BtH67

==Chapter 67 - By the Horns==
------
First Circuit of ComStar
Hilton Head Island, North America
Terra
November 25th, 3025
----
Vesar Kristofur waited until the last of the sixteen members of First Circuit had entered the chamber and then he nodded at the guards. In response, they bowed low and sealed the doors—completing the enclosure of the Faraday cage built into the walls, isolating the First Circuit from all eavesdropping.
All sixteen were new to their posts; their predecessors having died during the October Coup . . . or the month that had passed since. Yet, new to their posts they may have been, some still had questions for their so-recently ascended Primus. Questions . . . and concerns about the orders which he had issued.
Vesar smiled and he nodded. So be it, he thought. I do not want sycophants advising me or serving me—that path leads to me like Julian Tiepolo and Myndo Waterly. And he nodded to himself. Give me men and women strong enough to question me—to make me consider my actions. A Council worthy of serving me—serving Terra.
“Precentors, the Chamber is sealed,” he began. “Ask of me your questions—and I shall answer them plainly.”
“This plan, this order, that you have sent out,” snarled Vincent Palmer, Precentor Oriente, “Holy Shroud II failed to accomplish its goals—yet you seek to start this Operation a third time?”
“Our goals are not as ambitious—Holy Shroud I and II both sought to destroy the research accomplished by scientists of the Inner Sphere, and the scientists as well, throughout the entirety of the Inner Sphere. Destroying information on two thousand separate worlds is an ambitious goal, one that we are not attempting to duplicate. Holy Shroud III will be concerned solely with the Taurian Concordat,” Vesar said with a grim smile. “I do believe that ROM and our special operations units augmenting them will be able to deal with scientists and researchers and educators on a mere thirty-eight worlds. We need not destroy the Taurian Core, ladies and gentlemen; if we kill those who can unlock its secrets than it poses to us no threat.”
“The Taurians have already shown that they are not willing to be pushed—look at the blow they dealt to McCarron’s Armored Cavalry!” interjected Tabitha Shaw, Precentor Sian.
“Ah, Tabitha,” Vesar laughed. “But here there is no invasion of the Concordat. No hated foe which to focus the Taurian people against . . . it is a war of knives in the shadows. A war that we excel at . . . and the Taurians will not realize we are coming until it is too late. Their domestic intelligence services are good, I will grant—but they are not in the same league as ROM. Do you disagree?”
“No, Primus,” Precentor Sian answered. “I would caution, however, that Thomas Calderon is not one to underestimate; others—in this very chamber—have already done so to their great regret.”
“You need fear nothing upon that score, Tabitha,” Vesar nodded his agreement. “He may be a barbarian from the Periphery—but he is a crafty and cunning barbarian. Rest assured that soon enough, Thomas will be of no concern to us; nor his family.” The Primus smiled. “In fact, with the demise of the Calderons, I would expect that internal turmoil will occupy the Concordat for years to come.”
“There are a great many Calderons, Primus,” warned Neil Kikwete, Precentor Altair. “Destroying them all is rather . . . ambitious.”
“Forgive me, Precentor Altair,” Vesar laughed. “I should have said the ruling line of the Calderons—once Thomas, his brother and sister—and all of their children—have been eliminated, strife between the remaining Calderons will need no prodding from us to commence. We will, of course, be targeting high-ranking Calderons in their government and military, as well as the ruling line . . . leaving only those distant relations who will squabble and,” Vesar smiled, “with no small amount of gentle prodding, instigate a Civil War in the Hyades.”
“True,” added Precentor New Avalon, Janice Kirk, “but as you have said, Primus; the Taurian domestic intelligence is rather good. Their security for the Protector—and his family—is substantial.”
“ROM has already considered that . . . haven’t you, Charles?” Vesar answered with a nod at the very young man whom he had appointed to run ComStar’s intelligence agency.
Charles Seneca nodded and he smiled. “We have indeed. It helps that the Calderons do not isolate themselves or their families behind fortifications; they are seen among the denizens of their capital quite frequently . . . which gives my people a shot at accomplishing this task.”
Dennis Rainer (Precentor Tharkad) snorted. “That’s all well and good—but I can tell you for a fact that Melissa Arthur Steiner is a far more difficult target.”
Vesar laughed. “She is indeed—but she has a wild heart, Dennis. I do believe that I read in the dossier that she loves to leave behind the Triad and wander in the wilds surrounding Tharkad City . . . with a very small detail trailing her.” He shivered theatrically. “Brings to mind several faerie tales of little princesses getting lost in the woods, all alone. But this faerie tale will not end well for little Melissa; no, not this time.”
“It won’t be as easy as that, Primus.” Dennis said as he shook his head.
“Nothing ever is, Precentor Tharkad,” Vesar answered with a bow. “Any further questions? Inquiries? Requests?”
For a moment there was silence, and then Jan Chow, Precentor Dieron looked up from his podium. “I would know of these . . . foreign mercenaries which you brought with you to Terra. They are not ComStar, but now? With your assumption of power? Now, they are here in great numbers, even more arriving with every DropShip—and their equipment!” Chow barked in trepidation. “These are no mere mercenaries, there are not enough mercenaries available for you to have hired them on such short notice!”
Vesar laughed. “I was exiled to the Periphery after the Marik Civil War, Precentor Dieron. Not to serve as an honored Precentor on Canopus or Taurus or Alphard—no,” he continued in a sour, bitter voice. “Julian Tiepolo sent me away to die in ignominy. But he never considered what I might discover out there in the long-lost stars of what was once the Rim Worlds Republic.” Vesar paused and then he nodded.
“I discovered—rediscovered,” he corrected himself with a smile, “a group of eight worlds reduced to barbarism almost eight years ago.” and his smile vanished. “Eight years. It is hard to believe that such time has passed, for I have been busy in the Periphery.” He paused again and nodded, then he continued. “Kerensky and his campaign was thorough in the Rim Worlds—and the Lyrans finished that realm after the Exodus. But the man wasn’t a god and the speed with which he had to finish the campaign and turn his attention to Stefan Amaris on Terra; well,” he grinned again. “Let us say that he missed some choice assets that Amaris had gone to a great deal of trouble to conceal.”
“Rim-worlders?” Precentor Kirk asked in an incredulous voice.
Vesar nodded his head. “Incredible, is it not? Eight worlds that lost the ability to travel between the stars—whose populations reverted to barbarism and a mythology concerning Stefan the ‘Great’ and his promise to one day return to them. The factories there were long-ruined, but for many, many years after they lost contact with the Inner Sphere and Stefan Amaris, they continued to produce and store military equipment. The same factories that provided the Territorial States with the hidden armies they used to good effect in the Uprising.”
A shocked gasp emerged from the ranks of the Precentors and Vesar’s grin grew larger. “They may be barbarians and unused to our amenities—quite mocking of the truth of Blake’s Word as well—but they retained their warrior culture. And they have agreed to serve me. Only me,” he said sternly as the smile vanished and the temperature in the First Circuit seemed to drop several degrees.
“How large a force are we speaking of?” asked Precentor Shaw.
“They have three thousand ‘Mechs in storage—ten times that number of tanks. And in a few years time, they will have enough trained soldiers to man all of that equipment.”
“Rim Worlds equipment from before the Coup—our own ComGuard and Militia uses advanced Star League combat vehicles and ‘Mechs. Will not this dilute our force strength?” Tabitha Shaw continued.
Vesar laughed a second time. “Quantity has a quality all its own, Tabitha. And twenty-seven plus regiments of ‘Mechs—ten times of armor—is a force that make even the Great Houses stand up and take notice.”
The Precentors began to exchange glances with each other, nervous and worried. “Can you trust these neo-barbarians from the Rim, Primus?” Palmer asked.
And now the laughter of Vesar Kristofur deepened and he slapped his own knee in amusement. “I do not trust you, Precentor Oriente—I trust no one. Not anymore,” he said after he finished his laughter. “The ComGuard will be expanding as well and when we recover all of their equipment, then we will dispose of the Periphery trash piloting those ‘Mechs. And replace them with good, loyal members of ComStar.” His grinned became infectious. “Firm believers in the Word of Blake and the Supremacy of Terra one and all.” He gestured at the First Circuit. “Unless, that is, one of you have a better plan to deal with all of the many threats arrayed against this organization at this time?”
For several moments there was only silence as one by one, the Precentors exchanged glances and then slowly nodded. Finally, Precentor Atreus spoke. “I move that the First Circuit approve the plans suggested by the Primus—by acclamation. I see no need to bring it to an official vote; is there a second?”
“Aye,” another Precentor whispered.
“All in favor?” Vesar said in an amiable voice—and he smiled wider as each and every member of the First Circuit spoke at the same time. “Good. Then let us begin.”
----
*Wiki Editor Note: The chapter was altered due to changing of Vesar Kiristofur's ambition and his aim. Originally, the author had written earlier version of this chapter which had his origins as descendent of Clan Wolverine, to save humanity & destroy Calderon's family and Wolf's Dragoons. This has been replaced with above chapter. The old chapter is not shown here.
----
Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
Category:By the Horns Chapters