BtH51

==Chapter 51 - By the Horns==
------
TDF Field Headquarters
Tabernas Wastelands, New Vallis
Taurian Concordat
November 21st, 3025
----
“This wasn’t what we talked about, Edward,” Ardan whispered quietly to the young man—the newly appointed deputy commander of the defense of New Vallis. “I didn’t give you the Eighth’s encryption codes and transmission frequencies so that you could sucker the Sixth into walking straight into a trap. You are baiting Michael into landing . . . I thought that we were going to give his soldiers a chance to make their choice.”
“We are,” Edward answered just as softly so that the members of Marshal Calderon’s staff could not overhear. “Just as soon as he is in deep enough that Michael can’t decide to run off and actually become a pirate with an entire FedSuns RCT behind him.” And Edward grinned slightly. “And just as soon as our reinforcements arrive from Taurus to seize those ships at the jump-point.”
“Reinforcements? Seize those ships?” Ardan sputtered—quite a bit louder than he had intended.
“Michael Hasek-Davion made the deliberate decision to invade the Taurian Concordat, Mister Sortek,” Edward said in a flat voice. “Protector Thomas made the decision to order Samantha Calderon to jump in once we confirmed his exact jump-point—the courier will be departing in just a very few minutes from the Nadir point to bring that information to Gateway. Samantha Calderon will be carrying more than twelve hundred troopers of the Special Asteroid Support Force along with prize crews who will board and seize Michael’s transports.”
“Those JumpShips do not belong to Michael—they are the property of the AFFS!”
“Hanse Davion has already written off those ships, Ardan,” Edward continued. “They have been stolen by these . . . pirates and renegades, as he himself confirmed when he released the news of the mutiny by the Sixth Fusiliers. We will seize them and we will integrate those ships into the Taurian Concordat Navy.” Edward paused and he chose his next words carefully. “However, with the plenipotentiary authority granted unto me by the Protector to deal with this crisis—and negotiate with Hanse Davion once our business is finished here—I will allow your ‘mercenaries’ to take the crews of those ships with you when you return home. They may be have been forced by Michael and his troops to provide transport, after all.”
“And the members of the Sixth who surrender? If any of them do surrender; what of them?”
“They will tried as pirates and renegades—all of those found guilty will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment on a Taurian penal colony . . . except their leaders, who will be hung by the neck until their deaths.”
Ardan shook his head. “Die fast or die slow? That’s their choice?”
“Their lives were forfeit the moment that Hanse Davion declared the Sixth to be in a state of mutiny, Ardan—you know that,” Edward whispered, and then he looked down and swallowed before he lifted his head again and stared the older man directly in his eyes. “Father wanted them all hung—getting this much of a reprieve is all that I can do. I will promise you this much . . . their term will be five years and they will not be sent to a hellworld. If they serve out their sentences with honor, they will be repatriated to the Federated Suns. This decision applies only to those troops who lay down arms after receiving the message from Prince Davion; those who fight on Taurian soil are dead men, whether they die hanging from a noose or fighting against the Defense Force, they will die.”
Ardan Sortek—the best friend and martial companion of the First Prince of the Federated Suns—stared at Edward for several silent minutes before he finally nodded. “You are going to be a dangerous man, Edward, when you become Protector. But I think Hanse will understand you—and be able to work with you to keep the peace out here.”
“I hope so, Ardan,” Edward answered as he slowly exhaled. “I pray it so—let this be the final battle between the Bull and the Sword,” and then he chuckled grimly. “The Blood of Christ washes away sins, or so I’ve been taught—perhaps this shedding of blood will allow us both to bury the past.”
“Amen.” Ardan answered—but deep in his heart, he knew that the problems between the two nations and their peoples would never be solved this . . . easily.
“Lord Calderon,” Marshal Corey Calderon said with a bow of his head as he interrupted the two men. “The DropShips are entering low orbit—there are rather more of them than I imagined,” his voice held a bit of surprise. “And the Nadir recharge station reports that the courier is away.”
“Very well, Marshal—cease the jamming and send the first message. In the clear and on a general broadcast,” Edward ordered.
“You heard the man,” Corey spat to his staff as he gingerly sat down in front of a monitor screen and put on a headset. “Do it. What’s the command phrase for if they don’t decide to lay down arms?”
“Let not one damn cur pass by,” a staff Brigadier answered with a wry smile.
Corey snorted. “How many of them can we make die! Damn straight, son,” he smiled at Edward. “Come Hell or Davions or the Star League Reborn, we’ll give them a fight that they won’t soon forget.”
Edward just patted the old man on the shoulder and then one of the staff turned around. “We are ready to cut jamming and transmit, Lord Calderon.”
“Make it happen,” Edward ordered—and only Ardan heard him whisper thereafter, “and may God have mercy on my soul.”
----
Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
Category:By the Horns Chapters