's civilian medical sector is a shambles - our hospices have been propping it up since Takashi Kurita's father slashed the funding for medical care in favor of the military."
 
Wei nodded. "My understanding is that their Physicians of the Dragon are just as competent as any other state's, well - excluding the Canopians." As Primus of ComStar she was in no position to throw stones at the order for cloaking their profession in mysticism. "But talent follows money, so most of them are working for the DCMS or in private practises that treat those who can afford them. At a local level, most of the population are served by doctors who operate at cost and with very limited access to the tools and medicines we take for granted here on Terra."
 
"It's a cultural matter," murmured Dahlia Erin. The head of Rho had operated undercover in the Draconis Combine. "Medicine is seen as a 'weak' profession, less prestigious than other careers."
 
"I see." Focht drummed his fingers on the table. "Then the Sharks planning to train additional doctors…"
 
"They are advertising a million additional doctors within ten years, which may not seem like much spread across scores of worlds but some of those worlds are fairly sparsely populated," Norris told him. "New hospitals and medical centers are being built, and they've ordered expansion of medical production as well."
 
"I would have thought that they would prefer to cater to their warriors first and foremost," Four-Acre said with a frown. She was not fond of military chauvinism in general.
 
"Probably," Wei admitted. "Don't take this as apologism, I am sure that it is a calculated strategy to win people over. But bringing their own production here, and training doctors, that also signals that they are not just here to conquer the Combine's worlds. They're planning to govern them and to build prosperity."
 
"And those doctors would fall under the Scientist caste," Focht added. "That's arguably the second highest status caste among the Clans. It's an opportunity for the best and brightest young people on those worlds."
 
Wei nodded. "It probably wouldn't work in the worlds taken from the Lyrans or Rasalhague, they have higher expectations. But on Combine worlds, this might even seem comparatively liberal."
 
"Moving back to the factories," the Precentor Martial observed as the precentors sat back and considered the idea, "They are also targets. Tooling to construct clan weapons would be of incalculable value, once it arrives."
 
She frowned at the idea of breaking ComStar neutrality. "Not valuable enough for us to attack them, but I assume you mean the DCMS?"
 
"Given the distances from the frontlines, it would be difficult," Focht admitted, "But we've already seen one raid on Luthien. Another isn't unthinkable, and for such a prize even one of the other Successor States might be willing to commit to such an operation. The prize of battletechnology led to some very daring attempts to secure the technology back during the Age of War. Reverse engineering from salvage is challenging, you know how little progress we've made with material from Camlann. But with access to Clan databases, trained workers - much less tooling already designed to create those materials and components? That would be a game-changer."
 
Wei looked over at Dahlia. "I have no intention of trying to secure those things by force. But at the same time, if information can be gathered covertly…"
 
The head of Rho nodded. "If the Diamond Sharks intend to recruit workers locally then it may be possible. It will be a long term operation, without quick results."
 
"That's acceptable." Wei hoped she would never have to send the ComGuards against the Clans again. Camlann had been bad enough, and what had it won them? A fifteen year demarcation that had shifted the direction of the fighting but it had done nothing to stop the invasion.
 
Even if the truce holds, she thought, by 3066 it's possible the Clans will hold everything corewards of Camlann. Driving them back would require war on a scale larger than the Amaris Civil War. Only the First and Second Succession Wars would compare… and they were a nightmare we are still recovering from.
 
"Thank you for the report on Luthien," she thanked Norris. "What is next on the agenda?"
 
The agenda was consulted and Cameron nodded. "The Odessa situation appears promising. Clan Jade Falcon took Odessa III easily but data from Rho and Delta strongly suggests that they remain unaware of the shipyard at Odessa IV."
 
"We can't expect that to last forever," Focht warned, steepling his hands. "I am informed that it was a constant effort to hide the warships there from Odessa's orbital traffic, and the Jade Falcons are likely to impose their own control over that."
 
Cameron shrugged. "I do not disagree. There is a reason that the ComGuards Fleet relocated from the region after Camlann. There was too much chance of one side or the other noticing them. The yards themselves are less obvious than moving vessels."
 
"Even the shipyards may come to light. I understand that the planetary system is marked as a hazard, but if the AFFC are launching a raid that may make the pirate points near Odessa IV attractive as a way of inserting forces stealthily," the Precentor-Martial told them. "The risk would be acceptable to them, and the Odessa system is close to the truceline."
 
"And if the shipyard is used then there's too much risk of someone noticing ships in transit." Wei frowned. "Can we risk evacuation vessels?"
 
They all looked at Focht who rubbed his chin as he thought. "Sending a JumpShip to Odessa's system shouldn't be a problem, but we might need any dropships to make slow ballistic flights to the shipyards."
 
"Pull everyone out then," Wei ordered. "They're to clear out all computers and launch any waste that'll show that the yards have been in use since the days of Kerensky's exodus on a trajectory into the star. If no one finds the yards, then we can reoccupy them later. If they are found, hopefully we can deny all knowledge. We do not need another diplomatic rupture with the Federated Commonwealth."
 
"I'm sure we can do that," Focht agreed. "There are plenty of posts at Titan where the workers can be employed."
 
Wei nodded. Most of them wouldn't know exactly where they had been working anyway, she wasn't going to try to purge them like some ancient king burying the secrets of his tomb.
 
I started my reign digging up secrets lost by the Order, she mused. Now I'm trying to bury them again…
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===Bids & a Petition===
Zenith Jump Point, Melissia
Periphery March, Federated Commonwealth
18 May 3053
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The shuttle carrying Aidan Pryde over to meet with his adversary was directed in a long, sweeping docking maneuver that gave him plenty of time to appreciate the cruiser transporting the Forty-Fourth Nova Cat Cavaliers.
 
"Showing off." he said dismissively to his aide as Mechwarrior Diana stared at the warship through the dropship port.
 
"It remains impressive," she pointed out. "A legacy of the Star League."
Aidan shrugged and straightened his uniform. "Clan Jade Falcon has many cruisers of this class. But unless the Cats plan to employ bombardment, it will make no difference to the bidding." He decided not to bother the young woman with the fact that the Aegis-class was one of the oldest warship classes still in service - each hull was so old that they pre-dated the Star League itself.
 
If we lose our warships, we have little ability to replace them, he thought. Our mission is not just to bring civilization to the Successor States, we need these worlds as much as they need the Way of the Clans.
 
Normally he would have brought Horse with him for this, but his oldest and closest friend would be in the care of the scientists for months. There had been talk that his injuries would be career ending, in fact, and that the medical care to rebuild his spine would be wasted on a freeborn warrior.
 
Aidan's face darkened at the memory. If Vandervahn Chistu had not sided with him, citing that experienced warriors were difficult to replace and that it would take almost as long for someone to travel from the homeworlds, he might have had to fight for Horse's treatment.
 
If something like that happened to Diana, she would not have a codex listing accomplishments to show her worth. How many promising warriors had been wasted by the prejudice against the freeborn? A warrior should be judged first by their actual ability, not the theoretical superiority of their bloodline. Most of his own sibko had washed out, surely that made them less worthy than Diana or Horse, who had proven out.
 
Then again, he had also washed out and only gained warrior status through an illegal second chance. Perhaps he was less than the two of them, even if he held a higher rank?
 
The shuttle docked against the Nova Cat warship with a thump and knocked the thought out of Aidan's head. "You are ready, quiaff?"
 
"Aff!" Diana unbuckled herself and climbed out of her seat, joining him in the aisle where the two Jade Falcons straightened the jade-green cloaks of their dress uniforms and donned the ceremonial helmets.
 
Aidan felt a chill as he saw Diana standing there in uniform. With only her face visible, she looked much like a younger version of his sibkin Marthe - as she had been when he challenged for a bloodname, perhaps. There had to be a connection, although he knew Marthe couldn't have a freeborn child. Her career would never have permitted it.
 
Through the airlock, they were greeted by two Nova Cat warriors - elementals who towered above both Falcons in another unsubtle show of power.
 
"Star Colonel Devalis awaits your bid." the senior of the pair informed Aidan after they exchanged salutes.
 
"Then we shall not make her wait, quineg?" he asked. No offers of refreshments or other hospitality? Most Clans would engage in at least some social pleasantries before bidding, if only to feel out their adversaries. But apparently the Nova Cats felt no need.
 
The passageways of the Blood Oath felt much like those of other ships like it. The Nova Cat iconography was the only thing that differed from Jade Falcon vessels that Aidan had visited over the years so it was no surprise when they entered the cruiser's bridge. He pushed off from the door and caught the rail that circled the central holotank, facing a warrior wearing only black leather shorts and vest, a pouch hung from the belt of the shorts.
 
Diana's breath hissed out but Aidan nudged her to take her place at his side. "Star Colonel Devalis," he greeted the Nova Cat. "I see that you are in full finery today."
 
"I am aware of how much Clan Jade Falcon appreciate one's plumage." Istal Devalis replied, an edge of disappointment at his lack of reaction.
 
Aidan smiled politely. "I think it is my aide's first chance to see Clan Nova Cat's dress uniform. I admire the minimalist charm, personally. These capes look dashing but they are terribly cumbersome."
 
Devalis snorted. "We are not here to compare uniforms, Pryde. We are here to bid for the fate of Melissia. You stand ready, quiaff?"
 
"Aff. Let us determine if it is your claws or my talons which wrest this world from the grip of House Steiner."
 
A younger Nova Cat joined Devalis and indicated where Diana could upload the data on the Gyrfalcon Guards' strength.
 
"As the host, I cede the first bid to you." offered Devalis dismissively.
 
Aidan nodded agreeably and tapped the controls to bring up his first bid. Melissia was of some significance - the Watch reported that it was home to a regional headquarters and likely defended by one of the AFFC's regimental combat teams - more than a hundred battlemechs, three times that in combat vehicles and a large infantry complement.
 
Opening with all five trinaries of the Gyrfalcon Guards, Aidan reflected that he would have been confident that would be enough during the earlier stages of the invasion. But if the forces here had been improved as much as the unit he'd fought on Morges… well, there was a reason the Gyrfalcon Guards had been sent out to bid for the right to the world, rather than less capable Clusters operating along the edges of the Inner Sphere.
 
In response, Devalis wordlessly brought up a similar force - three trinaries of battlemechs, supported by aerospace fighters and elementals. However, the latter units were binaries compared to the trinaries that Aidan was bringing to the table. Unsurprisingly, there was no sign of the Blood Oath in the Nova Cat's bid.
 
"She is hardly cutting anything from your bid." Diana observed quietly.
 
"I think this is the full strength of the Forty-Fourth Cavaliers." Aidan told her. He didn't think it was wise - Clan aerospace fighters had less of an edge over their counterparts than ground forces. A full strength RCT would have forty fighters compared to his own thirty or the twenty that Devalis was bringing.
 
Reaching forwards, he updated his bid, to drop a single 'mech from each of the nine stars that he'd bid. Thirty-six mechs would mean parity with a battalion of AFFC mechs, allowing him to engage without being seriously outnumbered as long as the Guards defeated each battalion in turn.
 
"Conservative as ever," Devalis said provocatively. "I had understood you to be among the more daring of the Jade Falcon's officers."
 
Aidan gave her a warning look. "Perhaps you would like to show me how you think this should be bid, quiaff?"
 
The Nova Cat side of the display flickered as points vanished - an entire star of aerospace and the same of elementals. Finally, one of the 'mech trinaries lost a star. It brought them below Aidan's bid, but he wasn't sure about the merit of where those cuts had been made. Did Devalis know something he did not?
 
If Melissa's garrison was less than reported, then it might be ample, but if there was a strong aerospace force on the world then only ten fighters was a risk.
 
"If that is the extent of your confidence," Aidan observed and struck away one of his own Elemental stars, followed by an entire trinary of 'mechs. Twenty-four battlemechs, fifty elementals and thirty aerospace fighters would require creative tactics to defeat a regimental combat team - it was below what was recommended by the Watch, but only barely. "Then I believe Melissa will belong to Clan Jade Falcon."
 
Devalis looked at him tightly. "I think not. My visions show that a bird will have its wings burned here."
 
She adjusted the display and swept away an entire trinary of battlemechs. "This is the force that will take Melissa for Clan Nova Cat."
 
Twenty-five battlemechs, as many elementals and just ten fighters… Aidan was not prepared to say that she was wrong, but he would not stake a glass of beer on the prospect. Much less the warriors of his Cluster. "I admire your daring and I cede you the chance to try."
 
Istal Devalis smiled smugly, but Aidan noted that not all of her officers seemed to be so confident. "Cavaliers!" the woman shouted. "Melissia is ours. We will show the lessons we have learned on Camlann!"
 
Diana opened her mouth to speak but Aidan kicked her lightly in the ankle. "I shall be watching with interest, Star Colonel." If she found herself in need of more forces she would need to offer concessions to Aidan, and by extension, Clan Jade Falcon in exchange for permission to deploy more than this minimal attack force. Or if the AFFC forces were less than reported, it might be a lesson for the Jade Falcon Watch in information gathering.
 
The two Jade Falcons retreated to their shuttle as Devalis continued to fire up her warriors.
 
"Star Colonel, I do not see how Devalis expects to defeat the reported garrison with that bid," Diana admitted once they had closed the shuttle hatch.
 
Aidan pulled off his helmet. "Perhaps she knows something that we do not. If not, then the Nova Cats will pay the price. There are few things more valuable in war than knowledge of one's enemy. While taking Melissia would be prestigious, if they fail then it will allow us to advance on Inarcs and take the factories there before the Nova Cats can catch up."
 
Opening the storage cabinet, Diana reached out and took Aidan's helmet to store it before removing her own. "Sir, I have a petition to make."
 
"A… petition?" he paused in unclasping his cape and then finished removing it. That was unusually formal for the young mechwarrior. "Since I do not have to finalize plans to invade Melissa, my schedule is clear, Mechwarrior." Aidan sank into his seat and gestured for Diana to speak.
 
The other Jade Falcon took her own seat but half-turned. "I request nomination to participate in the Trial of Bloodright for David Pryde's bloodright."
 
Aidan frowned at her, mind racing. She was freeborn, wasn't she? How could she claim a bloodname of… "I have not made any nomination so far," he conceded. He'd barely known David Pryde - younger warrior had been taken as isorla by Clan Smoke Jaguar only a few weeks after winning his Bloodname. Other than gatherings of the Pryde Bloodhouse they'd never met and from his recollections, the man almost never spoke at them.
 
Given that his death had taken place while commanding an artillery star in the Fourth Jaguar Dragoons, Aidan doubted that the Star Commander's career had prospered and his bloodright might not be as strongly contested as others. Much as Aidan's own would likely not be prized. He occasionally worried that his notoriety might lead to the bloodright being retired. Still, the currently open bloodright would have contenders. It was likely someone would ask him rather than go through the Grand Melee. Such requests were among the few perks he enjoyed of those that usually went to the bloodnamed.
 
He remembered thinking that winning his bloodname would earn him respect from the rest of the Clan. He'd been so young.
 
"What bloodclaim do you have on Bloodhouse Pryde?" he asked her.
 
"My mother was a member of a Mattlov-Pryde trueborn sibko," Diana said proudly. "I have the required matrilineal tie."
 
He considered beating around the bush and could almost hear Horse chiding him for cowardice. "I believe the last such sibko was my own, so I would know your mother."
 
Diana paused and in that moment the pilot signaled that they should strap in for departure. The conversation stuttered to a halt as the pair obeyed.
 
"Her name was Peri." Diana said softly, keeping her eyes fixed on her hands as they checked the straps holding her down.
 
Aidan was lucky that he was so familiar with shuttle seats that he could finish securing himself without conscious thought. Peri.
 
His mind went back to the dark days after his failed Trial of Position. The period when he'd fled from his technician assignment and hidden out at the scientific station where Peri, always more academically inclined than most of their sibko, had been sent after her own failure just before.
 
It was half his lifetime ago. Just barely long enough ago for a child to have been conceived, born and grow to be a mechwarrior of Clan Jade Falcon during the invasion, two years ago.
 
Perhaps mistaking his silence for disapproval, Diana continued: "There is precedent for a freeborn meeting the basic requirements to compete for a bloodname. A Diamond Shark won the Enders bloodname prior to the invasion."
 
"Ace Enders." Aidan remembered Joanna telling him of the idiosyncratic origins of the Diamond Shark serving in the final round of the trials to participate in Operation Revival. "I have heard the story but I would need to verify the facts."
 
"Will you…"
 
"I will consider it." he told her.
 
The two sat in silence for the rest of the ride back to their jumpship. Perhaps Diana was wondering if he would agree to her petition. Or perhaps she understood him well enough to know that he was looking for the courage to ask her if Peri had found someone else or if he…
 
Part of the Jade Falcon preparation for one's first Trial of Position was to throw yourself at a sword in a show of resolve. That had frightened Aidan Pryde less than the idea of fatherhood.
 
He was perversely angry at Horse for not being there to advise him - the freeborn at least had a father of his own!
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===Exile to the Homeworlds===
Silverdale, Alshain
Clan Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone
27 June 3053
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Clan Smoke Jaguar's new lair had yet to be completed, but the mountain fortress was at least operational enough to house the Clan Council, letting them move out of the commandeered facilities in the city.
Located inside what had already been roughly carved into the shape of a Jaguar's head, looking out across Alshain, the circular council chamber had seats for a thousand warriors on the curved stone benches, a number that exceeded the current number of bloodnamed warriors in Clan Smoke Jaguar by more than two hundred.
 
As saKhan, Sarah Weaver had a throne-like chair on the quarter of the circle that was not occupied by benches, though her place and that of the loremaster were distinctly smaller than that currently graced by the buttocks of Khan Leo Showers.
 
For all her growing hatred for the machinations of the charismatic Khan, at the moment Sarah was fairly sure that they were of one mind: a desire to throttle the current speaker.
 
"I do not call for the replacement of our Khans," Paul Moon declared with the confidence of someone large enough that he probably wasn't going to be killed on the Council floor by anyone on the dais since he was at least forty centimeters taller and a hundred pounds heavier than any of them. "But the current situation is unacceptable and I would hear from them their plans to correct that."
 
The elemental turned slightly to address another quarter of the council. "Three years ago we were the spearhead of the Clans: returning in glory to restore the Star League and destroy the Scavenger Lords to profane these worlds. And then, through the ingratitude of those we are here to liberate, through the scheming of those who claim to be the custodians of Terra and through the ineptitude of two Khans who are no longer with us, we are bound to inaction!"
 
Moon flung out one arm to its full extent. "There," he boomed, "The Jade Falcons and the Nova Cats claw at the Federated Commonwealth! And there," his other arm indicated the opposite direction. "The Diamond Sharks are carving out their own empire from the bones of the Draconis Combine. And what is Clan Smoke Jaguar doing?"
 
"Nothing!" the man roared, turning towards the Khans' dais. "Nothing but snarling ineffectually, leashed by a corrupt bargain with the simpering Primus of ComStar. I ask of you, what will you do to end this?!"
 
Say what you would about Leo Showers, he wasn't one to shrink from a challenge. He rose to his feet and stared down at Paul Moon, taking advantage of his elevated position to offset the other warrior's height.
 
"We have grown weak!" the Khan declared, throwing a challenge out at the Council.
 
There was a hiss of disbelief from the Council - those were strong words.
 
"You reference failures, Paul Moon and you are not wrong. Let me add to that: we fought the Wolves for the right to cross their occupied worlds and storm the Federated Commonwealth… and we lost. We have probed the Sharks for the chance to strike further against the Draconis Combine and they did not even fight us, leaving that to the Ghost Bears - who seem entirely willing to be their lapdogs." Showers took one step forwards. "The other Clans forget their fear of our jaws and our claws. The Inner Sphere thinks us muzzled and ineffectual."
 
Then he folded his arms contemptuously. "Let them think that. Let them laugh and mock. Let them forget that we are stalking them now. The Smoke Jaguar does not strike when they please, we strike when we have gathered our might and that is where our weakness lies. I swear, that this weakness will be purged and we will strike down those who mistake unreadiness for unwillingness to wage war!"
 
The faces of many in the Clan Council went from anger at the opening to interest.
 
Paul Moon nodded his head. "Those are strong words, my Khan. Fighting words. I like them well, and I think I am not alone in that. But they are words, not actions and it is actions that count."
 
"Our losses over the past years have not been made good yet," Sarah said, not bothering to stand. Her words drew attention to her and away from the two men. "We are stronger than we were, but it is not yet enough to break free of our shackles."
 
"That is a harsh truth," Showers agreed. "The irony is that we are strong enough to pose a potential threat to the Combine, pinning down forces that they could use against the Diamond Sharks, but not strong enough to strike down any of our foes. But I have planned for this and our might will surge beyond their expectations. We have seized several sibkos from other Clans, young warriors - trueborn and eager to fight. Assignments are being drawn up now for officers to force this new generation - isorla and Jaguar born alike - into a powerful force. When Tau Galaxy is joined to the replenished Galaxies already in the Inner Sphere, we will be ready to strike decisively."
 
"And who will we strike at?" came a voice from the benches. "The Wolves? The Sharks? The Combine?"
 
The Khan shook his head. "We have one enemy above all others. One who stands between our Clan and our destiny to become the ilClan. But this must not be spoken of until the time is right. Surprise is also our weapon."
 
Anyone who could both think and breath knew he meant ComStar and Sarah frowned. But she said nothing. HPG components were another thing that was being acquired. They would be depending on smaller and less capable transmitters only suitable for military purposes, but that would be enough to remove the need for ComStar.
 
"If we break the truce, the other Clans may turn on us," a woman pointed out. "I do not doubt our fortitude but we cannot fight all of the Clans and ComStar and the Successor States all at once."
 
"That," Showers admitted, "is a good point. However, we are not the only Clan frustrated by being kept from joining the current battles. Both Clan Wolf and Clan Ghost Bear have a new generation of warriors rising up, eager for victories such as those won over the last few years but frustrated by their Clan's strategic positions. As ilKhan I came to know right-thinking officers in all of the Clans and I have not lost those contacts. Under my counsel, these officers are gathering warriors to them and speaking out against the leaders who tolerate it." He paused and looked at Paul Moon. "Your words earlier will be shared with them, Star Colonel. Your anger will speak to them, and inspire them. And when the warriors of all three Clans speak in favor of ending the truce… there will be sufficient support."
 
Moon knew that the recognition he was being offered was as much a trap as a reward, but he could hardly back down from his earlier words. Meddling in other Clans' affairs was frowned upon and now he would be open to criticism if this diplomacy backfired.
 
"I have said before, one additional Galaxy will not be enough," Sarah warned Showers as he returned to his seat.
 
"They will not just be any Galaxy," the khan told her. "they will be warriors in the image of our greatest battlefield commander, and led by her."
 
She frowned. "Who do you speak of?"
 
"You," Showers replied simply. "I always knew you had the heart of a Smoke Jaguar, but on Camlann you showed you also had the cunning. I want you to take personal command of Tau Galaxy, blood them against our enemies in the homeworlds and then bring them here to lead our advance."
 
Despite herself, Sarah warmed at the compliment. "You want me to go back to the Homeworlds?" she snapped, but her tone was less fierce than she had intended.
 
"One of us must." The Khan stretched slightly, looking around the council chamber as the bloodnamed warriors talked amongst themselves. "We have been away too long - it is not just the Khans of the other eleven Clans who have returned to the homeworlds, the Diamond Shark saKhan went back to Strana Mechty as well. Victory on Terra will be decided as much in the preparations made there as they are on the battlefields. And let's face it: you're bored."
 
"Bored?" Sarah exclaimed.
 
The former ilKhan nodded. "You're better at hiding it than most of us, but you want battle and there is none here. In the homeworlds, you can remind the other Clans of our might and whet your appetite for war while you prepare Tau."
 
The junior khan was about to dispute his words but the mention of other Clans sparked a thought. She sat back in her own throne and turned it over in her head.
 
One further galaxy was not going to be enough, whatever flattery Showers heaped on her. But there wer also limits - hard and fast limits - to what the Jaguars' factories could build and to the number of trueborn warriors that could be added to the touman. Raiding other Clans for their sibkos wasn't something that could be pushed too far, both because it made enemies and because those warriors hadn't been raised as Jaguars, leading to frictions.
 
However, Operation Revival was over. If the invasion resumed there was no longer any commitment to the previous corridors or to the previous limited number of Clans participating.
 
"I do not think anyone else is likely to do a better job of forming Tau Galaxy," she told him grudgingly. "I will accept this mission, but I expect a free hand to do what needs to be done."
 
"I cannot micromanage you from a thousand light years away, Sarah," Showers pointed out placatingly. "If I could then we wouldn't need a khan to return to Huntress in the first place."
 
No doubt his creatures will be watching me, Sarah thought to herself. Showers had led the Smoke Jaguars long enough to have officers loyal to him in all the key locations, even if they did not always play a commanding role. But so long as I am there and Khan, they cannot directly obstruct me. "We will both need to work on convincing the rest of the Grand Council to reject the truce. That means no bargains struck without my assent."
 
"Bargained well and done." He nodded a little smugly and looked back to the council where the next speaker had been selected and was stepping out into the middle of the room.
 
Sarah barely paid any attention to the discussion - complaints about the shortage of machine gun calibre ammunition, in light of the frequent riots. It was as if some of her peers didn't know that flamers and small pulse lasers were practically as good, and in some ways more effective. Her mind was much further away, considering which Khans might be approachable on the topic of entering the Inner Sphere… and what she might be able to offer them.
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Chapter 3-3