TBntG-2 Chpt 1

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 1 - Book II - The Ninety-five Theses==
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===Beginnings===
Coreward region of the Periphery, June 3027
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It reminds me of Brannis when I was growing up. Mary shook her head as she walked away from the Dropship. The port was really just a huge empty plain, many areas torn up so badly by Dropships that they couldn't be used until someone brought out some earth movers to smooth the surface. 
There were scattered Dropships, customers of the few JumpShips the RCT had detected on the way in.
The speed they'd deployed at proved the scuttlebutt was right—Edward wanted to strike while the iron was hot, and they'd staged through the Commonwealth while the Third had staged through the Draconis Combine, with a bit of diplomatic dickwaving when they'd moved through the Federated Suns to the Combine. Some Federated Suns official had decided that diplomatic pouch or no, he had to investigate for agricultural parasites. 
And the laugh is—he was being honest. Just someone who was so completely tunnel visioned that it'd taken a direct order from Hanse Davion to clear everything up. 
I don't envy Gregory for his command. The Combine was a friendly neutral to the Concordat, and Mary understood why, but even a blind person could see that it wasn't like them. Not like the Lyrans, or the Free Worlds League or hell, even the Davions. But she wasn't the Protector.
"Thank God and All his Angels." 
"General?" the diplomatic aide asked. Like Mary, Mark Stevens was young for his posting, but he'd done his doctorate about the Rim Worlds Republic's successor states.
Mary shook her head. "Nothing." 
And then she saw the convoy approaching them. There were several quite modern armored cars, imported from the Lyrans. If Mary was any judge, two Wasps on the side, and a…
"What's that.."
"The Royal transport." Glancing at Mary, Mark gestured. "The king said he won't drive in some expensive toy, so the royal transport is locally sourced, every bit of it."
It looks like it. Slabs of armor, likely because it was industrial grade, a half-dozen exhausts connected to the grumbling ICE engine, and no less than 12 wheels, probably because the aforementioned industrial grade armor was heavy as hell. 
On the other hand, there was a certain bit of pride to it. We built this. 
Like Brannis and their steamers. 
But the vehicle came to a halt, and moments later, a door suited for an APC opened, a pair of expensively dressed guards (but with every well maintained laser rifles), jumped out and took up positions. Behind her, Mary knew that the TDF contingent were observing the guards.
And then Hendrick Grimm III emerged. All of him. 
He was fat, but it wasn't a helpless fat. He might be waddling and balding, but he moved with an assurance that showed he was fit. He was smiling at Mary as he towered over her, and his booming voice echoed over the port. 
"Greetings, Cousins from the Periphery! I've prepared a feast for us all, so that you can recover from your trip through the savage wilderness of the Inner Sphere!" 
"Well, it has been a long trip, Your Majesty," Mary said. "Though I'm not certain of too much of a feast—I know my people are just dying to start their PT again." She paused. "This is my diplomatic aide, Mark Stevens."
"Ah! Excellent, I trust he shall be more helpful than the diplomats you were saddled with during that unfortunate affair in Arugia."
Mary paused. How did he… And then Hendrick smiled again, but his eyes were shrewd. 
It doesn't matter how he knows. He knows. And that means he has some sources of information we don't know about. Which he has just told me so that I don't waste everyone's time by assuming he's an idiot.
"I would like to think I learned a great deal from our mistakes."
"Excellent,may I congratulate you and your forces on removing Redjack Ryan from the world of the living?" Now the king looked anything but friendly. "I would have liked to have done it myself, but alas, we cannot have all of our dreams."
"No. But I just comfort myself knowing that he's dead."
"Indeed!" Hendrick boomed. "Now let us be off, and let me introduce you to the creation of our world's engineers!"
Well, it's on the ground, so it can't fall out of the sky., Mary thought, as she and her staff were herded into the luxurious interior. Who has a chandelier on an APC?
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Throne Room
Sian, Capellan Confederation
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"And he has been inserted?"
"Yes, Celestial Wisdom. The subject took a vacation for mountain climbing. And we were able to secure the subject and obtain all the information we needed. The assistance of—"
Max cleared his throat, and the man fell silent. "There is no need to mention that party. Even here." Normally I'd fear betrayal, but they have as much to lose as we do. But it would do well to not risk anyone else finding out.
"Yes, Celestial Wisdom. The cosmetic surgical procedures were successful, as was the interrogation since there was no need to preserve the body. We disposed of the subject and inserted your man. As per your orders, he will take no action until the message is sent."
"Good." It would be tempting to use him as a source of information, but that would expose him to detection, much like My Hanse, who will never consciously realize he is serving my interests. 
Maximilian enjoyed watching Davion's speeches. He himself couldn't tell the difference. 
But no, he needed no information, and the Taurians were just another Periphery nation, a slightly more civilized group of bandit kings squatting on ancient glories and taking advantage of the knowledge their betters had left them. But they would be very useful to him, when the time came.
 
"Leave the trigger information with me."
"Yes, Celestial Wisdom."
Because when I need them to carry out my will, what better way to do so than offer them an alliance to take vengeance on Davion after one of his secret agents kills the Protector and his entire family?
With that, he rose and left the room, ignoring the kneeling scientists. He had much to do, after all.
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Book 2 - 01