With A Bared Sword

drakensis · Nov 2, 2024

With A Bared Sword
(A Battletech Alternate Universe by Drakensis)

Oh, the power to be strong
And the wisdom to be wise
All these things will come to you in time
On this journey that you're making
There'll be answers that you'll seek
And it's you who'll climb the mountain
It's you who'll reach the peak
- Son of Man, Phil Collins

Prologue - Denial

New Avalon Institute of Science, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
18 June 3052

Kate was vaguely aware of a chirping.

She wasn't sure how a bird had gotten into her dorm room, the windows couldn't be opened and no pets were allowed. But it was damned annoying, and it was waking her up.

During three years of military education, the young woman had learned that you sleep when you can because the enemy, in this case the professors, will sooner or later give you no chance to sleep. Not being awake was a precious commodity and this damned bird was - !

Her eyes snapped open and the blur of white in front of her told a familiar story: she had fallen asleep at her desk again. With what felt like a herculean effort, she lifted her head off her forearms, blinking away the tears as her eyes adjusted to no longer being shielded from the lamps.

The two person dorm room was as far away from how she'd been raised as she could imagine. The blonde was academically aware that some people lived in such poverty that the cold plastic floor and thinly-plastered cement block walls would be considered a step up. Field exercises had been a shock to her system, but those were outdoors so there hadn't been any expectation of a roof and walls there.

It was a double room, but her roommate for this year hadn't arrived yet so the upper bunk was still a bare mattress, while Kate's was made up to the expectations of drill sergeants. She probably ought to actually sleep on it, she thought, remembering being screamed at by a platoon lead and accused of thinking 'the issue bed wasn't good enough for her'.

The bird was still chirping and it wasn't until Kate finished rubbing her eyes that she realized it wasn't a bird - the shared comm-unit between the two desks was pinging for an inbound call.

With a groan, she pushed her notes on the right arm mechanism from a Guillotine battlemech aside, picked up the comm-unit and dropped it in front of her, stabbing the accept button. "What?"

"Kathy, you have ink on your face," her older brother said in a choked voice.

She was about to yell at Victor for waking her at - she looked at the comm's clock - more than an hour after midnight, before she remembered that Victor wasn't on New Avalon. He probably wasn't even in the star system yet - there was no way he could be calling her so this was a dream.

"Godammit," she muttered, "Why can't I dream about a solution for this damned myomer bundle, not a prank call." Her finger found the disconnect button and pressed it.

Arching her back, Kate twisted, trying to work out the familiar aches of sleeping hunched over her desk.

…wait, why was she feeling those aches if she was dreaming?

The comm pinged again and Kate groaned. Then, with great reluctance, she accepted the call. Once again she saw her brother's face appear on the small screen. "Victor, why are you calling me in the middle of the night? How are you calling me in the middle of the night?"

"Kathy, you need to come to the castle now."

"Wh-what?" She wiped her eyes again with the heel of one hand. "Hi Victor, long time, no see, you look well…?"

Victor looked like he wanted to swear. "Stop playing around."

"Oh I'm sorry, it's the middle of the night. I was asleep!"

"With ink on your face."

"Fine, fine!" She turned away and yanked open a drawer, looking for a mirror and some wet wipes to get the ink off her face. Her brother made an angry noise and Kate looked back at the comm. "What now?"

"Don't you know better than to fall asleep at your desk?"

(Someone in the background on Victor's end said something like "whole family of kettles")

"What are you even doing on New Avalon?" she asked, finding the wet wipes but no mirror. Taking one and wiping her cheeks blindly, she looked back at the comm, "Am I getting the ink off?"

"A bit higher," Victor said dumbly, indicating his own cheekbone.

"Thanks. Why are you early?" She paused and remembered her manners. "Welcome back. I'm glad you made it through, but why call me in the middle of the night?"

Victor took a deep breath. "Kathy, you need to come back to Castle Davion right now."

"Why?" she asked, but Victor had kept speaking and continued over her question:

"Dad's dead."

That… Kathy's mind locked up. Was she wrong, was this a dream? A nightmare, really? "Wha- wait, no…" She shook her head in disbelief. "How?!"

"He had a heart attack at his desk!" Victor half-shouted. "This is why you shouldn't sleep on it! Don't they give you a bed at NAIS?!"

"Don't yell at me!" she shot back. "You're not an instructor here." A dreadful prospect pushed her shock aside for a moment. "Oh god, you're not going to be an instructor here, are you?" That would be all she would need, having to take classes from her brother during her final year.

Victor looked horrified. "No! …stop changing the subject."

"Dad can't just die at his desk!" Kathy protested, pushing her chair back. "Why wasn't someone looking after him?" A hollow feeling gnawed at her. Dad couldn't really be gone. New Avalon had the best medicine anywhere, near enough! It was just a heart attack! People survived those all the time, didn't they?

"I don't know! You're the one here on New Avalon! Why are you even in your dorm? NAIS doesn't even have classes right now!"

"Castle's frantic with the war going on! I'm working on my dissertation, and it made more sense to be here near the library," she said. "But… are you sure it isn't an assassin? Dad's not old! He can't just have a heart attack!"

Her brother slammed his hands on the sides of the comm unit. "I don't know yet. I just got here. Are you going to get moving? Or do I have to call your security detail to drag you back here?"

"Don't shout at me!" she snapped hotly. Dad's dead and all Victor can do is scream at me like a drill instructor?!

Someone else caught Victor by the shoulders. "Let me."

Victor turned angrily on the interloper but, for a wonder, he calmed down. "Fine, see if you can talk to her."

Another blond replaced her brother on the screen. Kate didn't know him, but he wore the uniform of an AFFC Hauptmann and had the unit patch of the Tenth Lyran Guards, where Victor commanded a battalion. "Your highness," he said crisply.

"Hauptmann."

"The doctors are still checking your father," he continued and then hastily added. "I'm sorry, they say there is no chance of resuscitation. But," the man moved on: "There is still the chance of foul play. For your safety, the royal family are all to move into the tightest security. I'm sure NAIS is very good, but it's not Castle Davion."

The angry energy drained out of her. "Yes."

"Thank you," he said sympathetically. "I'm very sorry."

"Yeah." Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. "Me too."

"Me three," Victor said softly from off the screen. "Kathy, I'll… I'll see you here, okay?"

"Would you like me to call your security, and get it set up?" the blond asked supportively. "It would give you a chance to get cleaned up."

"Thank you."

The call cut off and Kate sat staring at the blank comm screen for a long moment. Then she swallowed and pushed herself back from the desk, sharp, stinging tears running down her cheeks. She could go to the Castle in the NAIS sweats she was wearing, but she should at least get her boots on.

drakensis · Nov 2, 2024

Act 1 - Anger

Chapter 1

Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
1 July 3052

Prince Victor Steiner-Davion was slammed against his restraints as his Victor was shaken violently by the firepower slamming into it.

It could have been worse - he had seen the salvo coming in and fired his jump jets so most of the laser fire only slashed briefly across the 'mech before the other mechwarrior lost track and wasted most of the pulses of coherent light against the buildings behind the Victor.

The autocannon tracked well though and the armor outline on one of the prince's multi-function displays outlined sections of the torso in orange, one step short of the red that would have marked an imminent armor breach. Pretty bad though.

Victor knew the 'mech shooting at him, almost as well as he did the one he was riding. He didn't know the man inside it as well as he'd thought though - he'd thought that he had time to catch the enemy offguard from behind and work the rear armor before he had to pull back into cover.

He'd been wrong - the other man had been backing up rather than advancing, which meant that he - the veteran of the Clan front - had been out thought!

That didn't stop him from bringing the gauss rifle in the right arm of his Victor around and slamming a shot into the heavier 'mech. It missed the back - no 'mech could have thick armor anywhere and rear armor was usually an area that had to be compromised - and skipped down the weapon pod of the right arm before slamming into the upper half of the limb.

Armor cracked under the impact but Victor knew that it wasn't enough on its own to disable the limb and the moment he landed, he had his own 'mech running for cover, risking his own rear armor as he scurried behind the shelter of more buildings.

He heard crashing sounds as the larger mech thundered through the office building on the corner, trying to cut the distance by powering through obstacles. A mistake, in the prince's not-so-humble opinion. The sheer motive power of an assault 'mech could be intoxicating, but that didn't mean that they wouldn't be slowed even beyond their normal low top speed by going through buildings.

In fact, it opened an opportunity.

Victor turned at the corner he had reached and fired everything before he ducked behind it. Every shot hit, which was what he would have expected when firing at an immobile target. Lasers, missiles and another gauss slug crashed into the lower floors of the second building on the street, a tower of glass that was certainly not rated to deal with that level of abuse.

Thirty floors of steel and glass crashed over and into the building that Victor's opponent was battering his way through. Both structures clashed and a hundred tons of war machine was buried under thousands of tons of debris.

"You son of a bitch!" the other mechwarrior shouted.

Victor laughed. "That's our mother you're talking about, Peter!"

His younger brother's frustrated shout was as much exultant and angry as the Dire Wolf forced its way free. "What a machine!" he yelled.

The elder of the pair was still retreating, he didn't want to take another battering salvo. Cut up two streets and circle around. Fighting a Clan omnimech head on was risky even if you had a 'mech of comparable mass. His Victor gave up twenty tons and this wasn't a battlefield where weight of numbers could be brought to bear.

The buildings had too much metal for magscans, there were fires spreading as the result of Peter's earlier missed shots… that meant both needed to rely on seismic sensors for anything outside of line of sight. Those didn't work well when your own 'mech was in motion, so Victor adopted the move - pause - move pace common to mechs in urban combat. It was also not very useful in cases where the target you were looking for wasn't moving - finding Peter would depend on luck as much as good tactics.

His younger brother didn't have battlefield experience, but he was a student at one of the Inner Sphere's best military academies - the same one that Victor had graduated from - and such institutions did everything they could to pass on the lessons that real bloodshed would without the same cost in human lives. It would be a mistake to underestimate the younger prince.

Victor wasn't surprised that his brother's mech wasn't on the same street he had led him onto after using the Victor's higher speed to circle around the block - the Dire Wolf wasn't as slow as to have not even reached the corner. And while playing chase me around the same route was tempting, it was possible Peter would see it coming and wait in ambush.

Or just take a different turn and get lost in the buildings. That was surprisingly easy, even with the sophisticated sensors and navigation systems of a battlemech.

Instead, Victor made it three dimensional, jumping his Victor again up onto the top of a parking garage. The heavy ferrocrete crunched under the eighty tons of battlemech, but it didn't crush. He had to wait a moment for the jump jets to replenish their tanks of air before superheating the contents so that it erupted out of the vents and hurled his 'mech up and into the air again.

His target was a towering mall that had a roof over two hundred meters above the street - higher than he would have been able to reach in a single jump. While it wasn't as heavily reinforced as the parking garage, the roof had heli-pads for the delivery of large loads by air, avoiding the traffic below. They might not be intended for something as heavy as the Victor but there was a significant margin of error built in for safety reasons and hopefully Peter wouldn't spot him up here.

Victor scanned the horizon, hoping the altitude would reveal a clue about his brother's location. If he was being careless of buildings, he might be able to find Peter just by following the trail of destruction.

The risk was being seen himself. Remembering to look up wasn't an easy lesson though, most mechwarriors were focused enough on the height of their own cockpits. If Peter hadn't internalized that yet, Victor might have a chance to get shots down. The Dire Wolf's cockpit was shielded from above by a heavy armored cowl but Victor might be able to get a shot into the damaged arm - severing that would reduce the disparity in firepower between them.

The first sign that he had underestimated his brother again was a thermal bloom from the shadows cast by a multi-level freeway. Victor tried to backpedal but it was too late.

All five of the Dire Wolf's large lasers smashed into the building below him and severed structural members. The floor gave way below the Victor and he didn't have the traction to do more than stabilize his fall with his jump jets before the sides of the hole in the building began to cave in on him.

Victor gritted his teeth as the simulator slammed him up and down, reflecting collisions with floor after floor - both those he was crashing down on and those falling on his head.

When the Victor came to rest, it was buried to the waist and as much as the Dire Wolf needed to cool off from the use of so many lasers at once, it could do so on the move. Victor was still trying to get his 'mech loose of the wreckage when the Clan omnimech loped into view.

"The boot's on the other foot now!" Peter crowed, and opened up with everything in his arsenal.

Victor just closed his eyes as his ride was blasted into smithereens by the simulated firepower of his own 'mech. When he opened them again, the simulator's displays were all blank except for the smug 'You died' report.

With a groan, the prince hit the power down control and the simulator pod leveled before lowering back into the rest position. Conscious of safety rules, Victor waited until it had done so before removing his helmet and unbuckling himself.

Peter had exited his own pod before Victor. Judging by the sweat on his arms and shoulders, the simulator had pumped hot air in to reflect the conditions inside an alpha striking battlemech. The smirk on his face was galling but Victor decided to be the bigger man.

"Well done," he said simply, offering his hand.

His brother's smile faded slightly at the lack of reaction but he accepted the hand. "No excuses."

"A win is a win," Victor forced himself to say. "It was well done. You're learning the right things at the Nagelring."

"Thanks." And then self-control broke down. "Soon I'll be the one showing the clans what for!"

"Maybe not that soon." The ComGuards had won the Inner Sphere a fifteen year truce and while it wouldn't stop the two sides from testing each other's strength, the Federated Commonwealth wasn't ready for the sort of counterattack that would be needed to retake their lost worlds. Besides Kathy wouldn't graduate for another year and Peter was two full years behind the elder of their two sisters.

"Having fun?" a familiar voice asked and both brothers looked up, seeing their father's best friend looking down at them from a gantry above the simpods.

"Just showing Victor some moves, uncle Ardan!" Peter boasted.

The balding Field Marshal leant on the rail. "I hope you learned a few things as well, Peter. In the future it may be you on the receiving end of Clan weapons."

"It's not the machine, it's the mechwarrior inside!" the younger man exclaimed. "Isn't that what you always said."

"For many things, yes." Ardan Sortek looked down at them and shook his head. "But the differences between our 'mechs and those your father and I fought were nothing compared to what we face today. It was a good victory and you earned it," he continued as Peter's face fell, "But I doubt we will be able to acquire another of those omnimechs, much less enough to put them on the field in enough numbers to level the playing field."

"The Dragoons can build them!"

"In small numbers," Victor told him. "And they will want to use them for their own rebuilding before they sell to outsiders. They took heavy losses on Luthien."

"Fighting for the Kuritas." His brother shook his head. "I'll see you later. I think I need a shower."

Victor laughed and mimed holding his nose. "I wasn't going to say anything."

Peter punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Thanks for letting me use a sim of your 'mech."

"You can try it for real on the firing range," he offered. Losing dad was hitting them all hard. Making allowances for Peter being a brat was… probably easier than some of the trials he'd face in the future. And not just the Clans' custom of trials by combat for everything.

His brother's face lit up and he dashed for the shower room.

Victor went up the steps onto the gantry and looked after Peter. "Was I ever that young?" Only five years separated them.

His father's champion laughed kindly and after a moment, Victor's cheeks flushed as he remembered incidents from his own time at the Nagelring, or at NAIS during his exchange year. Out of kindness, Ardan didn't bring any of those up though. "I was," he said instead. "And I think your father was too, even if I didn't see him much when he was at NAMA."

Victor nodded. The New Avalon Military Academy had been House Davion's preferred academy since the SLDF took over Albion centuries ago. Even after the fall of the Star League, it had been a matter of pride for Davions to mostly use their own academy. His father had used the school as the base from which to build the New Avalon Institute of Science, with the academy becoming the new institution's College of Military Sciences.

"It's an impressive machine," Ardan changed the subject, indicating a screen where the final moment of the training match was still on display, Peter's borrowed 'Prometheus' looming over the fallen Victor. "I have to admit, having used a Victor myself, I was rooting for you. I guess it wasn't meant to be though."

"They aren't all powerful," Victor admitted. "Keeping it running is a nightmare - we've gone through almost all the spare parts the Dragoons provided. Fortunately it doesn't use the more advanced armor and structural materials that the Clans use so we can make some substitutions but it's fortunate Hohiro let us take some salvage from Teniente or I'd have to retire Prometheus after one more battle."

"I would imagine the Clans have an easier time," the older man observed, "But logistics matters a great deal. I'm glad you learned that lesson young - your staff work preparing for the counterattack on Twycross was and not just for your age or rank. I've seen Marshals who didn't prepare as well for operations."

He ducked his head at the compliment. "I had a good team."

"So did the Marshals I mean." Ardan sighed. "Of course, there is always more to learn. That's true for all of us, your father included. Your sister also seems to understand it. Hanse was crowing about her work with Coventry and Corean when we last met."

"Oh?" Victor guessed from context that it meant Coventry Metal Works and Corean Enterprises, two of the Federated Commonwealth's most respected battlemech manufacturers - but what did Kathy have to do with them?

"Didn't she tell you? She and her class put together a working plan to standardize parts across Commando and Valkyrie production as part of the upgrade kits being sent out. In the long run it will save us billions. Even now, it's cutting hundreds of tons from supply shipments."

He blinked. "Impressive." The two designs were among the most common light 'mechs in use by the AFFC, often operating in pairs. If they could operate off common stockpiles for parts then it would be a small but significant easing of the massive logistic struggles faced by operating combat units across a realm that numbered - had numbered - a thousand star systems spread across a thousand light year axis. "She mentioned working on her dissertation."

Ardan shook his head. "That will be something new, I think. Something for her final year. Hanse was looking forward to it." He looked away awkwardly for a moment.

"Perhaps we'll find time for her to tell me about it," Victor mused, thinking about his schedule. It was, understandably, packed. There was so much to do and the one thing all the wealth of even two royal families could not buy was more time.

The old man nodded in agreement. "We'll find the time. I look forward to working with you. Hopefully I can at least ease the process of taking up your father's duties."

It was the prince's turn to look away awkwardly. Apparently, Ardan hadn't been filled in yet. "Actually…"

"Actually?" his father's best friend asked, turning a familiar jovial-but-inquisitive look towards Victor.

Chapter 2

Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
8 July 3052

The funeral of the First Prince had brought all the great and good of the Federated Suns to New Avalon - a grouping who didn't overlap as often as they should, even before the addition of Lyran dignitaries from the realm of Kate's mother.

The press of people wishing to express their sympathies - and more importantly (to them) be seen with the great Hanse Davion's eldest daughter - was something Kate had had enough of. It would not be politically acceptable for the great man's immediate family not to be on display, at least for those old enough to be in public view. Yvonne and Arthur had been able to make their escapes but the best Kate could do without censure was to avoid the more formal reception rooms for a while and 'be seen' in the halls and galleries. As long as she seemed to be on her way somewhere, she could avoid most conversations.

There were plenty of guests there as well, a mix of those moving between social hubs and a surprising number with ear buds to show they were taking the chance to tour the Castle. Once she gave it some thought, the princess had to admit that it was the chance of a lifetime for those who didn't have the rank or a duty that brought them to New Avalon.

She'd crossed to one of the portrait galleries when she found a familiar face studying one of the portraits in confusion. The blond officer who had been with Victor when he told her of her father's passing had an ear bud in one ear and the control device in his hand but he seemed to have stalled out in advancing as he examined the oil painting at one end of the room.

Kate planned only to give him a nod but she saw one of the Fenlon boys approaching, clearly intent on 'offering a sympathetic shoulder'. Their grandmother had been her father's minister for foreign relations and the idea that this might springboard into a closer tie to the royal house had sunk into the current Duke of Chesterton's mind. He had two boys about Kate's age and both had been primed to push that agenda since she first met them.

Another conversation like that was the last thing she wanted, so she turned to her brother's aide. "Hauptmann Cox, is there something bothering you?" she asked, looking up at the portrait.

"Ah, your highness." Galen Cox turned and bowed Lyran-style, clicking his heels. "Not bothering as such, but I confess the riding crop in your ancestor's hand puzzles me. It's not usually the image of royals."

Kate turned and looked up at the image of the long dead Robert Davion. "Like most of these matters, it's tied to an anecdote about his life. This is…" she checked her memory, "Yes, this was painted based on contemporary images but well after my many greats grandfather had passed away, not from life. I have no idea how he'd have felt about being painted with a riding crop in his hand."

"The tour doesn't seem to mention such a tale," Galen admitted. He glanced over Kate's shoulder and then gave her a questioning look.

"I would be happy to share the story." She took his elbow and drew him around to look back at the portrait. This conveniently left them arm-in-arm and it would be grossly rude for the Fenlons to interrupt when she was signaling a private conversation. Kate almost wished they would, it would give her every excuse to snub them for at least a year.

There was no interruption though, so apparently they had thought better of it.

"The Davions weren't royal at the time," she explained. "Robert was an officer in the Terran Alliance military, who had taken what was considered a low risk post on a remote agricultural world. At the time, New Avalon wasn't the hub it is today."

Galen chuckled at the depreciating remark about Kate's homeworld. "That would have been just before the Outer Reaches Rebellion then?"

"Yes, some years before. He married well and otherwise integrated into the local gentry," she explained. "The story goes that he was out riding with friends one day and came across an Alliance tax collector bullying a local farmer who was unable to meet the demands being made. The man - the tax collector I see - saw Robert riding up and recognised him, asking him to use the crop to whip the intransigent farmer."

"I take it he didn't," Galen observed.

Kate laughed quietly. "It would not be something we boast of if he did. We're not Kuritas. No, he applied the crop to the face of the tax collector, running the man off. It would be cynical to say that he and his friends were depending on local hospitality for their evening meal and likely had a fine meal at the farmer's expense after that, which would hardly have been the case if they sided with a tax collector."

The Lyran officer - his accent was that of Tamar - nodded in understanding. "And one day he was the man sending out tax collectors."

"Robert managed to avoid that," she told him. "When news of the Outer Reaches rebellion arrived, he deserted the garrison to join the militia force that would ultimately drive them offworld. He was still an outsider, but he was there in the background for early independence and died in the civil war that followed." She indicated the next portrait. "His son Adam survived and was in the inner circle of the great families who emerged from that and it was Robert's grandson Lucien who was the first Davion to rule New Avalon."

"And then the Federated Suns," Galen completed. "Even I have heard of his diplomacy."

"The Ian Cameron of his day," Kate agreed.

The hauptmann glanced back. "I believe your admirer has given up, your highness. Thank you for explaining that to me."

Kate hoped her pale cheeks hadn't flushed at being seen through. "I hope it is some exchange for your helping me brush him off." Then she tilted her head. "And I hope you don't call my brother 'your highness' all the time, he would hate that."

"He broke me of that very early," Galen assured her.

She glanced around the room. "If you would be interested in any more tales of family history, perhaps we could trade stories."

"I don't think Victor would thank me for giving his sister ammunition."

"It doesn't have to be about him," Kate told him and then her eyes narrowed. She had learned more about Cox, best to when he was around Victor almost half their waking hours. He had been with her brother through the war, including the training on Outreach and the raid on Teniente. "I am very interested in hearing about Omi Kurita." She dropped the name quietly, not wanting to be overheard.

The hauptmann didn't quite hide a wince. "I would think your family's intelligence agencies could tell you more."

"If I want to know what she was in terms of schooling, family connections and titles then yes," the blonde said quietly. "And I looked all that up when she was appointed to represent her grandfather at the funeral. But I also saw how Victor looks at her and that means I need to know who she is."

Galen gave her a wary look and the corners of his lips curved down. After a long sigh he turned towards another of the oil paintings. "Perhaps you could tell me about this one," he suggested, in acceptance of the bargain. "I saw it on the way down and the title doesn't tell me much."

"I'd be happy to," Kate told him, staying on his arm as they walked across to the painting in question, one that was (probably not coincidentally) at the quieter end of the gallery. "The Last Duel," she read from the bottom of the picture.

"Not entirely accurate, given how prevalent dueling is in the Inner Sphere," the officer observed. "And I don't recognise that 'mech at all."

"If it wasn't family history, I probably wouldn't either." She indicated the other 'mech, recognisably a Wolverine despite battle damage, which sported the colors of the Davion Guards. "That is my ancestor, Alexander the Great, of whom I assume you have heard."

"He did appear in history books once or twice," he deadpanned. "And his opponent?"

"Dimitri Rostov," she said with a degree of satisfaction. "Prince of the Terran March and the last great rival Alexander faced in the Davion Civil War."

Galen made a hmming nose. "I assume the absence of the Terran March from maps has something to do with the outcome of the duel? And his 'mech?"

"He was piloting a Swordsman," Kate answered. "One of the Federated Suns' early battlemech designs, It was built in the Terran March and made up the backbone of their battlemech forces during the civil war. When the March was dissolved, the production was discontinued. Hard to believe, isn't it?"

"I can't imagine any state stopping production of a 'mech entirely," the Lyran admitted. "Unless they were forced to, of course. And I do remember that happening around the tail end of the Succession Wars, back when I was a boy. But by choice?"

"It was a different time," she agreed, giving the picture a melancholy look. "For all that we're recovered since then, we don't just fall short of the Star League - in many ways we haven't caught up yet with the pre-Star League days. The bulk of the surviving Swordsman 'mechs were handed over the SLDF when it was formed, the rest were sent to militias and as far as I know none survived the Succession Wars."

"Like so much else." Galen turned his head again to the picture, which displayed the two 'mechs unleashing their full arsenals against each other in furious demonstration of the hatred between the two mechwarriors. "But why were they fighting? I thought Alexander Davion fought his civil war to win the throne back from his aunts."

Kate smiled thinly and used a phrase beloved of history teachers: "It was more complicated than that." She heard Galen chuckle at the words, perhaps he'd been taught by someone with a similar way of putting it. "Rostov's father Nikolai had been a supporter of Laura Davion - he helped her become Prince of the Draconis March, which gave her the power base to contend for the throne. The Varnays -"

"The Capellan March faction?"

"Yes, Laura's sister Cassandra married Prince David Varney," Kate confirmed. "They elevated the elder Rostov to lead the Terran March in hopes of sparking rivalry between them. It didn't quite work out, but it did divert him to face the Terran Hegemony at the time. Laura won his support back by nominating him as First Marshal of the Federated Suns. When fighting broke out, they almost crushed the Varnays, driving them back to within the Capellan March. However, at about the same time Alexander escaped from Varnayite imprisonment, Nikolai Rostov was killed and many of his forces turned their coats to the Varnays."

"Turbulent times," Galen said in understanding.

"Not unlike those that Robert Marsden, or the first Robert Steiner, experienced," she confirmed. "It took years for Dimitri Rostov to regain control of the Terran March - many of his father's followers preferred to side with Laura or Cassandra, for whatever reason. When Alexander emerged as a genuine contender, pledging himself to the 'true' Davion heir was a useful political tool and it worked out well for them: the combined forces of the Terran and the Crucis March was enough to defeat both Laura Davion and the Varnays."

Kate paused and looked over at Galen. "From Alexander's own records, I don't think the two men ever liked each other, but the breaking point was politics. Dimitri Rostov wanted a return to the old order, where he would rule his own March almost independently of New Avalon. But my ancestor was determined never to allow another civil war like the one he'd grown up in, to break the power of the Marches. Those who feared him as a tyrant saw Rostov as their only safeguard against New Avalon's dominance and the final round of fighting began." She closed her eyes briefly, recalling the first time she'd heard the story. "Alexander's wife was killed in a botched abduction attempt and that destroyed Rostov's popular support. Cynthia and Alexander's marriage was one of the great romances of the day - she was much loved. Alexander reached Robinson, which was the capital of the Terran March back then, with a huge army. He probably wasn't as great a general as Rostov, but he had numbers." She indicated the painting. "And then he risked it all on a single duel."

Galen frowned. "Somehow I think Victor would have done the same."

"Probably. I don't think we've ever discussed it, but…" Kate smiled ruefully. "Truth be told, I'd have more confidence in my brother's chances than Alexander's. He was a great leader, but not really an accomplished general or mechwarrior."

"Good enough though."

"Yes, it makes me feel a bit better about my own lack of skill."

He looked down at her. "You're in your final year at NAIS?"

"Yes, but I doubt I'll have anything like his class score. I'm not the second coming of our father or grandmother."

"But you do intend to serve?"

"As a Steiner," Kate said flatly, "I should. As a Davion, I must. A price for growing up in places like this." She gestured around at the opulent surroundings. "I think they call it duty."

"There are times around Victor that I'm glad to just be a farmboy."

Kate smiled but didn't tell him that Field Marshal Ardan Sortek, her father's closest friend and personal champion had started out as 'just a farmboy' who happened to fall into Hanse Davion's orbit. Let him stay innocent a little longer. No need to spoil the surprise, if Victor planned to keep his aide around - which she assumed he did.

Galen glanced around. "Regarding the lady in question."

Seeing that they had some personal space, Kate gave nodded and listened expectantly.

"I think you'd understand how hard it is for Victor to make friends," the man said. "I had to explain this to her brother though…"

"I have some idea."

"I think it's a chance to have someone who understands the restrictions he's under," Galen continued. "They both know it can't go anywhere - when Omi asked us to help rescue Hohiro it was on condition that she'd break off communication, though that got changed somehow. And they both know that word you used: duty. I'm not saying she isn't beautiful, but if your brother was going to fall for that he'd have probably been hitched before I even met him."

Kate grinned at the truth of that, but then the expression fell off her face. "So she likes him for who he is, despite his rank not because of it."

"Exactly."

"Damn, no wonder he's fallen hard." She'd seen Victor have crushes before but this was different. She could see it and if it wasn't for concerted work by her mother's staff, half the nobility of the Suns would have linked the dots. Keeping this out of the press was going to be a lot of fun for them. "Well, as you say, it can't go anywhere. At least if it helps keep the current truce together it'll be worth something. The last thing we need right now is another war with the Combine."

"I'm sure the Combine feels the same way," Galen said wryly. "Thank you for the history lessons, your… Katherine," he corrected himself when she waggled her finger at him.

"Thank you for your own help," she said with a smile. "If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me. I am for some mysterious reason well educated in the obscure history of House Davion and House Steiner."

"I appreciate it, but the HPG bills might get excessive for my wage. Perhaps next time we meet."

Kate frowned, trying to work out which of them was making incorrect assumptions. "I thought you were remaining Victor's aide?"

"Yes," Galen agreed, clearly making similar calculations. "But the Tenth Lyran Guards still posted back on the Clan border."

"And Victor is rejoining them," Kate said with a sinking feeling as she realized that she was the one missing pieces of the puzzle. The temptation to shriek "He's the First Prince!" was almost irresistible, but she was restrained by the sight in the distance of her uncle Ian's portrait… being the First Prince hadn't kept him from the frontlines… leading directly to the start of her father's reign.

She hadn't managed to hide her surprise and Galen nodded silently.

Kate forced her voice to remain calm. "Well, you'll be here until his coronation." The clear 'what coronation' expression she got told the princess that she was badly, badly out of the loop. "Thank you, Galen. I think I had better make sure that mother is managing…" she said stiffly.

Chapter 3

Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
18 July 3052

The palace drop-port was dominated by a pair of massive dropships. Most of the time it served smaller ships bringing in key delegations or transshipping comparably small quantities of supplies to keep Castle Davion fed and otherwise provided for. It was relatively rare for security concerns to allow a dropship to land that was large enough that the discreet but formidable air defenses couldn't definitively destroy it before it arrived over the seat of the Federated Suns government.

The matched pair were royal exceptions - the Camelot had been Hanse Davion's preferred transport and would now take his wife and second son back to Tharkad. The demands of restructuring the Lyran government to cope with the loss of dozens of worlds to the Clans meant that Victor's mother would be needed on her own capital for months, and naturally Peter had classes to attend.

The other Overlord-class dropship would share the command circuit through the Terran corridor, before striking coreward by slower routes to deliver the Revenants to rejoin the other two battalions of the Tenth Lyran Guards. Fortunately so many were making their way back to Lyran space that multiple jumpships would be available for most links. Otherwise one of the two royal dropships would need to wait for the other. It would be far too risky to have them share a jumpship.

Victor turned away from the Barbarossa and back to his remaining siblings. Arthur was old enough to think he could get away with just a shake of hands, but Victor hugged him anyway, the teenager squawking indignantly. "Don't drive the teachers too up the wall," the older brother warned.

"I'll be good…"

"Not too good. Moderation in all things. Just… do you want to imagine how your class would behave if Kathy got called in to act as your guardian."

The redheaded boy paled. "Okay, good point."

"As long as it's just things that would make Dad grin though…" The brother's shared a grin and Victor saw hints in Arthur's face of what looked a lot like their father's face at times like this. It was still a boy's face not a man's, but he thought the youngest son might wind up looking more like Hanse than he or Peter did.

In contrast to their brother, Yvonne gave Victor a hug first, wrapping her arms around his ribs. "Do you have to go?" she asked plaintively.

"I'm afraid so."

She escaped then, going back to their mother, and swapped places with Kathy. The two girls wore almost matching dresses - mixing black with navy blue for Yvonne and black with bottle green for Kathy. The blonde gave him a pensive look. "Try not to get killed," she told him and Victor blinked at the hollow sound of her voice.

"Are you alright?"

"Missing dad," she said a little curtly and then shrugged. "Not that you don't. Just… one of those moments."

"I get that." He caught her by the shoulders. "Ardan told me that Dad was really proud of your work with Corean and Coventry."

Victor was pleased to see at least a weak smile on her face. "He was proud as punch of you too," his sister said.

"I gather you have something new this year?" he probed gently.

She nodded. "It's a bit of a mess. I'm not sure I'll get it done this year, really. I'm going to have to talk to my academic advisor about my other obligations."

"Just focus on your final year," Victor advised. "If it's anything like the Nagelring's, it'll take all your energy."

"That isn't really an option with… with Mom on Tharkad."

He patted her shoulders awkwardly. He wasn't used to Kathy being taller than him, even if it wasn't by much. "If it leaves you falling asleep at your desk, you probably do need to cut back. Don't let them drag you off campus if you need the time for your work. It'll give you some time out of the public eye if you need it - I know I'm looking forward to being behind a military perimeter after all…" He gestured to indicate the complete circus that had surrounded laying Hanse Davion to rest.

Kathy frowned at him. "I'm the senior royal on New Avalon," she said, as if to a simpleton. "I can't delegate to the kids…"

"I'm not a kid," Arthur called indignantly from where he was talking to Peter.

"Boy Scouts of New Avalon?" she shot back and Arthur flinched back from her, then ducking behind the middle brother to avoid their mother's questioning gaze. Victor saw Melissa look at Kathy and then relax at a little shake of the younger woman's head.

That sort of silent communication was something he missed. Somewhere along the way, between the academy and then time in the field he'd fallen out of sync with the rest of his family.

"What is it you want to do?" he asked, conscious that there wasn't much time before he had to board. In theory, the take off was at royal discretion, but disrupting the agreed flight plan was something not to be done without excellent reason.

"My project?" she misunderstood. "Lycomb-Davion still have a license for the Guillotine heavy 'mech. We don't have the same parts that were used on it originally, but with some alterations we're thinking we can work with modern substitutes. Maybe even make it better than the SLDF model or the ones ComStar has."

"Never settling for second best?" he asked wryly. "That sounds great."

Kathy shrugged deprecatingly. "If we have the design ready on paper this semester, we can get our hands dirty and try assembling one before finals. It's if I have the time to do that. Dad would turn in his grave if I tried to skate on class requirements."

"I think we both know you'd rather shave your hair back to boot length again than half-ass that sort of thing," he told her. He had seen pictures of her face after the haircut when she enrolled in NAIS. It had grown back out since, only freshmen needed the buzz cut, but Kathy had worn it most of the way down her back since kindergarten and her expression had been hilarious in the aftermath.

"That and class," she said. "Including the field exercises, and I'll need to spend most of my days off up here."

"No one should expect you to do public appearances until you've graduated," Victor assured her. "And once that's done, what are the odds you're stationed on New Avalon?"

"As long as you're on the frontlines? Somewhere around one hundred percent," Kathy said dismissively. "I'm the spare, remember. One of us has to stay out of harm's way. I don't mean the public stuff though. Mom may be the First Prince but someone has to head up the family here and who else is there?"

"I thought Hammond had that in hand?" Jerric Hammond Davion, the Duke of Argyle, served as Minister of the Crucis March in lieu of their mother, just as he had for Hanse Davion. In theory, it was the First Prince's role to do so but in practise there was always the need for someone to delegate the role off to. That was the reality of trying to manage a Successor State.

But she made a face - one of the 'Victor just doesn't get it' that he remembered her showing him so often when she was younger. "Officially, yes. Unofficially, someone has to turn up to remind people that he is speaking on our behalf." She shook her head again. "Maybe I should just drop out of the mechwarrior course and graduate as a technician. It would save me some of the field exercises."

"Dad really would spin in his grave," Victor told her. "Besides, it wouldn't help. Tech students need to go out on the exercises to keep the gear going."

"Another perfectly good solution shot down by reality." Kathy leaned over and gave him a hug. "I will miss you Victor," she said seriously. "Don't get your head shot off or I'll come over there and kill you."

"I think there's something wrong with your logic," he told her, returning the embrace. "If I lose my head, I'll already be dead."

"Why? It's not like you use it for anything?" she said sniffily. "Now go on, you're out of time."

She was right and Victor joined Galen at the gangway while the family split up. He watched from there as Kathy led Arthur and Yvonne into the terminal and then it was time to get into a seat as the Barbarossa prepared to set out for the far side of the Inner Sphere.

Victor felt the usual excitement at the thought. The stifling formalities of court could be set aside for the refreshing practicalities of leading his battalion. Maybe of the entire 'mech regiment, word was that the slot would be opening up shortly. His aunt Nondi Steiner had been vocally unhappy with some of the decisions made on Alyina, but there had been no time to rearrange officers at the time. Now that it looked like the Truce of Tukayyid was holding…

The Unicorn · Nov 2, 2024

drakensis said:
"your staff work preparing for the counterattack on Twycross was [] and not just for your age or rank. I've seen Marshals who didn't prepare as well for operations."

Missing word at the [] - good/great/impressive?

"I think there's something wrong with your logic," he told her, returning the embrace. "If I lose my head, I'll already be dead."

"Why? It's not like you use it for anything?" she said sniffily. "Now go on, you're out of time."

Very nice. I really like how you're depicting their relationship.

drakensis · Nov 4, 2024

Chapter 4

Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
7 March 3053

The halls of Castle Davion were full again, if for a more merry reason than her father's funeral. Officially this was one of the many charity events hosted by House Davion, in this case co-hosted by Kate and by her cousin from Argyle in his role as Minister of the Crucis March. As a result, the majority of guests were from that region of the Federated Commonwealth - mostly from the core worlds around New Avalon but a sprinkling from the very much more numerous Skid Row worlds around the edges of the Periphery which were to be the recipients of the largesse gathered,

There were other reasons for the gathering however: informal discussions between the political and economical elites to lay groundwork for later formal meetings. While the Suns had never been as byzantine in its internal affairs as their Lyran brethren, such lobbying predated space flight - indeed, it certainly went back thousands of years before that accomplishment.

Kate had to restrain herself from sighing in relief as one such meeting parted ways. The looks on those who remained made it clear that she hadn't entirely managed to hide the reaction.

"You did well," J. Hammond Davion assured her, stretching his own arms. "I think that things are on course for what you want to achieve."

"I hope so," Kate told him. "The easy part is over, at any rate."

"You call redesigning an entire battlemech and building a prototype in less than a year the easy part?" he asked. Hammond wore the uniform of an AFFC marshal, although at the time he'd held the rank it had been the AFFS that he served in. His son and heir was a little older than Katherine, although at least he'd never tried to suggest that as the grounds of a dynastic union.

She shrugged. "Fortunately I can delegate most of the hard parts."

It was the third person in the room who answered the duke's question directly. "The tooling necessary to build the Guillotine will be the principal technical challenge," Dr Anna Banzai informed him. "That is beyond the curriculum of NAIS, and unless the princess wants to enroll for a more technical programme over the next few years, she will not be directly involved there. And then there is what my father assures me will be the very worst parts: contracting component manufacturers, finding a suitable spot for the factory to be built. Negotiating with local authorities, recruiting and training the workforce, setting up the administration." She shivered slightly. "My father has many horror stories from the battlefield, but nothing was worse than hearing about his negotiations with Defiance Industries."

Hammond chuckled as if it was a joke but Kate knew that her academic advisor wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. The daughter of the infamous Dr Buckaroo Banzai, who had played a key role in establishing NAIS, Anna would much rather spend time in the labs and workshops than her office. Such negotiations were not her cup of tea.

"I will need to keep a finger on the pulse of discussions," Kate continued, looking after the departing Lycomb-Davion Introtech executives. "But that probably won't be as intensive as my involvement over the last year."

"I would hope not," Anna said a little reprovingly. "Don't think I was unaware of how many late nights you put in. If you'd pushed that much further I would have insisted on you dropping some of your courses, even if it pushed your graduation back."

The cadet couldn't really argue the point. She'd been aware of the pressure and was glad it hadn't gone that far. Being held back, even as far as the secondary graduation date in the autumn for final year students who had just missed the cut-off complete the requirements, would have been impossible to keep out of the media. It could have been spun, but it would have cost some political favors and her father had always warned them that pressuring the media was best done lightly, if at all. "I'm glad it didn't come to that."

"So am I."

"If you don't mind my asking," Hammond asked, pushing himself to his feet. "How are you doing? It's a long time since my own academy days."

"I would say… ask my academic advisor," Kate said, passing the buck.

Anna shook her head slightly. "It rests on your final exams, but barring a complete debacle there you will graduate on schedule. If you crush the La Mancha, you might scrape through to the top ten percent but I would advise against pushing your luck. No one is giving you command of a battalion the way they did your brother."

"I'd turn it down if you tried," she assured the doctor. "Right now I just plan on pacing myself for the finals."

"Good, that's exactly the advice I'd have given," Hammond told them. "I saw some promising cadets burn themselves out at the last minute. Pushing your limits is all very well but it's best to have an idea where they are first."

"After the rush on this, I think the exams will come as a relief."

Kate's elders exchanged laughs. "That is definitely not how they should feel," Anna warned her. "But you Davions always drive yourselves too hard."

"At least we come by it honestly." The duke opened the door for them and waved them through in a gracious fashion. "I must circulate, so I shall see you later."

"I'll freshen up first," Kate excused herself and headed towards the washroom. Anna followed her, the older woman saying nothing and only nodding to a few acquaintances as they passed.

The lady's washroom was empty as they entered - the Castle had been modified over the years to ensure that there was more than enough capacity for even the largest gathering. It would have detracted from the dignity of the Federated Suns to have long queues waiting for a limited number of toilets. Kate wasn't sure who had ensured a disproportionate number of facilities to favor ladies, but evidence suggested the modifications might date back to before the Davion Civil War. Which might, oddly, mean credit went to the Council of Regents who had included the treacherous Laura and Cassandra Davion.

"I will be returning to NAIS," Anna told Kate once they had done their business and were using the sink. "I have work to do and going now may mean I get enough sleep myself."

"I appreciate your lack of hypocrisy, Professor. Thank you for joining me today."

"It would have been a shame not to see your project handed off to the industrial level," she replied evenly. "But I can't put myself through the formal negotiations, and I do have to complete the grading before finals take place. Rest assured, you and your team will be getting excellent scores for your work."

Kate bowed her head. "I appreciate your help."

"Good students are a teacher's pleasure."

The door opened and cut that conversation short, the two older ladies entering well known to Kate. Her aunt Marie had been the first of Andrew Davion's children and she was now the last - her half-brothers Ian and Hanse lying buried in the tombs beneath the Castle. It was the first time she'd returned since the funeral, but that was still more frequent than normal.

"Katherine," she greeted warmly and stepped close to kiss her niece on both cheeks. "You aren't getting enough sleep, dear."

"I do mean to catch up."

"Your father always said the same, but somehow it never quite seemed to happen."

"Your highness. Professor." Marie's daughter-in-law, Kym Hasek-Davion, greeted them both formally.

"I'm glad to see you both," Kate told them. "It's a long way from New Syrtis."

"I should probably have stayed here after the funeral," Marie admitted. "I had not considered that you would be left alone, but… I am old enough to form strong habits, even if they are not wise."

Kate shook her head and embraced the aging woman. "You are here now."

"Yes, and I will stay until your graduation, at the least. Longer if you would like."

"That means a great deal," the young blond said.

"I will have to to back to New Syrtis," Kym added her own position, "But not until after you graduate. With Morgan away…" She gestured helplessly. Her husband was Duke of New Syrtis, traditionally the leader of the Capellan March, but his duties as Marshal of Armies kept him far too busy to fill that role on a regular basis."

"Long enough to give Melissa a piece of mind," Marie continued.

Dr Banzai, halfway out of the door as the royals conferred, stopped and gave Kate a curious look.

Kate closed her eyes briefly and then shook her head, letting her advisor know that the plans had not changed. "Mother will not be able to make it, Aunt Marie."

"What?" the redhead said indignantly.

"She can only afford to visit once this year, the Estates General are still in turmoil," Kate offered the excuse. "As much as she'd like to come for my graduation, she can do more good being here when the royal court convenes in fall."

"By that point you could be assigned away," Marie said indignantly.

"I don't think that that's likely," Kym corrected her. "Do you know where you are going to be assigned, Kate?"

Kate leant against the sinks. "It's no secret," she replied. "Unless I completely fail my finals, I expect to be sent to the New Avalon March Militia."

That got a nod from the Duchess of New Syrtis. "A good compromise. The cadet cadres are all covering for regiments sent to face the Clans, so if you joined one of them it could leave you stationed out in some backwater. Normally that would be fine, it's what was planned for Victor, but not at the moment."

"I always knew that my assignment would be political," Kate told them. "What really matters is that I will have family there when I graduate." She hugged Marie again and then embraced Kym as well. "It means a lot that you've come all this way for me."

Chapter 5

Red Clay Canyon, Blue Hole
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
19 June 3053

The canyon wasn't the tight confines that Victor remembered from the mountains of Twycross, but it was still narrow enough that it would have constrained the Clans' mobility and mitigated the reach of their weapons. Victor nodded in approval as the jeep drove up the highway.

Work crews repairing the highway, which was an important transit route, were mixed with those salvaging 'mechs wrecked in the fighting here. The canyon floor was littered with them, like fallen giants slain in some battle of norse mythology, the scene set further by the sprinkling of snow for it was winter in this hemisphere of Blue Hole.

"This is as far as the Falcons came," Colonel Andrea Stirling said from the front of the jeep they were riding in. "We needed to stop them before they got out onto the coast. The petro-chemical sites along there would have burned very cinematically and it would have played merry hell with the economy, never mind fuel for the garrison here."

"I hate to think how much shipping would have been tied down bringing in gasoline and diesel for the mechanized regiments here," agreed Galen.

Victor couldn't help but agree, although he was also aware (since it had been quite bluntly stated in the briefing) that the people of Blue Hole would have probably been more impacted by the impaired ability to keep their power grids, trains and heavy industry going - at least at the existing prices given how much the price of the remaining sources of oil-based products would have risen.

No one in the Intelligence Secretariat was prepared to commit that the Clans didn't know how high the stakes would have been. It was possible the Jade Falcons had just been here for what they claimed: to acquire the current oil stockpiles. They did have several tanker dropships suited to carry the refined oils, so Victor leant towards that interpretation. But they might also have been aware that a fight over the infrastructure around the oil stores could have crippled the defenses of Blue Hole and significantly undermined confidence in the AFFC's ability to defend their people/

"Fortunately, Stirling's Fusiliers made sure that it didn't happen," he said out loud. "How bad were casualties?"

The colonel reached over and tapped the driver on the shoulder, who pulled off the road onto one of the low rises that marked the canyon floor. "Meat or metal?" Stirling asked bluntly.

"Both." Victor stood up and scanned the floor. More than thirty 'mechs were lying in need of recovery. Most had the tartan patterns favored by Northwind Highlanders, but others had the olive green of the Jade Falcons. "I got some reports through but it was all 'so far as we know'." The Tenth Lyran Guards hadn't even been scheduled to go to Blue Hole but they had been on a jumpship within range so they had diverted to arrive via pirate point within hours of the raid. Even so, they had missed the entire battle and - understandably - detailed After Action Reports had not been the first priority.

Stirling stepped out of the jeep and looked up at him. "I had a battalion covering the canyon, and they rammed ten 'mechs and two dozen toads down it," she said grimly. "One company of your hover cav made it here in time to die, the poor buggers. I have eleven 'mechs still fit to fight, although with the chance to salvage, we can make that good."

"I believe your contract covers full salvage rights," Victor agreed immediately. "Obviously we'd like to look at - and perhaps purchase - samples of anything we haven't seen before. But the material is yours to use and sell, take that as a given."

"Fair and good," the mercenary agreed. "As for my lads and lasses, I have twenty souls in hospital, most will make a good recovery in time. Your tankers were less fortunate, not one in ten made it out."

"Clan weapons are murderous against lightly armored targets," he agreed. Hovercraft relied heavily on speed to avoid taking shattering damage, they were usually too light to carry useful armor as well as a significant weapon payload. The Condors he could see were larger than most of their ilk but against Clan weapons… well, it would have taken top notch drivers to survive. These had been second and third line troops, doing their best.

Five deaths among the mercenaries was right around the normal level of fatality. The important thing, was that the Clans had been engaged at only three to one odds and lost. "Ten 'mechs can't have been their whole force."

"They had at least two other forces," confirmed Stirling. "Most of a Cluster. We believe they were trying to run some of the other routes through to the plains but one of those passes has been impassable for over a century - I guess they had old maps. The other, we mined it and blew." Her face tightened. "The locals are not happy, it'll be four months to clear and then longer to get the monorail back in service."

"But better that than what would have happened if they broke through."

The mercenary snorted. "Glad that you see that, Prince Victor. If you'd do us the favor of reminding the locals? They don't have to love us, but it'd be appreciated if they'd let us do what we're hired for."

Victor glanced over at Galen. "Give me a list and I'll see what I can do. I'm not saying I can work miracles, but sometimes my title counts for something. If you want me to visit your wounded, we can make a thing of it: wounded heroes in the headlines, particularly victorious heroes, can sway public opinion."

"I'll ask them if they mind," Stirling said a bit grudgingly, "Don't be surprised if some of the lasses ask for a kiss from a prince."

"Given you all wear kilts, how can I tell if they're lads or lasses?"

She started to laugh and turned it into a snort. "If you need the help, I fear for your ability to continue your dynasty."

Galen stepped out of the jeep and took out a camera. "Do you want some holos for your report?"

"It wouldn't hurt," Victor agreed. "And I can send some to Kathy. She'd appreciate some good imagery of Clan 'mechs."

"Your sister?" asked Stirling. "I heard she graduated from your father's fancy academy last month."

"Top of her classes in mechanical engineering," Victor agreed proudly, deciding not to mention that Kathy's grades in battlemech combat had been significantly lower. She was certainly competent, but he was very happy she wasn't bucking for a combat assignment the way Peter no doubt would be when he came out of the Nagelring in a couple more years - one year if he kept crunching classes as if he was afraid the Clans wouldn't be there to fight.

Galen started snapping images of the battlefield as Victor questioned Stirling, trying to build up a picture of how the Jade Falcons had fought. He had to be careful about how he phrased some of his queries, not wishing to sound as if he was diminishing the accomplishments. The Jade Falcon forces hadn't quite come in dumb, but at the same time it sounded like some of them had been more aggressive than was wise. Stirling pointed out elements of one Star, three of them Kit Foxes that had clearly over-extended, pushing down the canyon when they would have been better holding back and using their better weapons to bring down Highlander 'mechs from range. Kit Foxes were only thirty tons and while the Clans could squeeze more protection per ton out of their armor materials, they weren't that much better. It was one of the areas they'd advanced least in.

Not all of the Falcons had been so careless though. It seemed to Victor as if around half the force had been inexperienced and mixed in with veterans to get their feet wet. Clan training seemed to turn out technically proficient warriors but the ability to read a battlefield and react intelligently was harder to learn than simply shooting straight or even managing one's heat.

"I'm impressed," he said at last, looking at the Orion that had led the Highlander's final counter-charge. The 'mech had gone down to an elemental swarm, but that let the three Vindicators behind it get close enough to burn down a Clan Nova that had been supporting the battle armored infantry and open up a flank for Highlander light 'mechs to push past and threaten the Falcon's line of retreat. "Very impressed. This was your first deployment against the Clans?"

"Aye," the mercenary agreed. "I imagine we'll see them again."

"Very probably. They may even seek you out. Beating them once will mean earning a victory against you carries more prestige in their eyes."

"Let them come," the Highlander said pugnaciously. "We've two battalions ready to fight, and the other will be back at two-thirds readiness in a month."

"Good to hear," Victor assured her. "If you decide not to keep the omnimechs, we're willing to negotiate payment in cash or equipment."

"I'll see what our techs say," Stirling said cautiously. "If we can use it, it'd be a fine thing, but if not…" she kicked at a clod of frozen soil. "Well, we have our own engineers back on Northwind who might want to see what they can make of it."

The prince shrugged. "Your choice." We could do with more troops like this, he thought. I should pass the word to Morgan, if we can hire more Highlanders it will keep the Falcons guessing.

Chapter 6

Flensburg, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
22 June 3053

The sun beat down on Kathe unmercifully. It was local winter, for Flensburg was south of the equator, but it wasn't very far south and she was glad that full dress uniforms weren't expected today, even though it was a formal occasion.

She saluted along with the other officers as Duke James Sandoval walked past them on review. Each mechwarrior in her battalion stood in front of their mech, the technicians stood behind and other support staff formed a block even further behind. The shaft of the spear, while the mechwarriors formed the point. Twenty-four mechs was a lot of metal, even though most of them were fairly light. Kate's Guillotine was one of only three heavies, the others being a pair of JagerMechs that had yet to be upgraded with modern technology. She'd bought the Guillotine prototype from NAIS rather than claim one from the small reserve maintained for House Steiner-Davion - she would rather rely upon a 'mech that she understood inside and out.

The duke - a famous general in his own right - examined each of the mechs and mechwarriors in turn. Kate tried not to show any sign of recognising Sandoval as anything other than the senior officer visiting them. He knew better, of course, but the act was important for unit morale.

"A fine force," Sandoval concluded firmly when he had walked through their entire formation. "In good condition, and ready to fight. But I believe you may be somewhat under strength."

"Yes sir." Leutnant General Payne's response was perfectly pitched to carry. "Several of our comrades have volunteered for transfer into commands on the frontlines."

"That will not do." The Field Marshal of the Draconis March didn't crack the slightest smile at the staged conversation. "The defense of the capital cannot be compromised. Permit me to rectify this matter."

At the signal, twelve new 'mechs strode into view from the hangars. The crowd of mostly civilians watching from stands overlooking the parade ground oohed and aaahed at the sight. The informed amongst them may have realized that these were an unfamiliar design, fresh from the factory..

Twelve Watchman medium 'mechs joined the ranks of the New Avalon Crucis March Militia. Kate had seen the specifications back when her father agreed to jointly fund the production of them. They were good enough - not the best, but they were affordable and capable. Only forty tons, but they were built on the same chassis and engine as the larger Enforcer, which gave them a better power to weight ratio - and almost as importantly, the spare parts would be easy to come by. Armament was mostly lasers, which spoke well of their battlefield endurance.

The mechwarriors dismounted, each of them already a member of the CMM, but the Duke of Robinson marched down their ranks along with Payne (who was a duke himself, if of a far less important world) and welcomed them all anyway. Backs straightened as he went past, such was the presence of the leader of the Draconis March.

Once the formalities were done, the battalion's mechwarriors marched into one of the hangars where tables had been laid out for a reception of local dignitaries. The 'mechs themselves would be taken back to the hangars by techs, while the important business of reinforcing public relations went on inside.

Kate had pinned her hair up under her cap and hoped to avoid too much attention. Her posting to the CMM wasn't a secret, but which of their bases she was at was more confidential. Much of the unit served in and around Avalon City in ceremonial or security roles, but Flensburg was where they did most of their training. As a novice lance commander, she was entirely happy to be here.

As an older sister, thousands of kilometers further from her siblings… now there she had concerns.

Thoughts of her family were set aside though as Duke Sandoval beelined towards her before the other guests arrived. "Leutnant Steiner-Davion," he greeted her.

"Sir."

Sandoval smirked slightly. "Given your background in engineering, I'd be interested in your opinion on the Watchman."

Kate folded her arms behind her back. "I haven't had a chance to take one out on a checkride yet, although I understand a list is being drawn up. The specifications I've seen make it look like an excellent medium 'mech and that's certainly something we need."

"Now that does worry me. If it is too good, your brother will be calling for it to be pitted against the Clans, the way he wants more of our regiments on the frontline."

What was that about? "I may be out of the loop there, sir."

"I do not require a 'sir' every other word," Sandoval told her. "You're not a cadet any more. Your brother has requested additional regiments of the Northwind Highlanders to face the Clans. They're some of the best forces we have left in the Draconis March and Northwind lies too close to the Terran Corridor for me to be comfortable about losing them."

The achilles heel of the Federated Commonwealth was the relatively narrow section of space linking its two halves, near the neutral motherworld. The Fourth Succession War had made it more than a bottleneck, but losing even a few worlds there would raise the prospect of critical trade and communications being threatened.

"I see your concerns," Kate admitted, "But I simply do not know what is being requested and what is being offered to replace the Highlanders in such a critical spot."

"I suppose that's fair," the duke said. "Could I impose on you to send me your impressions of the Watchman once you have tried it."

"I'd like to get hands on," she agreed. "In the cockpit and with the techs as well. How it fights is half the battle, but… well, you know what a Clint is like to maintain."

"Never used one myself, I don't hate my techs that much." Sandoval laughed at his own joke. The Clint had been built for the Star League by a firm that had the 'clever' idea of using non-standard parts to guarantee them constant orders for replacement components. Since the factory had been bombed flat in the Succession Wars, generations of technicians had cursed Andoran Industries' executives for that decision and the remaining stocks of Clint parts went for ridiculous prices.

Kate chuckled as well. "The refit packs being sent out help a little," she noted, "I don't think they go far enough though."

"We need every 'mech we can get," he grunted, eyes narrowing. "But you're a clever young lady. What are you thinking?"

"I left a little challenge for my underclassmen at NAIS," she told him frankly. "Build a Clint or something equivalent to its new specs, using commonly available components."

"Do I hear a rival to Robinson's new 'mechs?" the duke rumbled, gesturing in the direction of the 'mechs outside.

"Something to compliment them." She met his gaze unflinchingly. "A lot of resources are being thrown into developing advanced designs to close the gap with the Clans, but we also lost hundreds of battlemechs during the invasion and with the price tags I've been hearing, we cannot afford to replace them with top of the line options. 'Mechs being 'mechs, the idea that another design entering production would cut sales of the Watchman is laughable."

"There's still a limit to the funds available," he grumbled. "I hear you are pushing for more Guillotines like the one I saw out there?"

"I'm keeping an eye on negotiations," Kate admitted. "Even as one of those re-designing it, it's not the most powerful 'mech ever built, but any sane military builds its strength around workhorse types like the Guillotine or the Watchman. It's far too early to say if the Clint could be redesigned to fill the same role."

Leutnant General Payne approached the pair of them. "Field Marshal, Leutnant, our guests are beginning to arrive."

"Thank you, Russel." Sandoval rubbed his chin. "I will give the idea thought, young lady. Let me know your thoughts on my matter and we shall see what comes together. I do have something in the works for the designers of the Watchman, but they may have room for a joint project with NAIS if your underclassmen live up to your own work."

Kate nodded. "Thank you. I'll see if I can find out what Victor had in mind about the Highlanders."

"That would be appreciated."

Sandoval walked away towards the entrance where civilians were beginning to enter the reception area. Payne watched him go and then turned to Kate. "Your highness?"

"It seems I cannot avoid business of the realm," she said, wishing she could grab Victor by the collar and demand some answers. He was half the realm away, but that was no excuse for irritating one of his most powerful future vassals. The Draconis March included more than a hundred star systems and stretched from Terra to the periphery - almost six hundred light years of what had once been the most hotly contested region of space in the Inner Sphere. Accustomed to having scores of the best regiments available at his command, it was no surprise that James Sandoval was concerned to find his command area reduced to militia and a few nodal reaction forces.

Certainly it was unlikely that Theodore Kurita would turn his attention away from the Clans, but it was still alarming to the inhabitants of those worlds to have their defenders stripped away.

Payne clapped her shoulder, drawing her back to the moment. "I hope the matter works out, leutnant. But for now we have guests and the New Avalon CMM prides itself on good relations with the public. I know you're familiar with some of that from your own life, but there are some differences in uniform so I want you to stay at my side for this reception and keep a close eye on how we handle these things."

Blazaboi · Nov 4, 2024

Oh hey a new drakensis story especially for the fedcom/fedsuns. Fuck yeah

drakensis · Nov 6, 2024

Chapter 7

Broken Hope, Morges
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
25 February 3054

This time the Revenants had not arrived too late to participate in the battle.

Victor side-stepped fire from a Warhawk, a pair of PPC beams searing the frigid air of Morges less than a meter from the arm of Prometheus. The cold weather was allowing greater use of energy weapons than unusual, something that enabled the Clan Omnimech with its four hot-running extended range PPCs. Even so, the Jade Falcon had staggered his fire and he'd tracked Victor's evasion successfully with his other arm, staggering the Dire Wolf as the other two PPCs hit home, tearing through the armor over the right flank and right arm of the assault 'mech.

The same circumstances allowed Victor to make full use of his own lasers though and he hit back with all five of them. The trio of large pulse lasers stitched shots across the blocky omnimech's legs - which had already taken a beating from crossing the minefield covering this route across the ice fields. The extended range laser in his left arm missed, melting the ice behind the smaller assault mech, but the right arm laser hit as well and Victor could see myomers through the damaged armor on the Warhawk's left leg.

The Tenth Lyran Guards had the high ground - a ridge of rock had survived centuries of grinding ice and left a lip of earth taller than most battlemechs with ice piled up behind it to a similar level. The advancing Jade Falcons were throwing an impressive amount of fire up at them, but it at least screened their 'mechs legs from the fire.

An explosion dragged Victor's attention to the left and he saw a fireball where Dan McGregor's Centurion had been. A Nova had managed to get close enough to open up with its massive battery of medium lasers and opened the similarly sized 'mech up, violating the ammunition stores within.

As tempting as it was to turn his guns on the medium 'mech, Victor's plan called for abiding by the Clan's honor code… to an extent. That called for single combat and if the commander didn't stick to his plan, how could he expect his warriors to.

Instead he opened up on the Warhawk again. Not yet in range to use his autocannon, he continued to fire on its legs, only hitting with three lasers this time as the mechwarrior had anticipated the low shots and slowed at the last minute. It still stripped away more armor and the Jade Falcon 'mech was left limping as myomer bundles in both legs were damaged by Victor's fire.

The return fire was more accurate, not less so, blasting away the arctic camo from across the chest of the mighty Dire Wolf and Victor saw that armor coverage across the right flank was dangerously low. Clan PPCs hit absurdly hard.

"First company," he ordered. "Pull back! Sabine, you're up!"

Fourteen of his sixteen-strong company managed to disengage, pulling back and down the slope behind the ridge. Beside McGregor's Centurion' they had lost Harper's Archer and Victor saw the heavy 'mech's cockpit had been smashed open by a gauss rifle shot.

From the look of Galen's Crusader, Victor thought that another exchange of fire would have doubled those casualties, the one after that would have shattered his command company. But the Revenants didn't have to keep fighting on those terms - hopefully.

"My congratulations to Clan Jade Falcon," he transmitted in the clear, "my company is no longer able to continue the fight." Then he grinned. "Sabine! You're up!"

Baker Company was already moving, of course, and on the tactical display he could see the Jade Falcon 'mechs that had started to rush forwards to turn the withdrawal into a route recoil as the fresh Lyran 'mechs crested the rise and poured fire into them.

Not all of Hauptmann Sabine Steiner's company had the long range armament needed for the initial engagement, which was why Victor had claimed the first wave position for himself. But the Clan warriors had been drawn forwards into the engagement bracket that Sabine needed and they were firing at already damaged omnimechs.

The exchange was no more one-sided than the last had been - a JagerMech exploded and he saw Sabine's pristine Falconer stripped of its Gauss Rifle as shots from what was probably the same Warhawk he'd been fighting ripped the arm apart, detonating the capacitors.

But there were also triumphant reports - a cry of "Got one!" marked the first Lyran kill.

Checking the wider situation, Victor saw that the Tenth's aerowing was succeeding in keeping the skies neutral. They hadn't driven the Jade Falcon fighters from the sky, but they were keeping them from strafing and bombing the forces on the ground. That was all he had really hoped for, the numbers were slightly favoring the Lyran Guards but not by enough to aim for more than a deadlock.

On the flanks, both his other battalions were doing the same dance that he was, wearing down the Jade Falcons as they tried to push north. Losses were mounting, but it was an affordable price for the damage being done to the enemy.

A skull-faced Atlas in Sabine's force opened up with its autocannon and Victor looked up, realizing that the Clans must have reached almost point-blank range. Only ten of Sabine's reinforced company were still standing, two 'mechs having fallen back with major damage and four more had joined McGregor and Harper's mechs on the ground.

But five of the Jade Falcon trinary had fallen.

"Sabine," he ordered his cousin. "It's time."

"Pulling back," she ordered. "Jade Falcons, I congratulate you for forcing my company to yield the field!"

And as her Falconer backed up, Charlie Company of the Revenants rushed forwards to take their place. Chuck Leary's company had the lightest mechs in the battalion, but they also mounted the most short-ranged missiles and with multiple armor penetrations, the Jade Falcons were highly vulnerable.

"Stravag!" someone cursed on the general channel as two more Omnimechs dropped under the first salvos.

A Commando toppled backwards, then a Griffin and Hatchetman leapt forwards and over the ridge to engage point blank.

"Dammit, Chuck!" Victor hissed. Both the Lyran 'mechs vanished almost immediately from the tactical display but a pair of Jade Falcons did as well…

"Victor," Galen called. "General Simons reports his boys are in position."

"Tell him to go loud," he snapped. Second Battalion was holding well but he didn't like the condition of Third. If he had to turn this into a melee or re-engage after withdrawing then the Falcons would go berserk. He might still win, but it would be costly.

Thirty seconds later and with two more of Charlie company out of action, the squeal of bagpipes crashed out across the open channel. "Hello Falcons," Leftenant General Simons's brogue cut in over it. "D'ye remember us!"

New icons sprang up behind the Jade Falcons as Lyran 'mechs pulled themselves free of the pits they'd been buried in, waiting powered down as the Clan Cluster rushed past them.

"Damn you, Victor Davion!" a clipped voice snarled. "We had you beaten!"

"I really don't know why you refuse to remember I'm also a Steiner," Victor replied. "And yes, you did force me to withdraw. But that doesn't mean I can't pull back behind my armored companies and leave you caught between them and the Boys of Summer."

"Steiner is an honorable bloodname and you are not worthy of it!" the Jade Falcon hissed, but the markers of their forces were already pulling back, every 'mech still able to move headed back towards where their dropships lay. If they moved fast, they might make it before the Seventeenth Skye Rangers cut them off - it hadn't been possible to predict their paths well enough to close every route and spreading out to try would have left the Rangers too dispersed to be effective.

"Shall we pursue?" asked Chuck eagerly.

"I think not," Victor replied sharply. Charlie Company was not in good shape. "The Rangers have this. All Lyran Guards, consolidate and pick up our wounded. Infantry, move in and check the Jade Falcon 'mechs carefully. If some of their warriors were left behind, they may be willing to die to take some of you with them."

Armored personnel carriers rolled forwards and Victor was pleased to see Sabine had her surviving mechs kicking down the barricades that had been set up to block the easiest routes up the ridge, opening the routes for the supporting infantry. "Sabine's shaping up pretty well," he told Galen privately.

"She was only a year behind you at the Nagelring," his aide replied. "And she's been keen to learn from everyone who has faced the Clans before."

"Is that why you've had dinner with her twice," Victor asked innocently.

"I decline to comment," Galen said primly.

The prince chuckled and filed away the idea of seeing if Galen and Kathy's budding friendship might lead to more - at least for now. The two had seemed to be getting on well, but after his aide's patience over Omi Kurita, it would be ill-mannered of him to interfere in any romance Galen might be embarking upon.

"Leftenant General Steiner-Davion." Simons signaled from his command lance, which was holding position behind the bulk of the Rangers. "My congratulations on a well organized operation. Whatever the Falcons say, you are indeed worthy to be a Steiner."

"I will take that in the spirit intended, General Simons," Victor replied. "I know my house has not always done well by the Skye Rangers." The only reason the Seventeenth had survived the Clan Invasion was mutiny by a jumpship captain who had disobeyed orders to enter the Barcelona system and evacuate the 'mech regiment. One ship alone had not been enough to bring the infantry and armor, meaning that most of the Regimental Combat Team had been left behind. Cashiering the general who refused to send jumpships for a full evacuation had not healed the wound.

Simons grunted. "We have a long memory for the wrongs done to us. Today we have the chance for revenge on the Jade Falcons for what they did to us on Barcelona. My boys will not forget that you gave us this chance."

"Barcelona was liberated almost two years ago," Victor reminded him. "We plan to rotate the garrison there soon. Do you, by any chance, know a regiment of Mechwarriors willing to be deployed so far from Skye?"

The question got a startled chuckle from the Ranger's commander. "Are you offering, lad?"

"Some things should be offered, not ordered."

"Aye," Simons allowed. "Aye, the Seventeenth will be proud to return to Barcelona. I cannae promise the Falcons won't take it back, but if they try then they'll pay the piper for doing so. We have their measure now."

"We do." Victor didn't like the over-confidence, but the Seventeenth Skye Rangers were one of the finest regiments in the AFFC and anything that reinforced their loyalty was worth it. The Clans were no longer a surprise, but every lesson learned about them had driven home just how dangerous they were. Less than half the Cluster of 'mechs that had struck Morges had survived to retreat, but they had cost him far more than their number and even now they were bleeding the Skye Rangers as they raced back towards their dropships. The bloody-minded Rangers were continuing to hound them, but it was looking like no more than two or three more would be defeated, and that would cost the Boys of Summer at least that many.

We can pay that cost if we must, the prince thought. But what will be left of the AFFC if we do?

Chapter 8

Fox's Den, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
13 December 3054

The news would hit the media tomorrow. The delay was a courtesy, to let the AFFC have their statements prepared. The raw data was on Kate's desk though, courtesy of her family. Most leutnants kept their desks in a shared office, but the amount of classified information she saw meant that she'd been give a secure space to review it.

Deployment back to Avalon City had been refreshing in some ways, choking in others. But this news. Kate re-read the messages and leant back in her chair rubbing her temples.

A knock on her door had the blonde reflexively slap the lockdown controls on her console. She worked her way around the tight space of the cubicle to unlock the door. It might be a private office but it was still sized for her rank, which didn't entitle her to much more here in Fox's Den, where even a Kommandant might not be trusted to do much more than fetch coffee.

"Hi!" Clara Rowan greeted her. "Ready to go grab dinner."

Kate glanced back at her desk.

"No!" the other leutnant in her company exclaimed. "Come on, Kate! Not again!"

"Sorry, Clara." This was the third time she'd had to cancel going out with the other junior officers, meaning she'd missed more than half the gatherings since being deployed back to the capital.

"The Inner Sphere is always on fire somewhere," Clara chided her. "You need to live for yourself sometime. I'd understand if you had a hot date…"

Kate chuckled. "Given that we have to maintain the dignity of the regiment in or out of uniform, it's not like I'd get up too much if I did." Regulations were tight for the New Avalon CMM, their deployments were too visible for General Payne to accept even the slightest gaffe. They might not have seen action since the Fourth Succession War, but they saw the public almost every day.

The other leutnant folded her arms under her chest. "And this isn't an excuse for you to be digging out old technical specifications again?"

"I've never canceled on you for that," she edged around the truth. She'd never canceled but there were a couple of invitations that she had declined invitations in order to make time for research.

Clara gave her a suspicious look and Kate raised her hands. "You'll probably hear about it in the news tomorrow."

"It's not your brother, right?"

"As far as I know, he's still enjoying his romance with frontline combat duty," the younger officer assured him. "I swear, if he loses his 'mech, he'll moon around like he's been widowed."

"At last, some way that royalty is like the rest of us," Clara chuckled and then patted Kate's shoulder. "Dispossession is nothing to joke about, Kate. It happened to my uncle back when he was with the Deneb Light Cavalry."

"How did he cope?"

Clara's smile was swept away. "He didn't."

Kate flinched back. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

"I don't usually bring it up." Clara forced her smile back up. "This is why you should spend more time getting to know us!"

"You're right. I'll try to catch up to you," she promised. "I don't know how long this will take, but keep a seat for me." That shouldn't be a problem, they'd reserved enough seats for everyone.

"Will do."

Kate watched her comrade depart and then went back to her console, unlocking it and reading the reports for the third time. This would be a lot of ammunition for the voices who were already complaining about her mother's leadership.

Considering her options, she checked the clock and then selected a rarely used commcode. "Hello. This is Leutnant Steiner-Davion. Please ask the Field Marshal if he has any time for me to visit before he finishes for the evening."

The sergeant major on the other end of the line didn't hesitate. "Of course, leutnant. The Field Marshal's last appointment just arrived, so if you come right in then you can see him right after that. I'll let security know to expect you."

"That is much appreciated," Kate said, knowing that no other leutnant in Fox's Den could have had that request approved. Most Colonels would have had to wait and at least been asked why they wanted the meeting. Another privilege that she hadn't really earned.

Setting her console to cover for her absence, as she didn't expect to return before morning, Kate checked her uniform in the mirror on the back of the door. The face that looked back was regal and confident, it clearly wasn't her, but the uniform was immaculate.

The CMM's portion of the Fox's Den was one of the more shallow sections, they were part of the security not a core function of the subterranean headquarters complex. Kate took a monorail to one of the checkpoints leading deeper, where grim-looking men and women with no rank tabs and black uniforms checked her pass and then required she submit to an optical scan to match her against their database.

Another monorail crept through a hydroponic farm intended to feed everyone in the Den if it was ever cut off from outside supply, and then through a residential area where artificial lights played across apartment buildings that housed the permanent internal security detachment and staff officers who elected not to live outside.

Finally the train penetrated several bulkheads and Kate disembarked at another security checkpoint. She was one of the few heading in at this time of day. Several dozen officers and NCOs - more the former than the latter - were waiting for the train and the crowd shuffled around her to board, barely giving her room to get through.

The security check was even more stringent this time, including a patdown and being swept several times with sensor wands before she went in. Only after this was she allowed to enter an elevator that led down to the most secure levels of the Den. Kate believed there were only two ways to enter these floors - this one and the dedicated monorail from Castle Davion, for use by the First Prince, his Champion and other high officers alone. Unfortunately, she didn't have clearance to use it herself or she could have commuted from her apartments there every day.

Kate's destination was one of the offices adjoining the main strategic planning center where the high command would gather to plan operations across the entire Inner Sphere. She didn't try to enter that holy of holies, going directly to the outer office of the man she was here to see.

The sergeant-major greeted her warmly. "Would you like some coffee, leutnant? The Field Marshal will be a little longer."

"I'm fine thank you." She was waved to a couch and ignored the magazines available on a table in the corner to look at the painting on the wall opposite. A Battlemaster in the colors of the Davion Guard was fighting against black and green 'mechs. The background was dark and it took her a moment to recognise the skyline as that of Avalon City, with Castle Davion in the background.

Kate had never been here before, much less known what was on the wall.

The door opening dragged her out of staring at the artwork. She stood respectfully as two naval officers - an admiral and her aide - made their exit. Turning to the door, she saw the man she was visiting leaning on the door frame. "You've never seen it before?" he asked.

"No." The rest of the New Avalon CMM hated hearing of that battle, the fight they should have been there for but instead had been on a rare off-world deployment when the 'Death Commandos' tried to destroy NAIS.

"My mother was mad as hell at Hanse for that," he said, indicating her father's battlemech, clearly in the middle of his famous defense of NAIS in the final days of the Fourth Succession War. "She said it was because he took a stupid risk by going in alone to reinforce Team Banzai, but she never corrected father when he said she was mad she had to stay down here while Hanse went out to have fun."

"Fun?" Kate said and then shrugged. "I could see it either way."

"There's usually more than one truth to a war story," Jackson Davion admitted, his lined face creased with amusement. "Come along Katie. I assume you're here in your royal role, not your military one?"

"Yes sir."

"I think we're hats off," the commander of the Federated Suns state command, and third-ranking officer of the entire AFFC told her. "I'm fairly sure you're off duty and god knows, I want to be."

Kate gave the picture another look and followed him into the office. Jackson ignored the desk and indicated an armchair in one corner of the sizable office. He sank into the other with a sigh. "Getting old is no fun," he said, "Beats the alternative, of course, but I'd swap places with your brother in a heartbeat."

"I'm not sure he'd take that deal."

"Of course not, he's not a fool." The graying officer shook his head. "If he did I would have doubts he was fit for the responsibilities. I'm sorry you got dragged here rather than get the chance to serve in a line regiment. Even if you don't plan on a military career, it's a chance to live a life outside of royal expectations. I hope you get some time for it, outside of the fishbowl."

"If Victor comes back, I'll take the chance," Kate said agreeably. "I'd have gone to a cadet cadre if he'd chosen to stay here, I didn't qualify for direct posting."

Jackson smiled. "We all serve in our own ways. You may not excel in the same areas as Victor, but believe me, there are a number of officers who were hoping to get you in a staff position on the basis of your technical projects. That's not something Victor would do as well, if at all." He rested his hands on the arms of his chair. "But that isn't what you came for, is it?"

"No, si… no." Kate caught herself. "I wanted to talk to you about Bryceland."

"Ah."

"I realize that there's nothing I can do with the CMM," she admitted. Bryceland was on the border with the Draconis Combine and not far from the Outworlds Alliance, headquarters of a defense zone. The local March Militia was stretched covering the region with only the support of a single Training Battalion on the nearby world of Tancredi IV. They had been badly out of position when Fuchida's Fusiliers returned to raid the world. "But what will be done."

Jackson sighed heavily. "The truth is, Katie, there is little we can do."

"It's less than three years since they hit Tancredi IV!" she exclaimed. "They loaded up with advanced lasers then, now they've re-equipped from our own stockpiles. This is a growing threat on our border."

"I know," he said calmingly. "I've had this very same conversation today, I assure you. But there are two things we would need in order to address that threat."

Kate gave him a questioning look.

"We don't know where they are based out of - or even if they have a permanent base yet. They've been seen repeatedly around the Outworlds Alliance, but also as far afield as Anatallos and the Mica Majority. We'd be shooting blind - sending a force out into the darkness of the periphery without the slightest trail to follow. The Intelligence Secretariat is working on it, but for now we have nothing."

She lowered her gaze to study her hands, folded in her lap. "I understand, but it's not an answer that will be welcome."

"Some answers aren't. And the other part is unfortunately worse," he admitted. "Even if we knew where they were, we have too few forces to muster a response force. Bryceland isn't the only region that's understrength. The only regions that wouldn't be left bare if I broke off a regimental combat team to hunt the Fusiliers are along the Capellan border and we cannot trust Chancellor Liao. If we show him weakness, we must assume he will take advantage and that will cost us far more than this attack did."

"You're right," she admitted. "That is even less satisfying."

"Twelve years ago, we could free up a regimental combat team to take and occupy a pirate haven like Tortuga, without worrying too much about our other borders," he said sympathetically. "Unfortunately, it's not twelve years ago. Anti-piracy operations have always taken second place to defending our borders against invaders."

Kate lifted her hands and rubbed her face. "In this case pirates that started off as our own alienated mercenaries."

Jackson frowned. "The Fusiliers are quick to claim that they were the wronged party," he said firmly, "But they are the ones who chose to turn to piracy rather than fight the Clans."

"And yet, to be a devil's advocate, they were being sent without access to refit kits and other advanced gear," she pointed out. "However inflated their claims are, they can be damaging not only to public opinion but also to mercenaries in our employ. I know Victor has called for additional Northwind Highlander forces to be redeployed, I imagine that the Fusilier's words may be brought up in negotiations."

The old man scowled. "That arrangement has been secured already, but no doubt you are right about how it will affect future contract negotiations for mercenaries being sent to the frontlines. Do you have any suggestions about how we can mitigate the effect?"

The young woman shook her head. "Nothing yet. If I do think of anything…"

"Then please, let me know. Don't get me wrong, Katie." Jackson leant forwards. "Your concern for our people is to your credit, but we never have enough forces for everything we wish. We can hope the Fusiliers make a mistake and hit a world we have enough forces on to counter their threat, but otherwise it's a waiting game. If someone does ask you for a statement, for now I'd focus on non-military responses - relief work for the settlements on Bryceland that were affected. You can hide behind your low rank for now."

"Thank you, Uncle Jack."

"Any time, Katie. Now, surely you have something better to do than waste your evening within an old warhorse like me. Some dinner with your fellow officers perhaps?"

She forced a smile. "Something like that."

"Go ahead then. Problems like the Fusiliers aren't solved overnight. Much less enemies like the Clans or the Capellans."

Kate made her exit as gracefully as she could, trying not to feel like a small child being sent to their room while adults took care of serious business.

As she rode the monorail, she spread the map of the near periphery out in her mind. If the Fusiliers stayed in the Outworlds Alliance, they might risk a more robust response from the Alliance's armed forces. While they were one of the weaker armies of the organized states, they did have a formidable aerospace fleet that could well cripple the Fusiliers transports, it was a risk the former mercenaries would have to respect.

Assuming then that they left, there were only a few options. Assuming they didn't try to travel through the Inner Sphere or flee deeper into the Periphery, the Fusiliers could either more corewards around the Draconis Combine or rimwards around the Federated Commonwealth. Corewards would mean towards the Clans… Kate shook her head. No, the Fusiliers would most likely head rimwards to one of the pirate hubs of the area.

One name stood out there. Tortuga, one of a cluster of worlds midway between the Alliance and the much more formidable Taurian Concordat. Thomas Calderon, the Protector of the Concordat was immensely paranoid about a Federated Commonwealth invasion even under the current situation. While normally he was neglectful of pirates in favor of building up border defenses, the possibility existed that he would suspect the Fusiliers of being a FedCom force operating under false colors. But Tortuga was not in easy reach of the Taurians.

Just of the long periphery border of the Crucis March, a border that was thinly guarded at the best of times. There wasn't even a March Militia in the sprawling Broken Wheel combat region, the original having been crushed in a short-lived rebellion against Kate's grandfather.

At the junction where she should have turned towards the exit, Kate turned instead to go back to her office. Assuming - and it was an assumption - that she was right about the Fusilier's destination, then the first of Jackson's objections was dealt with. That left finding the forces to fight the pirates.

The March Militia system was a Davion tradition, but through Kate's life, many had been formed in the Lyran half of the super-state. That meant that she should be able to look up the process of creating a new one, and see what obstacles there were to address. Filling the gaps in the March Militias would be a challenge, but if it freed up a reserve of forces to deal with problems like this before they became major threat… then Kate wanted to know what that challenge involved.

And if she might be equal to it.

drakensis · Friday at 7:09 AM

Chapter 9

Fortress Loudon, Fort Louden
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
18 February 3055

Galen stuck his head through the door. "Time for the meeting, Victor."

Victor hit pause on the video letter from Kathy and then closed down the comm unit. It seemed that they were both facing problems with bandits - her with the attack on Bryceland and now Kooken's Pleasure Pit had been hit by another group. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

Shrugging on his uniform tunic, the prince buttoned it and then followed Galen through the headquarters building to where his visitors were waiting.

There were two of them, both at the table already. Victor noted to his displeasure that the ComStar Precentor had taken seat at the head of the table, positioning himself as the mediator. Still, at least the man rose respectfully as Victor entered.

The gray-clad mechwarrior sat on the far side of the conference didn't give him that courtesy. "You didn't have to dress up for me, Victor, no matter how pretty the dress uniform makes you look."

"If you wanted this to be informal, Phelan, you wouldn't be wearing your formal leathers." Victor nodded to the Precentor and pulled out the chair facing his cousin. "But thank you for not bringing the Halloween mask."

Phelan grinned unrepentantly. "They are surprisingly comfortable."

"Perhaps we should get down to business?" Galen suggested. "Khan Ward did come in peace."

"Indeed." The white-robed Precentor was Klaus Hettig, one of the trusted aides of Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht. The ComGuards were almost entirely focused on maintaining the current truce, which meant far more coordination with the DCMS, AFFC and Kungsarme than had ever been the case before. Officers like Hettig were critical to those arrangements. "The Precentor Martial is gravely concerned about the threat posed by the Red Corsair's raids on Pasig and Kooken's Pleasure Pit."

Victor nodded noncommittally before looking over at Phelan. "And the ilKhan's position?" His cousin's meteoric rise to junior Khan of Clan Wolf made him close to being Victor's equivalent within the Clan - but Victor didn't make policy decisions yet, and he doubted Ulric Kerensky allowed even the experienced Natasha Kerensky to direct his Clan, much less someone born outside their ways like Phelan.

The former mercenary nodded. "Ulric did not see the problem until Focht raised the matter, but he is convinced that this is a genuine threat to the Truce of Tukayyid."

Victor pursed his lips and said nothing.

"The attack on Morges last year had a full Jade Falcon Cluster trying to push us offworld," Galen observed. "I don't think anyone in this room is happy with the damage done to the Federated Commonwealth's people by the raid, but how seriously can we take them in comparison to the threat the Jade Falcons and the other Clans pose?"

"It is not the direct damage that we are concerned about, regrettable as it is," Hettig replied. "It is true that the Jade Falcon's testing of your strength - and similar probes launched by your own forces -"

Galen tapped his chest like a fencer acknowledging a hit.

"- keep tensions high, but the clashes there are something both sides understand. They are not so different from how the Great Houses pressed each other even under the Star League, not to mention the Succession Wars."

"Or how the Clans are always testing each other in the homeworlds," Phelan added. "You hit them, they hit you back… tit for tat. But with the Red Corsair, she hits you and you do… what?"

Victor frowned. "She got lucky on Kooken's Pleasure Pit. If the Grave Walkers had been just a little faster, they could have caught her."

"Was that luck? Or was it information?" his cousin asked.

Hettig nodded. "The same could be said of the Red Corsair attack on Pasig, and similarly on the Jade Falcons. She hit with the right timing to avoid opposition that could have cut her campaign short."

"Once is luck," Phelan told them. "Twice could be a coincidence."

"But three times is enemy action." Victor narrowed his eyes. "You believe she has sources on both sides of the border?"

The precentor spread his hands. "That is the best explanation."

"How do you mean best?"

Victor turned to Galen. "Or one side is feeding her easy targets to back up the claim she's just a pirate, while using her for deniable operations against the other."

"Exactly. It does not have to be true," the ComStar representative continued, "It only has to be a persuasive argument."

Victor sat back and folded his arms in thought.

"They only took food," Galen observed, "And prisoners. Those aren't high value targets. One reason we haven't made her a priority yet."

"That very uncertainty as to her goals has already been picked up in some circles," Hettig informed them. "Ryan Steiner's mouthpieces within Free Skye have begun to speculate that she may be an LIC agent, using these raids as cover to pick off potential supporters for their cause in what remains of the Tamar Pact."

"That's ridiculous!" Victor exclaimed reflexively.

"I have to say," his cousin warned, "I've heard stranger tales of Loki activities from my father. And he didn't invent them."

The prince grunted unhappily. On reflection, his cousin was not wrong. "My mother would not order such things. But as you say, it does not need to be true."

"The optics are even worse among the Clans," the khan continued. "They are a very open people, whether that's why they issue batchalls or if the practice is what started it I can't say. They look down on deception and subterfuge. If the Red Corsair is a bandit that the Federated Commonwealth is allowing to operate, that is bad enough - it is not impossible that they might initiate operations without regard to where they go. You can imagine how that would escalate."

Galen steepled his fingers. "I hear a worse possibility implied."

Phelan exhaled slowly. "False flag operations are unthinkable to the Clans, the only historical reference they would have is the Hidden Wars of the Star League, the dishonorable behavior of the Star League Council that preceded the Amaris Coup. If they are convinced, and some of the Crusader Khans might wish to be convinced, that the Red Corsair is actually an agent of your family then an argument could be made for them to resume the invasion."

"Despite the truce?" asked Victor.

"Possibly they would restrain themselves to seizing worlds above the truceline." A helpless shrug from the gray-clad man. "Or perhaps not. Elias Crichell would very much like to displace Ulric as ilKhan and if he can find grounds to overturn the truce, it would do a lot to weaken the Warden's position."

The prince nodded slowly. "Neither of those sounds welcome." He had no illusions that the truce would last forever, but the Federated Commonwealth wasn't ready to resume the war. They needed time to upgrade more of their forces using recovered Star League technology, not to mention the many other preparations that would have to be made. "Are they able to do that?"

Phelan looked reluctant. "Yes. Some of the Clans have yet to recover fully from Tukayyid. But the Jade Falcons sprang back faster than we expected. Right now, Clan Wolf is the only Clan in the Inner Sphere who can match them and there are too many Crusaders in our own ranks to be sure how the Clan would fall if it came to a fight."

"Then the solution is simple: we need to destroy the Red Corsair," Galen said bluntly. "I'm not saying that it would be easy, but I'd say this changes our priorities."

Victor smirked. "The name annoyed me anyway. There was only one Red Corsair, it offends me that there's a pretender to the name."

Phelan laughed and the two cousins just smiled at the inquisitive looks from the other men. Both knew that Victor's grandmother had been the legendary pirate queen, during a period of desperate exile before she seized the throne of the Lyran Commonwealth from her tyrannical uncle. Phelan's father had been one of her right-hand men, along with Victor's grandfather. But that wasn't something ComStar needed to know about.

"The main challenge is finding her," Galen said once it was clear that the private joke would not be explained. "But after that there is the truceline. If we take the Revenants after her into Jade Falcon space, we could provoke the conflict we want to avoid. Unless the ilKhan can get us free passage…"

"The Jade Falcons won't give you anything, you'd have to win transit rights for every system you ran into them, which would whittle you down." Phelan shook his head. "However, the Jade Falcons are a prideful bunch. Normally hunting down a pirate would be a task for their secondline forces, but if they hear that Prince Victor Davion is personally hunting the Red Corsair then suddenly her capture would become worthy of their best warriors."

"It still leaves her able to slip away from us by crossing into other worlds. Not to mention the Steel Vipers worlds…"

Phelan nodded. "The Vipers are uncooperative, but I have arranged to challenge them for the prize of immediate reports of any sightings of the Red Corsair. What I suggest you do is the same. The Jade Falcon Loremaster leads their Watch, their equivalent of the Intelligence Secretariat. He is visiting worlds along the border. If you challenge him with a prize of sharing all reports, then we will have everyone on either side of the border sharing reports of the Red Corsair's sightings and no matter where she goes, someone will be out for her head."

Victor nodded. "I like it. But can we trust the Jade Falcons to be honest in sharing the information."

"I only wish they would be as stupid as to lie," Phelan said complacently. "Remember what I said about the Clans hating deception? If they got caught trying to hide the Red Corsair, then they'd be politically castrated."

"That was an unnecessarily lurid way of putting it," Hettig complained.

Chapter 10

Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
1 April 3055

Kate had considered wearing her uniform for the interview… for about six heartbeats. Then she dragged (pulled lightly) Carla Rowan on a trip to some of Avalon City's designer boutiques and walked away with an elegant white dress whose cape and gold trim not-so-subtly resembled her dress uniform.

The reaction from the studio audience told her she'd made the right choice - they applauded from the moment her name was called and continued as she emerged from behind the curtain and made it the whole way across the stage to the couch facing the host.

"Ladies and gentlemen," that worthy called out once she'd taken her seat, crossing her legs to show a polite amount of calf. When this failed to silence the applause, Sven van Zandt rose to his feet and clapped his hands together loudly. "Ladies, gentlemen and others," he expanded in a raised voice and the tones of a kindergarten teacher.

The crowd finally settled down and the host nodded approvingly. "Thank you. And thank you, Princess Katherine, for coming to meet us today."

"It's my pleasure, Sven," she replied sincerely.

"It's been almost two years since you graduated from NAIS," he began to probe, "It means a great deal that this is your first tri-vee appearance since then. In your own right, as opposed to attending royal court or appearances with the CMM."

"You come highly recommended." By Arthur, who had begged and begged for her to bring him along, no matter the official policy that royals were off limits for informal (which this was) public appearances between the ages of ten and eighteen. Hopefully he would be satisfied with the autograph from Mr Van Zandt that had been arranged for him before the show commenced.

"Does this mean you'll be keeping a higher profile now that you've had a couple of years with the CMM?"

Kate shook her head. "Perhaps after this year's royal court. Until then I'll be participating in extended field exercises - the First Davion Guards will be taking over all our normal duties so that we can mobilize the full March Militia, something we don't get a lot of chances to do."

Van Zandt nodded. "Keeping the skills that keep us all safe sharp," he praised the CMM. "And how are you settling in? I know there have been comparisons to your brother…"

"Yes, well if I have to fend off Jade Falcons from my duty posting at the moment I think we'll all be having a bad year." She smiled again at the audience before sobering. "Whether or not I'm posted offworld to a more active regiment is one of the things that will be discussed with the First Prince when she arrives."

"Yes, I gather it's her intention to preserve the line of succession with you and Prince Peter while your elder brother remains facing the Clans. Peter has served with the Second Royal Guards on Tharkad since he graduated last year, hasn't he?"

"Yes, if he'd been with the First he would have had too many chances to ask mother for a more exciting duty station," Kate told him. "'Mother, may I go fight the Clans?' 'Not yet, dear.' 'What about now?' 'Not today…'"

There was a ripple of laughter from the crowd.

Kate had suggested Victor be offered a teaching post, either at the Nagelring or NAIS, to get him off the frontlines. If it was presented as a chance to pass on his experience, there was at least a small chance he'd accept the idea. Nothing else had worked and she had a dreadful suspicion that Peter would mug Victor if their brother crossed his path, just to get the chance to prove himself a mechwarrior equal to their father.

"If I could ask," Sven continued, "There was considerable surprise when Prince Victor elected not to succeed your father three years ago."

No kidding, she thought. "Traditionally speaking, the First Prince's heir usually serves for five years in the military and a similar time in a government role before they are confirmed as an heir. I admit, the government roles have been somewhat less common over the last few generations due to my uncle and great-grandfather's untimely deaths, but the principle is that before inheriting a First Prince should build up some experience."

"Some of the Federated Suns' greatest leaders inherited when they were younger than Prince Victor," the host disagreed politely. "Paul Davion II comes to mind."

"Yes, but I think Victor would consider it arrogant to put himself forward as great. He might be judged so by history, but that will be in retrospect," Kate told them. "He has always been his own worst critic." That lie should have grown her nose by a foot, had she been Pinocchio.

"It's certainly true that he's proven himself to be an excellent military leader," Sven agreed. "I understand he's on good terms with the younger generation of House Kurita."

That was not on the list of approved questions and Kate was sure she'd spent a good ten seconds flatfooted by the swerve in the conversation. It was only later that she reviewed the recording and saw that she hadn't visibly flinched.

"I don't believe either of us has met the younger of Theodore Kurita's youngest son," she parried instead. "I know that he and Hohiro Kurita found common ground on Outreach, which led to Victor being willing to go to some risks to rescue him from Clan Nova Cat three years ago."

"Common ground in their experiences against the Clans."

"No, in mutual detestation of Chancellor Liao - the current Chancellor, I mean. His mother Romano was alive at the time." Kate paused and then added: "I still feel that Sun-Tzu should be given a medal for his contributions to FedCom-Combine relations. Surely the foreign office has some award we could send him."

The crowd relaxed into laughter.

"And Omi Kurita?" Sven asked, presumably realizing he had already blacklisted himself and had nothing left to lose in that regard.

"I have met her," Kate said thoughtfully. "I think we should be glad that House Kurita for some reason rarely allows women to serve as Coordinator. They've only had four Lady Coordinators and all of them were highly capable."

"Four?" the host asked curiously.

"Yes, three of them were the same woman." She gestured dismissively. "I think, if Omi Kurita were to inherit from her father then she would be similarly competent. Practically minded, would be a good description. In the current situation, the current truce we have with the Combine serves both realms well, so she is doing everything she can to support that. If that changes some day, then I am sure she would do her duty to her family and her realm, just as my siblings and I would do for our own."

Then she leant forwards. "The Federated Commonwealth does not have the forces required to fight all the Clans at once. The DCMS has been our oldest and fiercest foe, but in the current situation that also makes them our most valued ally. It no doubt feels as strange for everyone here as it does for me, but if my father was willing to set aside his pride and work with Theodore Kurita then how can any of us do less."

"Quite so," Sven said weakly. "Moving back to your own life, is there anyone new in your life?"

"Not so far," Kate answered forthrightly. "Military careers can be hard on family lives, as so many have found out over the years…"

Chapter 11

Burton's Redoubt, Deia
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
19 June 3055

"The good news is that there was no significant damage in the raid," Phelan noted.

Victor raised an eyebrow. "That is a silver-lining, but can you tell what cloud it is attached to?"

The Wolf Khan grimaced. "She knew we were here."

With ComStar prioritizing reports, Victor's staff had accurately predicted that the Red Corsair was heading for Deia, raiding deeper into the Federated Commonwealth that she had before. A short chain of jumpships had allowed Victor and the bulk of the Tenth Lyran Guards' mechs to arrive ahead of the raider and conceal themselves in the fortifications in time before their prey jumped into the system.

"She knew," Victor agreed grimly. "And whoever told her, I think we can safely say the news arrived after she entered the star system. Otherwise, why not divert to another system entirely."

Precentor Hettig shook his head. "I have our people going through all the HPG traffic received between her arrival and her departure. If a message was sent here, rather than some advance team being in place to warn the Corsair off, we might be able to identify it and the recipient."

"I find it hard to believe a pirate would have this sort of network," the prince admitted.

His cousin shook his head. "I've hunted pirates, Victor. They never operate in a vacuum. They need places to sell what they find and those same buyers are almost always interested in specific acquisitions and willing to direct the pirates towards it."

"There is another possibility," Hettig observed reluctantly.

They both looked at him curiously.

"It is unlikely, but someone could have signaled them directly from elsewhere."

"From where?" Victor demanded.

"Another star system." The precentor spread his hands. "ComStar no longer has a complete monopoly on HPG technology."

Phelan gripped the datapad in front of him. "You think one of the Clans is feeding the Red Corsair data on our deployments?"

"We would be in HPG range of Parakoila," Hettig pointed out. "We can account for ComStar HPG activity in the timeframe quite easily, but the HPG there is in the hands of the Jade Falcons. I hope that this isn't what is happening, but I cannot rule it out at the moment."

"We'll check as best we can," Victor decided. "Galen did come up with one other thing, looking at records of the raids so far."

"What?" Phelan asked. "And where is he? I rarely see you more than an arm's length from your minder."

Victor glared at him. "He's at the comm center making sure that we have done our part in reporting her movements. What he noticed was that the Red Corsair's mechs are almost all refitted to use only energy weapons. Clan weapons for the most part, which makes sense since those are the most desirable, but it means their munitions footprint is almost nothing."

The khan's eyes narrowed. "As if they were planning for a long campaign. And that's unusually organized for a pirate."

"She's not just a raider," Victor agreed. "She has a plan. I don't know what it is, but I doubt we will like it."

"I don't really care right now. The thing I'm wondering is how we catch up with her and how we avoid her being warned off again."

"Good questions," Hettig agreed. "I will work on getting any answers we can find on the latter point. For the former, the best answer would seem to be a trap, but unless we can determine her objectives it would be hard to lay the bait."

"We have no reports of her jumpships arriving any systems within one jump," the prince muttered to himself. "She didn't just go for a nearby target where we might be able to catch up."

Phelan frowned. "She cannot be too cautious. Pirate leaders require a certain degree of confidence from their crews. Avoiding a trap is one thing, but she will need another strike soon to maintain her momentum."

"Assuming that she is a normal pirate, yes." Victor shook his head. "But what if she is not? This does not add up."

"Even if this unit is something else, it still has to give the appearance of normal pirate behavior," the Khan told him. "I think we can expect another strike, and soon."

"Meaning we should be ready to go on the shortest possible notice," Victor agreed. "I'll get my people prepared to load up. By the time we reach our jumpships they should be fully charged."

He was about to get his officers moving when the door of the meeting room slammed open. "Victor!" his aide snapped, pale faced.

"Galen?" Victor rose. "What's wrong? Is she back?!"

"No." The Tamar native looked like he'd seen a ghost. "You've not been watching the trivee?"

"Do I look like I have time for that?"

Galen screwed his eyes shut. "Good. Don't. I have… bad news."

"Take a deep breath and spit it out," Phelan suggested. "I doubt it will be any easier to say it later."

The kommandant gave him a grim look. "You… should brace yourself as well, Khan Ward."

The two cousins exchanged looks. "Galen, whatever it is, you'd better tell us now," Victor ordered.

He gripped the back of one of the empty chairs. "Your mother was dedicating a memorial library today, the signal was being broadcast simultaneously by ComStar to the whole Federated Commonwealth."

Victor nodded sharply. "Yes. A 'unity of the realm' gesture." He raised his hand towards Hettig. "ComStar subsidized it. Get to the point."

"There was a bomb," Galen said simply.

"Mein gott." Victor half rose from his seat and then fell back into it. "How bad?"

His friend simply shook his head. "Khan Ward, your parents were there as well. Sat right next to the Archon."

"No!"

"Galen…" Victor sounded detached, even to himself. "You saw this?"

"Everyone saw it."

Questions cluttered his mind but he couldn't give voice to it. Forcing himself to his feet he took a step towards the door and Galen threw one arm out in front of him. "Get out of my way, Galen."

"You don't want to see it."

"I have to."

"No," the older man shook his head. "Believe me, you don't want to see it."

"Is there…" Victor turned and saw his cousin still slumped into his seat. "Is there any specifics. Could they have… could the Archon have survived?"

Galen's blue eyes flicked to the Khan and then back to the Prince. "Victor, there is no way she survived. The bomb was right in front of her. If there's any kindness she can't have felt a thing. The others… no, we have no confirmation yet. I don't like their chances but I can't confirm."

Phelan seemed to curl in on himself and Victor realized through a blur of tears beginning to form that the uncertainty must be worse than the confirmation Galen had given. The kommandant had gone through explosives training. If he'd seen. If he'd seen mother get…

Suddenly his gorge rose and Victor doubled over, his half-digested lunch exploding up and out of him at the thought of seeing his mother, his kind, beautiful mother reduced to what little remained after such a bomb. At the thought that his siblings might have been watching. Kathy's last letter had said that Yvonne always watched every news feed from Tharkad, drinking in the sight of their mother as if she feared to forget her during the long absences.

She was only fifteen! No one should have to watch that!

"I will try to get more news," Hettig offered. Victor had almost forgotten the man was there.

"Th-thank you," he managed, still bent over. "Phelan, get your kit together. Galen…" He looked up, wiped the back of his mouth. "Get word out, I need a command circuit back to Tharkad. Promise whatever has to be paid. I'll… Phelan and I will ride a shuttle if we have to. And Precentor?"

Hettig bowed. "Prince… Archon-Prince Steiner-Davion?"

The reality of that title stole the strength from Victor's legs and he almost fell into his own vomit. "A bomb means a bomber," he told the Precentor. "Someone who killed my mother. I want them. Tell the Primus that there is very little I will not offer in exchange for ComStar's help in finding them."

Karmic Acumen · Friday at 8:44 AM

But Comstar are the ones who did it, right?

Death by Chains · Friday at 11:17 AM

In the canon TL, it was Ryan Steiner working in cahoots with Psycho!Kat. But here, Kate is sane and focused on fulfilling her responsibilities rather than conniving at regicide/matricide and usurpation, so my lead suspect is Ryan. Of course, drakensis isn't above throwing us a curveball, so we'll have to wait and see.

drakensis · Sunday at 7:17 AM

Act 2 - Bargaining

Chapter 12

Flensburg, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
19 June 3055

One moment, Kate's mom was speaking elegantly from behind a wooden podium framed by the mycosia pseudoflora blossoms that were her trademark.

The next instant, there was fire and death. The first flare of the explosion faded just as outcry began in the mess hall. Kate saw the podium was gone. She saw… body parts.

"Turn it off!" Clara shrieked.

Someone was gasping "No - no - no -" and it took Kate until the trivee set blanked out to realize it was her.

Warm hands caught hold of her shoulders and shook her. "Kate, Kate, focus."

"Let me," another voice said and then cold water splashed against her face, just droplets, but it dragged her back across hundreds of light years to the CMM's base on New Avalon's southern continent. "Leftenant," General Payne snapped. "Are you with us."

She wiped her face. "Yes. Sir." Kate shook her head, seeing other faces looking as shocked, almost as griefstricken as she was. Her mom was much loved by her people.

Payne stepped back. "Heads up, people! I don't know if this is real or if someone tampered with the message! For now, we assume that this did happen. Get your troops up and the base on full security. You know the routine."

Maybe… maybe he was right. A hope that Kate barely dared trust bloomed. She tried to stand but Payne pushed her down. "Leftenant, you're with me," he ordered. "I need to report in and I'm pretty damn sure the first thing they'll want to know is your whereabouts."

Yeah, that made sense.

She followed Russel Payne through the ordered chaos of the CMM scrambling to full readiness. Troops who had clearly been watching the trivee gave her uncertain looks as their sergeants yelled and shoved them to keep moving. Tradition and regulation required them to treat any Davion as just another soldier… but there was also a long history of soldiers going above and beyond to protect and follow her family.

All eyes went to the Leftenant General as he entered the command centre, a holo table showing the base and its surroundings, including the nearby city. Icons marked the positions of the CMM's subunits, status markers ticking up in readiness and Kate saw live ammo was being issued out. Every tech glanced at her when she went past, then back to their consoles.

"Any threats?" barked Payne.

"Nothing, sir. We're ordering civilian flights down as a precaution."

"Good. Watch the city for disorder. There may be rioting… have the quartermasters get non-lethal payloads ready, detail a mech company and one of our mechanized infantry battalions ready for that."

"Yessir."

Payne didn't stop, heading for another desk. "Get me the Castle and the Den. I think they'll be expecting me."

"Sir." The tech reached for controls and then blinked. "Marshal Sortek is on the line for you, general."

"Good work."

"He called us, sir."

Kate expected to see the Prince's Champion but it was another face that popped up on the console's main screen - Ardan's cousin, Bishop Sortek. She didn't know him as well as the older Sortek but it made sense once she actually thought about it. He commanded the First Davion Guards RCT, posted around Castle Davion and the Fox's Den. Wanting to know the status of the royal family would be his priority.

"Marshal." Payne saluted, using his other hand to pull Kate into the view of the camera. "Leftenant Steiner-Davion is here. So far we have no signs of an attack on her."

"Good." Sortek's eyes flicked to Kate. "Your highness, ComStar wasn't fully simultaneous. Whatever happened, and we must take it at face value until we get an official message, it was over an hour ago."

"My brother and sister?" she asked.

He glanced aside and for a moment terror gripped Kate until she realized he was just checking with his staff. "We just heard back from their security," the Marshal informed them. "No attacks. We're bringing them in now."

"Did they…?"

A pained nod told her the obvious. They had been watching as well.

"I need to speak to the Castle, sir."

Sortek nodded sharply at Payne's remark. "Of course. Your highness, we all pray that this is some horrific mistake. But whatever happens, we are at your service."

Kate managed something resembling thanks and Sortek vanished from the screen.

"You need a moment, leutnant?"

It took her moments to register the question was to her, not the tech at the console. "I need… to know, sir. I… I… can't…"

Payne took her hand, something she could focus on and glanced to another of the staff in the dimly lit room. "Sergeant, file compassionate leave for Leftenant Steiner-Davion. No matter what, I think you'll be using it."

"Thank sir," she muttered.

Victor was nearer to Tharkad, word would have reached him. Peter was on Tharkad… god, had he been there? There had been others in shot before the explosion, they wouldn't have been much further. Kate tried to remember who it had been but all her mind showed her was that last moment of her mother's life.

It had to be a lie, it had to me.

"Your excellency," Payne was saying.

"General," J. Hammond Davion said gravely. "Your highness. I am… very sorry."

Kate looked up and saw the viceroy on the screen. The Minister of the Crucis March had been doubling as her mother's deputy on New Avalon, though still using his own office and staff. He was behind his desk, face paler than usual. "What do we know?" she whispered hoarsely.

"We have a follow up message," he said gravely. "Alpha priority, it almost caught up with the original transmission." Then Hammond shook his head and crushed out the faint hope that Kate had been so wary of. "There is no formal declaration of your mother's condition, but the incident is real. I regret to say that, from what what we saw I am expecting notification of her death at any time."

Kate closed her eyes. Swallowed.

Then she squared her shoulders and looked up, meeting the duke's eyes. "I will require the command circuit to Tharkad," she ordered, knowing she had no formal authority over him… but she was no longer the spare. She was heir and Victor, whether he wanted it or not, was now the Archon-Prince. "Arthur and Yvonne will go with me. Mother's…" A deep breath. "Her funeral will be closed casket. I can't imagine her body will be intact enough to lie in state, as father did. We need to be there."

"Of course, Katie. I'll take care of everything," Hammond promised her. "There are contingencies - a shuttle can bring you here by suborbital route and a dropship will be ready to leave by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you," she managed.

He shrugged helplessly. "I cannot accompany you, but my heart will be with you and your siblings in this dreadful time. If you need anything… we are family. Please do not hesitate."

Then the duke was gone.

"I should get my kit together," Kate said slowly.

"Someone can take care of that," Payne told her.

"No… I… I need to be alone for a little while."

Chapter 13

The Triad, Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
30 June 3055

There had been too much public grief to follow through with the original idea of a quick burial of Melissa Steiner-Davion. The compromise had been to use an incredibly valuable stasis tube as a temporary casket, preventing any decay of her remains. The flag of the Federated Commonwealth completely covered the medical apparatus and completely obscured the horrid sight of what remained of the beautiful and vivacious Archon.

Victor had forced himself to look at his mother's remains once and regretted it ever since. Kathy had refused to and he had endorsed keeping their younger siblings from repeating his error in judgment.

As he watched from one of the mezzanine levels of the cathedral, a long long line of Lyrans shuffled slowly through the nave and past the casket. Some genuflected to his mother, others handed small tokens to priests who placed them on display tables on either side. In the future, they would be packed away and those that were not perishable used in a memorial to Melissa Steiner-Davion.

The door to the stairs opened and Victor turned angrily to see who was intruding. He had come here to be alone, told Galen not to let anyone through.

His fury faded as he saw Kathy's face, pale between the black fur of her long, heavy coat and cap. "I thought you were with Yvonne."

Victor's sister moved up to stand next to him, looking down at the mourners. "I'm not who she needs right now. She's in the library with Misha Auburn, talking history. It seems to distract her which… is probably for the best."

"Yeah." He rubbed his face. "Did you hear about Bolan?"

"God, is there trouble with the Free Worlds League?" Bolan was an important world, one that had one been part of a salient of League systems deep inside Lyran Commonwealth. It had fallen to House Steiner during the Succession Wars and reclaiming it had long been a dream of House Marik.

The assumption made sense, but for once it was not the worst. "Nothing so dire," Victor told her. "Mother was a major patron to the Martial Academy of Bolan, and they have asked to rename the school in her honor. Arthur wants to transfer there and finish his military education in the Commonwealth."

"Do they even have a mechwarrior program for him to join?"

"They keep getting delayed," Victor admitted. "I've ordered the AFFC to do whatever is needed to get it back on track before the next year begins. It will be more like a training battalion than a full class… but my authority as Archon-Prince should be good for something."

It still felt strange to refer to himself as such. That title had always been some distant future, some day when their parents had somehow conveyed their wisdom and leadership to the point he was ready. But now it was thrust upon him and he had never been so conscious of the burden they had left him.

"It might not be the best decision for him," she warned, holding her coat tight around herself.

"Perhaps. But it is his decision. He's not a child any more."

"None of us are." Kat shook her head, took off her cap and brushed her hair back into order with the fingers of her other hand. She'd grown it out further since he last saw her, past her shoulders. "We should talk about how to handle your coronation on New Avalon."

"Now?" he asked, incredulously. He turned to face her. "Is this really the time?"

"You're the Archon-Prince," Kathy replied, weighting the second half of the title more heavily. "You need to respect both halves of the realm."

Victor grimaced. "Let's move this somewhere more private."

His sister looked down at him for a moment and then nodded curtly.

The two walked together to the stairwell, Kathy shortening her pace to match his own. The door closed behind them and Galen looked up from where he was waiting. "I didn't think your order applied to family."

"It didn't," Victor assured his friend. "But it's a little too public out there to talk frankly."

"Frankly?" Galen asked. He looked between them. "Do you mean argue?"

The Archon-Prince felt the corners of his lips curl up. "I hope not."

Kathy put her hat back on, then straightened it with both hands. "I know your coronation has to take place here first, but after that you're expected on New Avalon as well."

"I understand," Victor assured her. "And I will come to New Avalon, when the time is right. There is too much going on here to do so right away though. There is a reason mother spent more time on Tharkad than she did in New Avalon. It certainly wasn't the weather."

His sister shoved her hands deep into her coat pockets. "Alright. For royal court then? In three months?"

"Probably not." The investigation into their mother's death had barely begun, he had to keep an eye on that. And another on the Clans. The Red Corsair had hit another world - he had handed over the pursuit to the Kell Hounds, but the bandit had slipped away again. He and Galen both agreed that had to mean a leak, and Phelan was being stubborn about the idea that it could be from the other side of the border.

"Mom never missed that."

"I know it's not ideal," he said. "Next year, I hope."

"There is a command circuit, you would be on New Avalon in days," Kathy reminded him.

"Yes." Victor leant forwards slightly. "But you know what a circus the High Council is. I'd be hundreds of light years further from where my focus has to be and adding my coronation would make it worse. I'd be doing well to have things in order by Christmas."

"The longer you leave it, the harder it will be," she snapped. "Putting this off isn't -" She broke off and shook her head.

"Isn't?" he asked sharply.

Kathy took a deep breath. "Sorry."

"No," Victor insisted. "Tell me what you were going to say."

She looked away. "It's not what mom or dad would have done."

That hurt and he knew his face showed it.

"I'm sorry," she repeated. "That was cruel."

Kathy was hurting too, Victor reminded himself. Hammond Davion had passed on a warning that she had been watching the transmission when the bomb went off. She had had to watch it. "I miss them too," he told her. "Forgive me if I am also… raw."

Galen was on the step below them and reached out to take them both by the shoulder. "Family always has more power to hurt each other," he reminded them. "If you don't mind, Katherine, why do you feel it's so urgent for Victor to be crowned twice."

"The Federated Commonwealth is an alliance still," his sister told them. "It's not a nation, not yet. Everyone thought there would be more time to take the steps for that. Losing that time has left everyone unsettled. Think back to the early history of the Lyran Commonwealth, the uncertainties from the time of Nine Archons. It was more than thirty years before Robert Marsden finally forced solutions for the issues and restructured the Commonwealth. I don't want you to have to be another Crusher."

That got a scowl from Victor. "He did what needed to be done."

"Yes, but would he have had to go that far if there had been a clear single leader, known and accepted by everyone, from the beginning?" Kathy reached out to Victor. "You'd hate being a man like that, and I'd hate what it would do to you."

Victor sighed and took her hand. "I never, for a moment, considered that this was coming from any sort of disloyalty," he assured her. "I need to be seen to be dealing with the challenges we face and right now, with the Clans on the border, with mother's death… with Ryan Steiner and his scheming. I need to get things in order here. As soon as there is enough confidence here in my realm, I will go to New Avalon. I promise you."

Kathy leant on him for a moment and then pulled back. "Thank you."

"In the meantime, I am going to have to put more weight on your shoulders," he said apologetically. "I know you haven't finished your time with the Crucis March Militia, but the plan was always that you and Peter would act as my deputies for whichever capital I wasn't on. I don't think Peter's ready yet."

"And he'll want to prove himself against the Clans."

"That's a fight for another day," he sighed. "I wasn't supposed to end up in a war zone on my first deployment. No one expected the Clans." A shake of his head. "Never mind. But you're right, we need people to be thinking more of House Steiner-Davion, not Steiner or Davion alone. Hammond Davion has done a good job but I need you to take over as the face of my government on New Avalon. He'll stay on as Minister of the Crucis March and one of the key advisors but I want you to serve as viceroy."

Kathy sighed heavily. "I suppose I can hardly claim to be unprepared with everything you're dealing with."

Victor nodded. It would also keep his gentle sister safe on New Avalon. If she felt her duty required it, she would seek out a post facing the Clans and it would be harder to argue that than it would be with Peter, given her age and experience. But he had also seen her scores at NAIS and Victor knew she was not someone he wanted to send up against the Jade Falcons or the Steel Vipers. Not everyone was made to be a mechwarrior - she had forced herself to qualify, to make father proud. The least he could do was to let her finish her five years somewhere safe and sound.

Chapter 14

Avalon City Spaceport, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
10 July 3055

The warmth of summer on New Avalon was a far cry from any season on the cold world of Tharkad. The baking heat hit Kate and Yvonne as they exited the dropship, along with a wall of sound from the crowd gathered to meet them.

It had been agreed that the sisters would return via Avalon City and not use Castle Davion's own private drop port, to accommodate the public. While the crowds could not approach the landing pads directly, given the immense heat of the fusion torch that propelled the dropships, they lined the fences that marked the safe limit, many holding up patriotic banners.

Under the excited cries, Kate thought that she heard other cries - of disappointment. Even from this distance it must be plain to the crowd that she was too tall and Yvonne too red-headed to be the Archon-Prince. It had been no secret that Victor would not be with his sisters, but hope had apparently been stronger than the news reports. She saw some of the signs, those with messages aimed at the new Archon-Prince, sag in disappointment. A few vanished from sight, their owners perhaps embarrassed to show off that they hadn't believed the news.

Kate raised her hand in salutation of the people of New Avalon and they roared appreciation again. It was intoxicating and she recalled her mother warning her that it was easy for demagogues to become so entangled with pleasing their followers that they lost all of their own agency.

"Remember, you are mortal."

She turned and saw that it was Yvonne who had whispered that as she too waved at the crowds. "Mom told you that as well?"

"I think she said it to all of us." The youngest of her siblings lowered her gaze at the reminder.

Kate reached over and interlinked their arms before they went down the steps to where the limousine was waiting for them to board. Security was tight - every roof that had a view of them right now had counter-snipers from the police or the AFFC staking them out - and suggestions that the sisters approach the fence to greet the crowd directly had been shouted down, so those who had come to see them would have to view them though the windows of the limousine as it made a slow pass in front of them.

The sisters walked carefully down the steps from the dropship, still arm-in-arm, and then waved again to the crowd before slipping into the back of the limousine. Kate took the seat that would be nearest to the crowd, leaving Yvonne free to lean forwards in the seat to be fully visible to those who had come to see them… or to shelter behind her sister. As Kate had once been sheltered by their mother.

To her credit, Yvonne made a point of being visible for much of the slow drive along the front of the crowd. Kate could tell by the sounds of her shifting that she was tempted to sit back at times, but refrained. She could not look at the younger girl, of course, keeping a sad but dignified smile aimed at those who had waited for hours to welcome them home.

Once the limousine reached the terminal, it turned through a guarded entrance and was waved directly past to join a convoy waiting to escort them up the mountain to Castle Davion.

The side windows were rendered opaque by a second layer of armor glass rising to cover them, giving the two privacy again.

"I don't know how mom managed it," Kate admitted. "Being on display so much."

"I always thought you enjoyed it?" her sister asked in surprise. "You never seemed to shrink from it before."

She shook her head. "It can be a bit much. I enjoyed going out like this when I was little, being the center of attention when mom and dad were usually so busy. Grandma's funeral was the worst though. It wasn't fun and games. The only good thing was that Victor was with us all the time after that, rather than only seeing him on Tharkad."

"I don't remember it."

"Well, you were very very young." She settled back into her seat. "I was just about old enough that I was allowed to carry you occasionally. I'd been too little to trust with a baby when it came to the boys."

Yvonne nodded. "Did you ever drop me? Peter said something…"

"I sometimes think he was the one who got dropped on his head. No, I never did drop you. I did sit down and refuse to carry you any further once," Kate reminisced. "But you'd spat up milk all over my new dress. Dad carried us both the rest of that event and gave me a telling off for making Mom's day harder than it had to be."

They passed the rest of the trip exchanging stories. Yvonne had several of her own stories, featuring events that Kate had missed while she was at NAIS. It was hard to believe that it would only be a year or so now before her youngest sibling would embark on her own higher education.

"You have a couple of days before you have to go back to school," Kate recalled. "Are you going to stay at the Castle or go back early? Or something else, if you want."

Her sister blinked. "Do you want me to go back now?"

"You're old enough to decide for yourself," she decided.

"Thank you." Yvonne considered it for a moment. "I won't see much of you either way, will I?"

"Probably not. I foresee a very busy schedule. My secretaries are probably dueling over who gets access first, not to mention I'll have to rejoin my regiment…" Balancing that against being viceroy would be… interesting. At least some of her duty time would be classed as being detached to serve as part of her own Close Personal Security Detail, but too much of that would turn her credentials as a soldier into a joke. And Kate couldn't afford that.

"I'll go back to school tomorrow," her sister decided. "I'd like a night in my own bed first, but the sooner I'm back the sooner I can get over the inevitable questions."

"As you wish."

Yvonne hugged Kate properly before they parted ways just inside the Castle entrance. Then the redhead departed for the family apartments while Kate had to follow another path, up past the Great Hall and into the offices used by ministers when they were in the Castle rather than the buildings that housed the actual senior bureaucracy.

Her little procession went past them and then took a dog leg through a room of secretaries who had worked for Kate's father. Finally she reached the double doors that marked her destination. Guards whose formal livery covered practical body armor and weapons opened them before she arrived and Kate entered her father's office for the first time since he'd died.

There were no real changes. The same curtains, furnishings and even decorations. Her mother had used it when she was here but hadn't altered it to her own tastes. Most likely she had never had the time.

The Duke of Argyle was waiting, wearing his military uniform and the formal chain of office as viceroy. Hammond bowed deeply as she entered. "Your highness."

"Your grace," she said and smiled ruefully. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"Being honest, I was working in my office until I got word you had actually arrived at the Castle," he said with a smile. "It never stops."

"Thank you for the warning." Not that she was surprised, having grown up around her parents… when they weren't busy with that same never-ending tide of work.

"In any case," Hammond said, lifting the chain over his head. "There's no real precedent for this and you said you preferred not to have a formal ceremony." He extended the viceroy's chain in both hands.

Kate looked at it for a moment, twenty-five large golden links. They were evenly divided into five types, showing off the fox of House Davion, the sword-and-sunburst of the Federated Sun, the fist of House Steiner, the little used but technically official lyre of the Lyran Commonwealth and finally the five subtly large links with showed the fist-and-sunburst of her brother's conjoined realms.

Finally she reached out and accepted the chain. It was just as heavy as she had imagined. Raising it, she hung it around her neck, adjusting it so that it hung evenly. It felt awkward and out of place.

"It fits you well," the duke assured her.

Well, as long as no one else finds it out of place, Kate decided and went to the desk. The chair was at the right height for her mother and she reached automatically for the controls and raised it to what she was comfortable with. Then she glanced around her father's… her parent's office. No, it was Victor's office, but until he arrived she would have to use it.

Opening her handbag she took out the list of things to do she'd made on her way from Tharkad and made a note to work in talking to the palace decorators. She was not going to work surrounded by reminders of her parents, it was hard enough.

"So I believe we are meeting the rest of the privy council first," Kate asked Hammond once she had made the note.

"Indeed, your highness," Hammond confirmed and once she was out from behind the desk he fell in deferentially behind her.

drakensis · Tuesday at 7:26 AM

Chapter 15

The Triad, Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
31 July 3055

The Archon's office hadn't changed substantially since his grandmother's day, with the long drapes and furnishings that almost but did not quite match the craftsmanship of the huge wooden desk that Victor's maternal grandfather had made for his wife. While the Archon-Prince had never met his grandfather (in fact, nor had his mother, since Arthur Luvon had passed away while Katrina Steiner was carrying their only child), one of his fondest memories of his grandmother was of being allowed to sit on her lap and listen to her stories after she had finished work for the evenings.

This was where she had issued her Peace Proposal, where she had governed through the Fourth Succession War and there were still marks on the wall (if you knew where to look) that were the result of a barely foiled assassination attempt by Free Skye shortly before Victor was born.

And now it was where he was receiving reports from the frontlines. "They got her?" he demanded as Galen Cox handed over a data chip.

"They did," Galen agreed. "It seems that Arc-Royal was too tempting a target once we leaked out that the Kell Hounds would have both regiments away hunting for her."

Victor punched the air triumphantly and thrust the data chip into the console resting on his desk. Files sprang on the screen - full after action reports, along with analysis. More than he could take time to read now, but he would find the time soon. "Do we have any idea who was behind her?"

Galen perched on the side of the desk. "Not yet. We had to lie to everyone about the Kell Hounds to pull this off, so we're no nearer to finding out the source of the leak that was feeding her data. But it's clear that there was someone, and there was something interesting in the interview of one of her prisoners. Nelson Geist - an ex-AFFC Kommandant she was treating more like a bondsman than anything else."

Victor's eyebrows went up. "Really?"

"To the point of having him in the cockpit of her Battlemaster for some of the raids," the Kommandant confirmed. "Twisted." He shook his head. "Anyway, he believes that at least some of her equipment was given to her by one of the Clans, not the result of raiding."

"We suspected that." The Archon-Prince leant back in his chair and contemplated the idea for a moment. "And Phelan's opinion?" His cousin had lost his mother to the same blast that had slain Melissa Steiner-Davion, and his father had lost his right arm in the same moment.

Clan medical technology might be able to make good the loss, and Victor suspected that besides attending Salome Ward's funeral, Phelan might plan to convince his father to see if Clan Wolf could offer better reconstruction than the Commonwealth could. As their Khan it would be within his power to order that, but the politics would be complicated.

At the end of the day, it was something Victor would be happy to live with.

Galen folded his arms. "He wondered if this might be action by the Diamond Sharks or even the Clan's own criminal element. Of course, it's news to me that they even have one."

"The more I learn about the Clans, the more they seem like us but at right angles," Victor observed. "Clan Diamond Shark though… I didn't think they had any presence in the Inner Sphere after Tukayyid. They don't occupy any worlds I'm aware of?" he added questioningly.

"They had a world in the near Periphery according to Phelan but the Ghost Bears took it from them after Tukayyid. There were suspicions they had traded supplies to insurgents, he admits that may just be mud-slinging, it was before he had joined the Wolves fully."

"It certainly muddies the water." A chime from the clock told Victor that time for discussing this was over. His next appointment would be arriving soon. "I have to get ready, but I did have an offer for you, Galen."

Galen rose to his feet. "If this is your sister's hand in marriage," he joked, "I will have to recuse myself."

"Yvonne is too young for you anyway," Victor deadpanned. "No, but I do have to choose someone to take over from me with the Tenth Lyran Guards. I'm already head of the Royal Guards on paper as well. I can't justify keeping the Tenth with me as well. How do you feel about having your own regiment?"

"Now that's a sudden offer," the kommandant said in surprise. "I'm not even the senior battalion commander."

"No, but you're the one who I have the most confidence in."

"In honesty, I have probably also been neglecting the role to serve as your aide," Galen told him seriously. "I figured I'd have to choose whether to stay with you or with the regiment sooner or later."

"It's a tough choice," Victor admitted sympathetically.

"Not really. Keeping you from doing anything stupid is clearly my duty. I followed you into the Tenth Guards, remember. I never really expected a posting with such a prestigious unit to begin with." The older man drew himself up. "Respectfully, your highness, I would prefer to remain as your aide over taking command of the Tenth."

Trying to hide the warm feeling he felt at those words, Victor toyed with a stylus. "I suppose that I will need to find another battalion commander as well, before I hand them off."

"I thought Sabine was coming along well," his friend offered. "She's about ready for a battalion."

"Yes, but she has one. Didn't you hear?" He'd thought that Galen and his cousin were getting on quite well.

Galen spread his hands. "I've been a bit too busy to socialize lately."

"Ah. Well, she got offered a transfer over to the Twenty-Fourth Lyran Guards to command one of their battalions," Victor explained. "We're getting another distant cousin of mine to replace her in Baker Company - Caesar Steiner's son Reinhart. He was in the same class as Peter."

That got a grimace. "And he has a company already? I can't see that being welcome news with your brother."

Victor said nothing. Peter had been quite unhappy to find his petitions to be sent somewhere more active than Tharkad met with a transfer to the March Militia on Skye. It was a politically sensitive area, and if Ryan Steiner ever made a move then Peter would find himself on the frontlines of an insurrection. Of course, from that perspective, it also warned Free Skye that if they went beyond mere talk, Victor would have every reason to hammer them unmercifully.

"Do you want me to draw up a list of candidates?" asked Galen.

"That would be helpful," he agreed. "I won't ask you to sit in on the next meeting. I'm sure you've met Sabine's grandmother already."

"Field Marshal Steiner is a legend in the service," the kommandant said stiffly, before adding: "And I'm as scared of her as everyone else is."

"Well if you and Sabine keeping hitting it off, you might be her in-law one day."

"Stop trying to meddle in my love life, Victor. I can't tell if you're trying to help or hinder."

Victor chuckled and waved him out before contacting his current secretary. "If Field Marshal Steiner hasn't arrived yet, send her right in when she gets here."

"I've been waiting," his great-aunt said gruffly, pushing in through the door before Galen could exit. She gave the man a nod when he held the door. "Kommandant Cox."

"Field Marshal." He let her pass and closed the door behind himself.

Nondi Steiner took a seat facing Victor without asking. "Good man there."

"Yes," he agreed. "I offered him the Tenth, but he turned it down to stay my aide."

That got an approving nod. "Sabine speaks well of him. You would have won either way, but you should get him a promotion. You know the social-generals will look down on him for being a mere field officer."

"It's in the works." The bureaucracy of the AFFC could sometimes run slowly, even for the man who was its supreme commander. Victor closed down the console and dropped the datachip on the Red Corsair's final battle into a desk drawer. "I'm more than happy to see you, but you didn't say why you wanted a meeting?"

His great-aunt opened the valise case she was carrying and produced an envelope, placing it on the desk. "I offered this to your mother… and before that, to my sister."

Victor gave her a startled look and then lifted the envelope, which wasn't sealed. The contents were not unexpected, but not something he'd hoped to see. "Resignation."

"The Clans are my fourth war," she reminded him. "Realistically, the only way for me to move up would be to replace Morgan Hasek-Davion as Marshal of Armies, and he's younger than I am." Then she looked down at the desk surface. "And I'm tired, Victor."

"You've never done less than your duty," he acknowledged and slid the letter of resignation back into its envelope. "If that's your intention, all I can ask is that you wait until I have my feet under me and find a suitable officer to step in."

"Of course," she told him matter-of-factly. "I hadn't meant I would leave today."

Victor rose from behind the desk and offered her his hand. The old general took it and pulled him into a rough hug. "You're so damn young to be behind that desk," she said. "Melissa and Katrina had at least time to grow up."

"I'm twenty-five," he reminded her, not refusing the embrace.

"Practically an infant," Nondi said with a sniff.

Chapter 16

Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
10 September 3055

Jackson Davion had come to her office this time. Kate could have used the mono-rail to go down to the Fox's Den, her new post as viceroy did come with some perks. But she'd have had to return for her next meeting so this time she had elected to impose upon him.

The Field Marshal looked around as he entered. "A change from when I was last here."

The curtains framing the two large windows were now Davion bottle-green, with the fist-and-sunburst embroidered into them in gold. Kate had moved her father's decorations such as the glass sculpture of his first love Dana Stephenson into storage and replaced them with a cabinet of models. A scale model of her Guillotine she'd made as part of her NAIS coursework stood in pride of place, flanked by Galax's concept model for the new corvettes and a lovingly painted Atlas kit that someone had once gifted to her uncle Ian.

"It's a working office, not a museum," Kate told him. "Tea? Coffee?"

"Coffee, please. Your staff should know how I take it?"

Sure enough, it was moments before one of Kate's assistants entered with two coffee cups on a silver tray, setting them down before them both. Kate's had some cream while Jackson's was black as pitch.

"You wanted to talk about the March Militias?" he asked, after tasting the coffee and smiling appreciatively.

Kate nodded. "I sent a proposal to your office for review."

"The volunteer repair program?" he asked. "Yes, I saw it. I believe it was forwarded for further investigation. It does seem promising, but I'd want to see the numbers on how many volunteers we can find before going further."

"That's reasonable," she agreed. "So I sent out queries to gauge interest. Assuming that half of those that responded actually follow through, I think we'd be looking at between two or three companies of additional battlemechs coming available in every defense zone and combat region within your purview, if we can get the repairs done."

Jackson paused and set his cup down. "That is very promising."

Her proposal had gone back to the roots of the March Militia, with the selection of the best of the planetary militias in each combat region to form up the brigades that had become the backbone of the AFFS' defensive strategies. Kate had proposed contacting old mechwarrior families whose 'mechs were no longer fit for service and offering them full refits that they couldn't otherwise afford. In exchange, each family was required to place a 'mech and mechwarrior at the service of their local March Militia for no less than ten years.

"Can we carry out the repairs?" he asked. "I have some concerns about finding enough technical staff?"

"The Bell Repair yards have availability to make a start," she told him. "I've also felt out NAIS, Point Barrow and the Tikonov academies about assigning cadets to carry out some of the work. It won't cover all the needs, but coupled with the Militias themselves, we can make a start."

"That will free up more soldiers for other postings," Jackson observed. "I know Victor will be pleased if we have more replacements to keep the regiments facing the Clans at strength." Then he narrowed his eyes. "I imagine you have some ideas as well?"

"I said every defense zone and combat region," Kate repeated. "That includes Kathil, Point Barrow and Broken Wheel. None of which currently have March Militias."

"Ah…" the graying officer said in understanding. "I take it that you wish to change that."

The princess offered him a datachip she'd prepared earlier. "Infantry and armor regiments in those regions' planetary guards that may be suitable for nationalization to re-establish the march militias."

"It would take more than a few companies per combat region to build up battlemech regiments though," warned Jackson. "Ten years isn't a huge amount of time for that."

"Duke Sandoval has agreed to set aside a number of Watchman and Clint battlemechs from Robinson Standard BattleWorks as a contribution, although he will still want most of them for the Draconis March. My intention is to start them off with training forces built along the lines of the training battalions we already operate," Kate explained. "Transfers from the other March Militias would provide some cadre for two battalions each - one of trainees and one of family-owned mechs. The remainder of their strength would be made up of mercenaries hired on long term commitments."

Jackson nodded in agreement. "It's innovative, but most of that could work. We can filter in officers who are nearing retirement age as well, particularly those who have served against the Clans and who can pass on that experience. I'm concerned about the mercenaries though, you're talking about low activity postings for a decade, at least. Most battalion units would be concerned about making ends meet over that time."

"My thinking is that it would appeal to units not willing to take contracts that put them up against the Clans." Kate ran one hand through her hair. "A number of units have been taking Capellan and League contracts because they feel those are less likely to see them thrown up against foes they aren't confident of taking on. If we can offer at least some contracts that don't include those risks, we're a little less like to see Sun-Tzu Liao and Thomas Marik bolstering their forces at our expense."

Two gray eyebrows rose. "A very cogent point, your highness. You understand that I would want my staff to review these ideas before we take them any further."

Kate sat back, relieved not to be dismissed. Even as viceroy, her authority over the military was tenuous. It would be easy for an appeal to Morgan Hasek-Davion or even her brother to be made if Jackson really didn't wish to follow her direction. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

"I told you some time ago that I'd be delighted to free up forces to respond more easily to problems before they develop into crises." Jackson pocketed the datachip. "This offers some chance of doing just that. I will make sure they know that I would prefer any criticisms be constructive, with a view to making this work. Do you have any other proposals you'd like us to consider?"

"Just one, although I know it would be a harder sell."

"Oh?" he sipped on his coffee. "You have more credibility than you may expect."

"There are a number of battlemech designs we don't manufacture in the Suns half of the Federated Commonwealth," she told him. "Just in the New Avalon CMM, we've three Panthers and a Hermes II for example." The former were a standby of the DCMS and the latter was the backbone of medium scout lances in the Free Worlds League.

"That sort of thing is fairly typical."

"They also impose a disproportionate strain on logistics," Kate advised. "Where they are owned by the AFFC, I want to systematically concentrate them into individual units. If we have them all in one place, then only one regiment will be in need of the parts."

Jackson rubbed his chin. "You're right that that won't be popular. Mechwarriors do get attached. Perhaps we could soften the blow by suggesting that the units receiving them will be forming dedicated forces to simulate foreign force compositions for training purposes. If the New Avalon CMM had a battalion full of Capellan designs it might look odd on ceremonial occasions, but a company or so that was available for training against the cadets at Albion and NAIS would be arguable."

"As well as other academies," Kate said in excitement. "Filtvet and Kilbourne don't have readily available opposition forces other than their instructors."

"It's not worth doing for that reason," the Marshal pointed out. "But the Department of Military Education supporting the measure could be enough to sway the issue. I suggest you talk to Toni Reynolds about it. You need to sell people on the idea, try and find some reason that will convince every member of the high command you can get hold of. Reynolds in Mil Ed, your aunt Lisa in the Quartermasters and Gris Miller in Mercenary Relations are the most involved. If they all see benefits then that will give you the most impact, but every other senior Field Marshal won over will tip the balance. If enough of them back it, then you could get it pushed through past anything short of your brother's clearly stated objection. Not that I think he'd oppose the idea."

She nodded wearily, "I hoped that talking to you would be enough to get the ball rolling - for consideration, not to actually start the work."

He smiled at the naivety. "Start rolling, yes. But not to get it to where you need to. I'm sorry, Katie, the AFFC is as political as any other bureaucracy."

They finished their coffee while Kate asked about Jackson's family and made notes on his advice. She'd have to schedule appointments to meet with other members of the high command. Possibly she could take some time to drop in on those based out of New Avalon, but Lisa Steiner was on Tharkad so that would require correspondence.

Jackson made his exit and the blonde had a couple of moments to freshen up before her next guest arrived.

"Your grace," she greeted the well-dressed man who was ushered in.

"Your highness." He bowed and kissed the back of her hand when she extended it.

The Duke of El Dorado was the head of one of the most influential branches of the sprawling Davion dynasty, the Sanromea-Davions had ruled one of the Golden Five worlds at the heart of the Crucis March since the early Star League. While the economy had suffered over the decades, their influence over the financial sector and the High Council was considerable.

Kate gestured to the seats and the coffee table. "Would you mind joining me for a working lunch. My schedule is a little chaotic."

"That isn't for the best," Duke Roger said seriously. "Eating on a regular schedule is important for one's health."

"I hope to have the chance at that someday."

Several platters of food were carried in for them and both filled their plates before sitting back. "I was hoping to discuss some economic matters," Kate began. "It would be dangerous for me to only receive advice from within the government bureaucracy, I feel I should follow my parents' example and be open to ideas outside of the Ministries."

"There is a lot to be said for diversifying your sources of information," he agreed. "I imagine you have some projects in mind that I might be able to help with."

Kate swallowed the slices of cucumber she'd eaten as he spoke. "I'm aware of your work with finance groups looking for investments," she said and wiped the corner of her lips with a napkin. "Marquessa Helen Trempeleau has been talking to me about enterprises in the outback that are looking for financial support to take advantage of new military contracts."

The duke frowned. "I confess that military affairs are somewhat outside my area of expertise. El Dorado has avoided having military production and it's been successful as a means of avoiding direct attack during the Succession Wars."

"Quite so, but there's a difference between building those factories on El Dorado and helping companies on, for example, June to develop the facilities to build components for Lycomb-Davion Introtech's prospective new complex there."

Her distant cousin looked thoughtful. "The risks of such investments do center around the lamentable chances of such facilities being targeted for raiding," he concluded. "Just how secure would June be?"

He hadn't rejected the idea outright, Kate thought. Even if he didn't go for it right now, any objections he raised and how he reacted to her counter-arguments might help her convince other sources of funds to help build up the infrastructure needed to replace the factories lost to the Clans…

Chapter 17

Mount Asgard, Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
25 October 3055

Taking a day at Mount Asgard had been supposed to be about addressing the troop strengths observed on Steel Viper worlds, Victor thought as the conference derailed into another debate about what to do with a surge in their own 'mech numbers that hadn't even happened.

He was happy in the abstract that the paper Jackson Davion had forwarded would potentially free up the equivalent of another regiment from the Suns, but then Nondi had pointed out that the same plan could be applied to March Militias in Lyran Command and that raised the possibility of not even keeping the forces on the frontline up to strength but re-raising another command.

"The Tamar Tigers would have a great deal of support from the members of the Estates-General who have lost their homeworlds to the Clans," Claudius Taylor-Kelswa argued.

Victor drummed his fingers on the table impatiently. Claudius was a blowhard, but his father was Duke of Fort Loudon which was right on the border. And his ties to Morasha Kelswa, wife of Victor's cousin Ryan made him politically suspect. Was there anywhere he could be sent that he might cause less of a headache?

Richard Steiner cleared his throat. "That's true, but many of the Tamar-based families likely to provide 'mechs have withdrawn to Skye," he pointed out. "They will be joining Skye March Militias so there may be more logic in using the mechs freed up to create a new regiment of Skye Rangers. Something to counter Free Skye's influence."

"Or drops a fresh regiment into his sticky fingers," Nondi Steiner pointed out and the Marshal of the Skye March deflated under his mother's withering gaze.

The Archon-Prince was saved from another round of pitches by the sight of Galen Cox entering the room. That had to mean news important enough that he could excuse himself. "It seems I must leave this matter to you," he declared to the officers around the table, pushing his chair back. "I would prefer that if a new regiment is formed that it resurrect the honors of one of the units lost fighting the Clans."

Some of the generals nodded, though it was hard to tell which were sincere and which were sycophants.

"The Twelfth Donegal Guards did very well under the circumstances," Richard declared, flipping his position now that Victor had spoken.

"If you feel it the best choice," Victor replied dismissively and stepped away. He and Galen were among the very few members of the Twelfth Donegal Guard RCT to escape the first wave of Clan Jade Falcon's offensive. After their dropship got away, the Guards had fought on for months, pinning down garrison forces. It hadn't stopped the onslaught but it had certainly helped.

The Archon-Prince would have agreed with Richard for that reason, if it wasn't for the obvious currying of favor. Instead, as he went past Nondi Steiner he paused and in a low voice suggested: "Form a committee to debate that so the rest of you can get back to the original purpose of this meeting?"

Nondi snorted and nodded. As Victor exited, he heard her barking names that included her son and Taylor-Kelswa - perhaps something would get done without them.

"Good news?" he asked Galen once the door closed behind them.

"Good and bad," the newly minted Leftenant General told him. "Which would you like first."

"Hit me with whichever we can deal with quickest," Victor decided. It wasn't far to the private office he used at what had once been the Lyran Commonwealth's main headquarters and remained on par with the similarly subterranean Fox's Den on New Avalon.

Once inside, Galen hit the switches that not only locked the door but activated a considerable number of anti-eavesdropping measures. "The Kell Hounds report that the computer systems at their base on Arc-Royal were compromised."

"Dammit!" Victor threw himself into the chair behind his desk. "Don't tell me that they were the leak that let the Red Corsair stay ahead of us so long."

"Given that that was one of the few places that she could have found out that they were lying in wait for her, they doubt that," his aide pointed out. "No, the evidence seems to suggest that the tampering took place around the time of Salome Ward's funeral."

Victor's eyes narrowed. Morgan Kell's wife had been buried after the defeat of the bandit, the ceremony deferred until the Kell Hounds could gather openly and their founder was sufficiently recovered. "Then who did it? And what were they after?"

"In reverse order? They had downloaded the entire databases captured from the Red Corsair's dropships for analysis and someone pulled out a number of files. It was only uncovered because some of the data was corrupted and they had to go back to the source to crosscheck. They found an entire communications cache had been deleted from their copies."

"Son of a bitch!" The Archon-Prince slammed his fist into his desk. "Phelan?"

"He was there," Galen confirmed. "And he knows their system almost as well as the technicians that run it."

"He was kicked out of the Nagelring for cracking military databases he had no business looking at. It seems like he hasn't learned a thing." He shook his head. "It has to be him. What did they find out?"

"The missing communications were between Nekane Hazen and Conal Ward," his aide told him, sitting down opposite the desk. "A Jade Falcon bloodname and a Wolf one."

"Conal Ward used to command one of the Wolves' frontline Galaxies." The younger man thought back to conversations with Phelan while they'd raced to Tharkad for his mother's funeral. There'd been little to do except exchange stories. "He got pushed out to bandit hunting duties after Tukayyid - there was a scandal involving Phelan's bloodname trials and he took the demotion rather than be openly disgraced."

"Yes, it seems he commands the Thirty-First Wolf Solahma Cluster - a unit that Clan Wolf had loaned to the Steel Vipers to help them hunt for the Red Corsair." Galen paused for emphasis. "He would have had access to all the data we shared about her movements and what we were doing to catch her."

Victor nodded. "He was our leak?"

"It isn't proof, but it's incriminating," the tall officer agreed. "And Phelan deleting it would make sense. Clan Wolf being behind the Red Corsair would be explosive, it could have brought down the ilKhan."

IlKhan Ulric Kerensky was one of the pillars holding the truce together. As much as Victor hated it, he couldn't entirely fault Phelan for wanting to cover this up. "And Nekane Hazen?"

"We have no file there, but Nelson Geist confirmed the voice print sounded just like the Red Corsair." Galen shrugged. "How a Jade Falcon and a Wolf got entangled to create her force I have no idea, we may never know."

Leaning back, Victor studied the ceiling contemplatively. "It tells us two things. Firstly, whatever Phelan says about the Clans hating deception doesn't hold up in practice. They're just as hypocritical as our own 'loyal opposition'."

"Either that or they are learning quickly."

"It amounts to the same," he dismissed the qualification. "And secondly, at least some of Clan Wolf are siding with the Crusaders. That means Phelan's hints that Clan Wolf might side with us if the truce collapsed are worthless."

"I hate to say it, but you're right. Some of them might - I think he's sincere." Galen met Victor's gaze, "But your cousin has only lived among the Clans for a few years. It's probable he doesn't have the whole picture. Their politics are probably just as complicated as our own."

"Some would be better than none, but we can't count on it." Victor straightened. "I take it that that was the bad news? Brighten my day."

The other man leant forwards. "LIC have captured the man who planted the bomb."

Victor burst to his feet. "They have? Why didn't you… no, that was my fault." He leant over the desk. "How did they catch him?! And who is he working for?"

"They got sneaky," Galen explained. "They used Kai Allard-Liao's people on Solaris to reach out into the underworld and expressed interest in hiring someone for a job 'as difficult as assassinating the Archon'."

"And they believed that?"

"The idea they floated was that one of Kai's most trusted associates was skimming from Cenotaph Stables and wanted Kai to go home to St Ives. Killing Candace Liao would force him to do that. Sordid, but that sort of thing does happen on Solaris."

Victor exhaled. "And they're sure it's the real assassin, not some poser?"

"Under chemical interrogation, he knew far too much about how the bombing was arranged. Either he had complete access to our own investigation into your mother's death, or he was the one that did it." Galen exhaled. "As to who hired him, that we're still working on. They used multiple cut-outs and at least some of them are dead. But we do have a lead."

"Tell me."

"The assassin didn't exactly trust his employer so he'd checked the money trail of how he got paid. That gave LIC investigators a lead and the team on Solaris sent that ahead by HPG. We have the best forensic accountants in the Inner Sphere and it didn't take them long to chase that through the banks."

"And?" Victor demanded. "We don't know yet who it was, but they must have something."

Galen hesitated. "The money originated in the sale of lands held by the Steiner Family Trust," he admitted. "Who ordered it, we don't know… but a senior member of House Steiner used your mother's own funds to finance her assassination."

The Archon-Prince stared at him in disbelief. "One of my own family."

"It's not a long list of suspects," Galen admitted, then licked his lips. "And if this gets out… your name will be on the list."

"Who benefits?" Victor whispered thickly.

A nod.

Victor had become Archon-Prince upon his mother's death. The fact he had asked her to take over as First Prince, that she had offered to abdicate both thrones… he hadn't even told his siblings about that. Only he and his mother had been privy to that conversation.

To the public, if this came out he would be painted as an usurper and a matricide. The Steiner Family Trust was deliberately set up so that trustees could draw on it without being subject to too much scrutiny - a safeguard to keep them from using it against each other. It would be very easy for one of them to mask exactly who had ordered a given transaction.

"Ryan fucking Steiner," he cursed. "He's a trustee and this would be just like him."

"Plausible, but hard to prove."

"Where is the assassin?" Victor asked.

"On ice. He can be put on trial if you want, but that would raise questions of his employer, which is most likely the trap that is intended by paying him like that. Agent Curaitis suggested he could be killed while resisting arrest, but warned that in that case it would suggest he was being silenced."

"Pointing suspicions back at me." The Archon-Prince shook his head. "Tell them to keep interrogating him. Look for anything else at all we can use. There is no such thing as a perfect crime!" He tried to ignore his sister's voice, the way Kathy had once told him that an engineering solution didn't need to be perfect… just good enough.

With A Bared Sword

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