BattleTech Legends: The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, page 117
She turned and stalked, head held high, toward the doors. The Com Guards moved to bar her, then stood aside as Focht gestured to them to let her go. The door closed behind her, and Focht realized the others were straining to hear the sound of gunshots from outside.
“She will not be harmed. A squad of Com Guards will escort her to a waiting DropShip. It will take her to a JumpShip that should have her back in the Free Worlds League in a week or so.”
Sharilar Mori nodded. “We assumed there would be some hardliners who would not brook this opening up of ComStar. We fully expect Demona to declare Thomas Marik ‘Primus in exile.’ Given that she will have to rely on us for spare parts for hyperpulse generators, at least in the short term, she will not break relations with us. However, she will probably provide a haven in the Free Worlds League for anyone else unable to reconcile the new ComStar with the old. Their orthodoxy will, in time, mellow if the Free Worlds League is to compete with the advances we give to the other states.”
Focht adjusted his eyepatch. “Does anyone else dispute the veracity of my dream?”
Everson shook his head. “It might require some expansion to fit the format of similar revelations in the past, but it will do.”
“Excellent.” Focht signaled the guards and they opened the doors. “It is now up to you to present our new ComStar to the leaders of your nation-states. That done, we can start to repair the damage done to mankind by our neglect.”
49
NEW AVALON
CRUCIS MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
17 JUNE 3052
Victor Davion’s stomach lurched up into his throat as the Ferret light scout helicopter pitched forward and out of the DropShip’s starboard ’Mech bay. It fell 200 meters toward the dark, sleeping Avalon City before the pilot kicked power to the auto-rotating propeller. In doing so, he brought the nose up and jammed Victor down into his seat in the crew compartment.
Victor looked over at Galen. “See, I told you it would work.”
Galen Cox, who looked paler than Victor had ever seen him in their years together, nodded weakly. “Couldn’t land at the Royal Brigade Base like everyone else, could you? Just have to get chauffeured to the palace right off.”
Victor shrugged. “Look, we’re not even supposed to be arriving for another month. We got lucky that some of those ships were waiting around when we arrived in-system.”
“I fail to see how sending a message ahead ordering them to wait can be considered luck.” Galen smiled and a little color came back to his face. “Actually, I’m anxious to see Avalon City—during the day, that is. An air tour at three in the morning is fine, but it lacks the color promised in all the travel brochures.”
Victor nodded sharply. “And you shall have that tour, my friend. Tomorrow night, we go out and celebrate. We celebrate our being alive, and if the message from the Jade Falcons is correct, we celebrate Kai’s return from the dead!”
“Only Kai.” The blond hauptmann shook his head. “He probably was killed on Alyina—several times over in fact, but he came back because you had a deal to meet in twenty years, and he didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Victor remembered Kai’s smiling face and the suicidal charge Yen-Lo-Wang had made to save his life on Alyina. Somehow, I would not put it past him to return from the dead. He sobered up for a moment. “I wonder if Kai knows his parents are dead?”
Galen shrugged. “I don’t think he could get all the way to New Avalon without someone expressing their regrets to him along the way.”
“Tomorrow I’ll record a holovid and send it out Alpha Priority. My father had wanted me to break the news to him. If I can’t do that, I can express my sympathy.”
“I think Kai would like that.”
Victor saw the palace swing into view through the porthole on the starboard side. “We’re over the Peace Park right now. See, that’s the palace. The front remains lit up at night for insomniac tourists, which is why private quarters are around back in the dark. Only offices occupy the front quarter.”
Galen pointed to one set of three windows lit from inside. “Fancy that, the government has night owls.”
Victor squinted and used his left hand to form a view-finder. “Not surprising. That’s my father’s office. He probably fell asleep at his desk again.”
The two men laughed as the helicopter swooped over the palace, then settled down in the middle of a ring of lights out by the back lawn. Victor thanked the pilot, and the two of them disembarked. Running hunched over, they cleared the circle and clutched their caps against the air blast as the helicopter climbed into the air again.
As they straightened up, a man in the uniform of the Intelligence Ministry’s Bodyguard service saluted. “Welcome home, Prince Victor. Per your radio instructions, no one has been notified of your arrival. The household is asleep.”
Victor nodded. “My father is still in his office?”
“Yes, sir, at least he was five minutes ago. Minister Mallory brought him a priority holodisk about an hour ago, but your father viewed it in private.”
“As you said, the household is asleep.”
The bodyguard smiled. “I believe so, sir.” He looked over at Galen. “We have Hauptmann Cox billeted in the suite down the hall from your rooms. Just use your service number as your lock code, Hauptmann.”
“Thank you, Leftenant.”
Victor started walking toward the Palace’s rear entrance, and the security man fell into step on his left while Galen secured his right. “I think we will slip in and surprise my father, then retire for the night.”
“Perhaps you will be more successful at persuading him to get some proper rest, Highness. He spends so much time in his office that the men guarding him must have sunk roots into the hall by now.”
Victor smiled as he heard the concern in the man’s words. “I appreciate your frankness, Leftenant. I will see what I can do.”
The Leftenant returned to his own office on the ground floor while Victor and Galen climbed a broad marble staircase to the third floor. Turning right at a massive bronze statue of Ares, they entered a long corridor lined with white marble pillars. The walls were decorated with an elaborate mural depicting the history of House Davion. Victor slowed so Galen could study the painting.
“This is it, Galen, the history of humanity according to the Davions.”
His companion grinned. “A tad solipsistic, but I don’t have to mind it now because we’re all one big happy family, right?”
“Well, it does help that the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth never really got a chance to go at each other.” Victor sniffed the air in an exaggerated way. “Hmmm, no new paint. I guess they haven’t immortalized the Revenants yet.”
“Damn, ignored by history again!” Galen grumbled lightly.
The two guards at the door to Hanse Davion’s office snapped to attention and saluted when Victor approached. Both MechWarriors returned the salutes, then one of the guards quietly opened the heavy bronze door. Victor and Galen slipped into the room noiselessly and shared a smile.
Hanse Davion sat in a big, wingback chair behind his desk. The chair had been turned so they could glimpse only a bit of his profile. The Prince faced the holodisk viewer built into the oaken cabinets on the far side of the room, but his chin had dropped to his chest, and he looked to be sleeping.
As Victor approached his father’s desk, the holovid viewer speakers suddenly began to play muted strains of the Capellan anthem. Victor turned to look at the screen, which showed the Capellan crest dissolving into the image of Sun-Tzu Liao. He stopped short and Galen stopped behind him.
Sun-Tzu smiled slowly. “Prince Davion, in attending to the affairs of state subsequent to the deaths of my parents, I came across the holodisk your agent, Justin Allard, had left for my grandfather. I believe you are aware that this holodisk was the straw that broke my grandfather’s last feeble grasp on reality. I also believe it unbalanced—or further unbalanced—my mother’s mental state. In light of the effect it had on them, I thought I would return the courtesy and record this for you.
“Of course, I know you are too strong for the recording to affect you the way it did them.” The new Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation seated himself on the edge of a stone desk. “Still, if this provides for an hour or two of sleeplessness on your part, I will consider the expense more than worth it.”
Victor glanced over at his sleeping father and grinned. “Wrong again, Sun-Tzu.”
“As you know, Prince Davion, my realm is small and not that powerful. The St. Ives Compact is poised at our belly like a knife. My uncle, Tormana, is active in the occupation zone you call your Sarna March. He agitates against us, infiltrates agents into the Confederation, and constantly bellows about invading and liberating the rest of the Confederation. Of course, acting as your agent in a war of conquest is hardly what I would call an act of liberation.
“I realize the utter folly of attacking him or the St. Ives Compact, for you would immediately crush my tiny nation-state. However, even pledging never to attack you cannot relieve me of the threat you pose to my realm. For this reason, I have taken steps to ensure our survival.”
The camera slowly zoomed in toward Sun-Tzu. “Again, in a tradition you started with my grandfather, I wanted to convey to you personally my marriage plans. I have asked for and been granted the hand of Isis Marik in marriage. The ceremony will take place on Atreus later this year. I would give you exact details or even an invitation, but having heard of your conduct at the last wedding between two realms, I thought it wiser to leave you at home.”
Victor stared at the screen, unbelieving. Sun-Tzu marrying a Marik? That backs up the Confederation with the might of the Free Worlds League, who are now producing new ’Mechs and equipment designed to fight the Clans. How much of that will be diverted to shore up the Confederation’s defense?
“I bid you a fond adieu, Prince Davion. Do devote all your resources to fighting the Clans. You do not want to go to war with me.”
The image faded, then the Capellan crest came up and the anthem started again. Disgust on his face, Victor pointed at the machine. “It’s on an endless loop. Shut it off.” He turned toward his father. “It’s a wonder he could sleep through that.”
“Bored him after the first time, I think.”
Victor again headed toward the desk, then saw his father’s head lying at an odd angle to the side. Instantly, he knew something was dreadfully wrong. He sprinted forward, and posting off the corner of the desk, vaulted to his father’s feet. “Oh my God, Galen, something’s happened!”
Hanse Davion did not move even though Victor’s shout came right beside him. His face looked gray and his eyelids were shut. Victor grabbed him under the armpits and knew from the blue of his father’s lips that he was dying.
“Father, father!” Victor hauled him up and kicked the chair out from behind him. “Galen, he’s having a heart attack! He’s barely breathing.”
As Victor laid his father down on the floor, he saw gravity flood color back into his face. Hanse’s eyes snapped open, and he looked right through his son. The elder Prince’s eyes focused down, and the hint of a smile parted his lips. He reached up to grab Victor’s shoulder. “Victor?”
“I’m here, Father. Help is on the way. Take it easy.”
“Victor…” Hanse Davion smiled proudly at his son, then closed his eyes forever.
Epilogue
UNITY PALACE
LUTHIEN
20 JUNE 3052
Dear Victor,
It is with great sadness that word of your father’s passing reached Luthien. He was a remarkable man. Upon learning of his death, my grandfather commented that now, even with the Clans, there are no longer any opponents worthy of the Combine.
I have been informed that your father will lie in state for the month, then be interred in a family crypt in a private ceremony. I am directed to inquire if we may be permitted to send a delegation to represent the Combine at the ceremony. It is not from lack of respect that my father or grandfather are not able to attend, but they cannot leave Luthien, given the nature of the war with the Clans. With humble apologies, we ask permission for attendance by lesser members of the family, if our participation is appropriate and desired.
Indebted to you yet,
Omi
CLAN INVASION TIMELINE
3048-3052
(For more information about these events in the BattleTech universe, see Era Report: 3052)
3048
27 September: The Outbound Light—belonging to ComStar’s Explorer Corps—jumps into the Huntress system. The crew is captured by Clan Smoke Jaguar and interrogated by Khan Leo Showers. He uses this incident to reopen the Great Debate of whether Clans should invade the Inner Sphere.
21 November: All Clans except Wolf vote in favor of Inner Sphere invasion. Clan Wolf demands a Trial of Refusal and loses. In the Trial, both Ghost Bear Khans are killed.
12 December: Leo Showers is elected ilKhan by the Council. He is given command of Operation Revival, the invasion of the Inner Sphere.
3049
21 February: The first Clan advance units leave Clan space and head for the coreward Periphery.
12-28 June: Over Strana Mechty, the forces of the four invading Clans—Smoke Jaguar, Ghost Bear, Wolf and Jade Falcon—gather to start their journey toward the Inner Sphere.
August-September: The first Clan forces appear in the Periphery and make short work of any defending forces.
13 August: Phelan Kell—son of Morgan Kell and member of the Kell Hounds mercenary unit—is captured by Clan Wolf on The Rock. The Kell Hounds are the first Inner Sphere unit to encounter the Clans, and retreat with vital information about the new attacker.
2 November: After a couple of less fortunate attempts resulting in the destruction of two vessels, the Explorer Corps is able to make contact with the invading Clans.
3050
January: Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht, sent by Primus Myndo Waterly, is appointed ComStar ambassador to the Clans. The Clans, except for Clan Wolf, who were done by September of the last year, finish their first Periphery actions, and now prepare for a first wave into the Inner Sphere.
15 January: While on board the Dire Wolf, Anastasius Focht and Phelan Kell—now bondsman of the Wolves—meet.
18 February: IlKhan Showers convenes a Grand Kurultai—a war council of the Clan Khans—on the Dire Wolf, orbiting Paulus Prime.
23 February: The kurultai on the Dire Wolf adjourns. Last changes to the strategy are discussed and the Clans are ready to launch their invasion.
7 March: The Clans launch the first wave of Operation Revival, the invasion of the Inner Sphere.
20 March: The Jade Falcons launch their first invasion wave.
30 March: Clan Smoke Jaguars invade Turtle Bay. They—unknowingly—capture Hohiro Kurita, son of Gunji-no-Kanrei Theodore Kurita. He is locked away in the Kurushiiyama prison.
13 April: The Jade Falcons attack Trell I (Trellwan). They almost capture Victor Steiner-Davion, heir to the throne of the Federated Commonwealth, in the process.
Late April: The First Wave ends. Upon learning about the invasion, Jaime Wolf recalls Wolf’s Dragoons to Outreach.
May: The Clans begin the Second Wave, kicked off by the Wolves.
7 May: The Ryugawa-gumi, a group of yakuza on Turtle Bay, stages a jailbreak from the Kurushiiyama prison. Hohiro Kurita is rescued in the process. The Smoke Jaguars, upon learning of this, decide to withdraw all their troops and stage an example. The WarShip Sabre Cat razes the city of Edo. Hundreds of thousands are killed.
All the other Clans condemn this attack as cowardice or—worse—criminally stupid. Clan Wolf declares it will never again bid naval support during the invasion. All the other Clans follow this example in order not to lose honor. Meanwhile, Clan Wolf releases its revised invasion plan to the other Clans.
17 May: Clan Ghost Bear’s Beta Galaxy’s WarShip is struck by an asteroid in the Damian system, resulting in the destruction of one Cluster.
Late May: The Second Wave ends, although the Jade Falcons continue the wave until late June.
12 June: As a result of the disaster in the Damian system, Clan Ghost Bear votes on the invasion. By a narrow margin, it is decided to continue.
5 June: Clan Wolf Third Wave begins. Clan Wolf JumpShips deposit supply caches in orbit around uninhabited worlds deep in enemy space. All the other Clans by now have to fight with logistic problems, and the long supply lines to the Homeworlds hinder their operations. The Smoke Jaguars and Ghost Bears begin the Third Wave shortly after the Wolves.
23 June: With the final conquest of Twycross, the Jade Falcons end their Second Wave. The Third Wave is by now underway.
4 July: Clan Ghost Bear Khans Jorgensson and Kabrinski—elected on 24 June—arrive on the Dire Wolf to begin bidding for Rasalhague. After Clan Wolf has won the right to invade, the attack starts 12 July; the next day Elected Prince Magnusson flees the planet and within five days, the capital of the Free Rasalhague Republic is conquered.
