AATiPDC Chpt 18

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==Chapter 18 - An American Tanker in Prince Davion's Court==
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===After-Action Report===
The Fox’ Den, Mount Davion
New Avalon, Federated Suns
March 16th, 3029
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One the last of the Liao attackers has been defeated, Hanse Davion calls for a staff meeting at the Fox’ Den.
When his officers and staff are assembled, the First Prince says “Field Marshal Davion, your report, please.”
“Yes, your highness. The attack’s main objective was to destroy NAIS; in furtherance of this objective, the Liao dedicated five full battalions of battlemechs; 180 machines in total. The two battalions of ‘mechs sent against Avalon City were nothing more than a diversion. It is plain to me that word of our recovery of the Helm and New Dallas caches leaked out.”
“Casualties?”
“Sir, the Crucis March Militia lost eight machines, four of whom are constructive total losses; the remaining four can and will be repaired. As for the Hong Kong Cavaliers, Dr. Banzai tells me that 13 of his battlemechs were destroyed; of these, eight are constructive total losses. He also said that General Hodges’ new technology was of critical importance in the successful conclusion of the engagement; the rangefinders and stabilization systems gave an advantage in accuracy that the Liao simply couldn’t overcome.”
Just then, General Hodges receives a call on his personal communicator; he steps away from the conference table and answers “Yes?”
<<“James, this is Kym. I just wanted to let you know that I’m safe. The bad guys sent a whole platoon of infantry against the house, supported by two wheeled transports and two BattleMechs (a Stinger and a Locust). I caught those Liao idiots by surprise when I used that old cannon of yours to wipe out half the attacking infantry with a single blast; a whiff of triple canister and grape, so to speak.”>>
“How about survivors?”
<<“I have eight prisoners in hand; you know one of them. He’s Tsen Shang, Romano Liao’s husband, injured but alive.”>>
“Kym, from the tone in your voice, there’s something you’re not telling me. Spill it…”
“I regret to tell you that his house was wrecked; I’m sorry I couldn’t save it.”
“THEY DID WHAT??”
Hodges’ exclamation is almost a shout, so much so that Hanse Davion and the other officers at the conference table look over at him. The First Prince says “General Hodges, is there something amiss?”
“Yes sir, there is. Kym Sorenson tells me that she successfully defended my property and took several prisoners in so doing. Among them is Romano Liao’s husband Tsen Shang….”
“Oh, really? That is welcome news indeed.” To Quintus Allard, the First Price says “send a squad of agents to General Hodges’ house and take custody of the prisoners. As the general says, there’s no way that Romano Liao could have pulled this off without Comstar’s direct involvement. Tsen Shang would have all of the relevant details, so I want him interrogated.”
“Yes, your highness.”
Hanse Davion turns his attention back to General Hodges and says “What else?” A look of sublime, almost tranquil fury descends on Hodges’ face as he replies “Your highness, those miserable shits destroyed my house; I courted my wife there, my children were conceived there and my youngest was born in the living room. You want to know how angry I am? Well, ask yourself how you would feel if someone dug up one of your ancestors, cut off his head and kicked it around like a soccer ball? Then, you’ll understand…” By a supreme act of will. General Hodges recovers his composure. A moment thereafter, he says “Your highness, those people task me; they task me and I mean to have them. I will chase them ‘round the moons of Nibia and ‘round the Antares Maelstrom and ‘round Perdition’s flames before I give them up.”
“Err, yes. Recommendations?”
“Your highness, capturing Tsen Shang alive is an intelligence coup of unparalleled magnitude. I am reminded of the situation on September 13th, 1862, when a copy of General Robert E. Lee’s Special Order No. 191 (to General D.H Hill for the coming engagement at Antietam) was discovered by a pair of Union cavalry troopers and forwarded up the chain of command; it was only General George McClellan’s slow, cautious response that kept the Army of the Potomac from wiping out Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.”
“Indeed. You may rest assured that I will fully avail myself of the opportunity presented here.”
“Yes, sir. When Myndo Waterly gets word of how the raid failed, she’s going to be livid. MY assessment of her personality is that, instead of accepting the failure and moving forward, Waterly will look for someone to blame. I suggest that you fan the flames of her paranoia and and send a message saying that you had advance knowledge of the attack and that you know of Comstar’s involvement. Say also that the price of not exposing Comstar’s perfidy will be the immediate lifting of the communications interdict. Then, later on at a time of your choosing, release the information anyway. With your permission, I’d like to send a personal message of my own to Romano Liao.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Your highness, Romano hates me with a mad passion for what previously passed between us. The angrier she gets, the better I like it because anger is a poor servant and an even worse master. So, I want to fan her flames by saying that, if she wants Tsen Shang back, she is to present herself to me in person.”
“I very much doubt she’d do that, General; if Romano were to do so, what would be your intention?”
“Why nothing more than taking Romano over my knee and giving her a good spanking. After all, if she wants to behave like a spoiled, petulant child, she should expect to be treated as such.”
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