SotU2 Chpt 22

=Chapter 22=
Part Four - Dieudonne
My stage is shared by many millions
Who lift their hands up high because they feel this
We are one we are strong
The more you hold us down the more we press on
==State of the Union - Book 2==
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Kirin River, Irian
Free Worlds League
25th July, 3065
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Several weeks and scores of light years later, if not in a straight line, the cousins met again in Isis’ mansion on Irian. Jumpship diplomacy was wearing, Isis had found. She hadn’t even visited a planet, simply hopped from system to system and engaged in long range transmissions with the leaders of the worlds she was travelling past. Travelling to the planets and back would have taken about twice as long as was needed for the jumpship drive to recharge, so to visit as many people as possible she’d spent much of her time at jump points.
The meeting room was more of a secondary dining hall, but Isis had ordered a modern holo-display installed so it could serve for conferences. At the moment, the entire Free Worlds League hung in the air above the table, casting a purplish glow across the faces of those present.
“Your grace, I’m happy to attend this meeting.” Lucy Mountash’s face suggested less than total sincerity. “However, as I understand it, the provincial government remains Irian’s Board of Directors.” The general of the Seventh Free Worlds Legion had the decency not to add ‘rather than you’ to that statement.
“I’ve discussed this with Sigmund Hughes.” Isis replied, having expected this. The meeting with Irian’s CEO had been grueling, but with one of his major supporters, the Humphries voting bloc, on shaky ground. Isis had been able to bring him around. She tapped a control on her comm and sent a file to those of the FWLM officers present. One of those little groundwork details that let her not only keep the meeting going but also to look organized and on top of things. Of such details, leadership was made.
“I’ve sent you all copies of a formal decision of the board, appointing me as ambassador plenipotentiary of the Irian provincial government, with full authority to negotiate on their behalf with other Free Worlds provinces and federal authorities, including the military.”
It was an exceptionally open-ended remit, but either Hughes or Isis could cancel it essentially at will. Of course, the moment either of them did, that would also terminate Hughes’ authority to vote as Isis’ proxy during shareholder meetings. For now it would serve them equally well - Isis could essentially direct Irian’s foreign policy with Hughes backing, while he would retain and even enhance his dominance over the Board of Directors. And best of all, from his point of view, it would mean Isis spending even more time off Irian.
Kelian Brackley was the first to finish reading the document. “This seems to be in order,” the commander of the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons confirmed. “I trust that you won’t be asking anything that would violate our oaths to the Free Worlds League?”
Mountash eyed him and then nodded. Isis hid a sigh of relief. Brackley had been brought in by Alys, who had an old friend in the Twelfth Dragoons, but he was also well acquainted with General Mountash. The two of them had served together during the 3058 invasion of the Federated Commonwealth.
“I respect those oaths and your commitment to them.” Isis assured Brackley. “We are faced by a civil war and I’ve had more opportunity than most people in this room to see how damaging those can be.”
“By all reports from the Federated Commonwealth, their conflicts were devastating.” agreed Mountash.
Isis shook her head. “Predictions by Victor Steiner-Davion’s staff were for a conflict lasting three to four years as their best case scenario. If Peter Steiner-Davion hadn’t returned and so suddenly tipped the balance on New Avalon, it is very probable that the Steiner-Davions would still be fighting each other, at the same horrendous cost in both material, infrastructure and lives. On Coventry, a warship bombarded the surface - I was in the system at the time - and a similar attempt was only narrowly averted over Kathil. And now we have not only regiments taking sides between the factions claiming the Captain-Generalcy but warships. Indeed, more than a dozen warships are reported as having left their patrol areas without orders, and it’s unclear who, if anyone, they answer to.”
“So what do you want from us?” Colonel Reissing cut to the heart of the issue.
“There’s going to be considerable pressure on all of us to pick sides,” Alys told him. She indicated the holo-map. “with the Prince of Regulus declaring himself as Captain-General, there’s now a three-sided war. Which could potentially rage across most of the League with three of the largest provinces each taking different sides. But there are still sizeable areas where none of the three claimants have a strong power base.”
The colonel of the Thirteenth Marik Militia nodded slowly. “In particular, our border with the Federated Commonwealth.”
While the Capellan border region was a network of comparatively powerful provinces that had enlarged themselves at the expense of their weaker neighbor since the fall of the original Star League, almost three centuries before, the Lyran border had always been a more even contest, with worlds changing hand back and forth. As a result, there were very few multi-systems provinces along the border, and none to rival the great powers of the Free Worlds League.
As a result, there were few leaders who could bring great swathes of the border to the side of Corinne, Thomas, or Kirc. Appeals to the provinces would no doubt be made but for now the focus was on swaying more prominent sources of support.
Isis indicated the lines marking out the four military districts that functioned as the main administrative divides within the FWLM. “Oriente and Ryerson districts include the vast bulk of the Halas and Cameron-Jones support base, with Andurien contemplating secession at the far end of Ryerson district and a smattering of Corinne’s supporters at the nearer end of Oriente. It’s unfortunately all but unavoidable that these regions will be fought over fiercely and that’ll pull units away from the border with the Federated Commonwealth where the bulk of the Marik Commonwealth will make it difficult for Halas or Cameron-Jones to gain traction.”
“Doesn’t your aunt control Tamarind District?” asked Brackley. “Her husband is the Marshal there.”
“More influence than control,” admitted Isis. “We’ve had messages that Duchess Marik managed to reach Tamarind, along with her son Photon, but as far as we’ve heard there have been no further suggestions to put him forward as Captain-General. From what we can tell, Marshal Brett and our aunt are focusing on maintaining the security of the region and aren’t throwing their support to anyone.”
“That leaves Dieudonne,” continued Alys smoothly. She took control of the map and focused in on their quarter of the League. “we’re closer to the likely battlefields of between Corinne and Thomas, so we’re in ready striking range. Any of the industrial worlds of the region throwing their support to one of the claimants could tip the balance, but for that reason anyone who does is opening themselves up to raids or even invasion.”
On the map, the industrial worlds lit up in orange, flames that threatened spread to their neighbors.
“And on the border with the Commonwealth, we’ve already seen units being pulled away from fight for the central regions of the League. Something that’s opening up vulnerabilities if the Federated Commonwealth elects to take the opportunity.”
More orange lights. More fires.
“I realize that fighting over a vacant throne has been the norm for long before any of us were born.” Isis could see the reflected light glittering in Alys’ eyes. “But if we take anything from the Succession Wars, let’s acknowledge that a multi-sided war is unlikely to end quickly or without massive collateral damage.”
“So what’s your solution?” asked Mountash. She reached into her uniform jacket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it without asking permission. “You have a plan, I assume?”
Isis nodded. “We have agreements from seven other provinces in the area to declare our neutrality in terms of who becomes Captain-General. And because that neutrality would be toothless without the arms to enforce it, we also have support from three major military suppliers to priorities provincial and federal forces that remain neutral. We intend to continue approaching provincial and military leaders in this region to ensure that whoever emerges triumphant in this war, that we still have a functional Free Worlds League for them to lead.”
Reissing rubbed his chin. “So, you don’t care who wins?”
“If I thought any of them were clearly a good choice, I’d throw my support behind them,” Alys told him. “but at this point all we can really do is try to mitigate the damage they do.”
“Four regiments is a start.” Brackley pushed his chair back and stood to lean into the hologram of the League. “Who else do you think can be persuaded?”
“Five.” Isis indicated Connaught. “The Eighteenth Marik Militia have agreed to remain in place on Connaught. They didn’t manage to get a representative here, but they’re on board.”
“Even better.” Brackley glanced at the other two officers present. “What about the two of you.”
General Mountash snorted. “The last orders I had from Dieudonne or Atreus were to ensure Irian was secure. This seems to fit with that.”
There was a pause and everyone looked at Reissing, who smiled slightly. “If either of you decides later that this is a base for appointing yourself Captain-General, I will be displeased.” He didn’t expand on what that would involve, but Isis thought it was as good as they were likely to get.
“Alright, so we might be able to convince the Sixth Legion to sign on with that.” offered Mountash. “They got gutted by SAFE a few years ago and there’s a lot of resentment. They’re on Oliver, facing the Commonwealth so a guarantee of supply lines and support if they come under attack should carry a lot of weight...”
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