BtH31

==Chapter 31 - By the Horns==
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The Palace of the First Prince
Avalon City, New Avalon
Federated Suns
November 4th, 3025
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“I . . . I . . . I . . .,” Hanse sputtered after reading the dispatch. Quintus just nodded his agreement.
“Our agent on Kaitangata received the encrypted message and used a one-time pad to retransmit via HPG Priority Dispatch straight to us,” he said as Hanse collected himself slowly. “We have two days before those DropShips arrive at the New Syrtis jump point—after that, if Michael has any brains at all, they won’t go NEAR a system with an HPG . . . at least not until they fall upon three Taurian border worlds.”
“Does he,” and Quintus needed no explanation of whom the word he referred to, “believe that I will hail him as a conquering hero in the event that he captures New Ganymede?” Hanse growled through clenched jaws—and Quintus winced as he could hear the molars in Hanse’s jaw grating against each other.
“The mineral output from New Ganymede is quite impressive—especially the Germanium recovery. And if he can take away three Taurian worlds there will be a LOT of the nobility asking why the First Prince isn’t taking advantage of the Interdiction to add to THEIR domains. All for the glory of the Federated Suns, of course.”
“Of course,” Hanse answered sourly. Then he cocked his head at Quintus. “Can you get a message there before they can depart New Syrtis? And have you an agent on Michael’s staff?”
“It will be close—and yes, my Prince.”
“Good. The 2nd Ceti Hussars are still on Frazer, correct?”
“They are, my Prince,” Quintus said with a nod. The Assault Guards were en route to Frazer to replace the 2nd Ceti on the frontier as that unit rotated back to the Crucis March for a long overdue period of repairs to their machines and integrating replacements.
“Transmit this to Marshal Cline as well as to your people on New Syrtis—tell Alan that I want the 2nd to take up station along Michael’s invasion route. He is to MAKE those idiots hear my words if we miss them at New Syrtis,” Hanse paused, but it wasn’t to reconsider—it was to make certain that Quintus Allard understood his next orders fully. “And if Michael doesn’t back down—if he attempts to continue on, I authorize Marshal Cline to have his aerospace wing employ Alamos against Michael and any JumpShip and docked DropShips that follow him. That includes my Assault Guards, Quintus—if they decline to follow my orders to the letter.”
Quintus blinked as he stood there. The Alamo missiles carried a 5 kiloton warhead—more than ample enough to kill any JumpShip ever constructed. And Hanse nodded grimly. “I’ll give my brother-in-law one chance to back off, Quintus—but if getting our hands on a copy of that Core means nuking the hell out of Michael Hasek-Davion and five or six RCTs . . . yeah, I’ll do that.”
“Sire,” Quintus said with a bow. “And if Michael doesn’t take one of the routes that Marshal Cline will be picketing?”
“Get that message out, Quintus,” Hanse whispered. “We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.”
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