And you are worried that I shall usurp your power out here, Demona added silently. She needed St. Jamais and his 6th of June movement, but despised the thought that she might have to purchase his loyalty with concessions. I did promise him command, though, and my arrival on Campoleone does threaten that.
Dropping her gaze, she saw her reflection in the highly polished finish of the wooden tabletop. It cast back a dark caricature, turning her blue eyes into sinister black orbs and blanketing her entire face in warping shadow. But holding her gaze there for a moment, she also noted the fine wood grain that spoke of a strong natural order beneath the illusions of the reflections. It made Demona recall some words of the Blessed Blake that the way must be ". . . led by those with the vision to see past illusion and the depth of commitment to carry through on our chosen course."
I am such a person, she thought, regaining her composure. It is my destiny to help fulfill Jerome Blake's prophecy. St. Jamais will see this, or he is not the aide I require for the times ahead. She placed her hands flat on the table's cool surface and sat with head high and back straight. The depth of her convictions warmed her, and she matched his troubled expression with one of calm strength.
"Events sometimes conspire to direct our course, Cameron," she began, her voice pitched low and gentle, almost seductive. "I will remain on Campoleone, Blake's will be done. From here I can direct Toyama efforts in the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation, as well as monitor the Periphery situation."
Demona waited for his reaction, never once breaking eye contact. A slight tensing made her wonder for the briefest moment if he might actually draw a weapon against her despite their shared convictions and the intimate relations they'd known back on Gibson. But then his brown eyes softened and broke from hers as he nodded.
"You're right, of course, Demona. You are not to blame for the interference of Precentor Blane."
Now that he had once again acknowledged her power, it was time to rebuild his confidence in their alliance. "Be not cast down, Cameron. Your time approaches." His eyes came back up, hardening with a fanatic's zeal as he read into her words. "Now why don't you brief me on your Periphery operation?" she said.
Leaning back in his chair and tucking his hands back into the sleeves of his robes, St. Jamais smiled. "The movement of weapons and other military supplies into the Marian Hegemony is proceeding smoothly. I eliminated the secondary route demi-Precentor Adams had established through the Marik world of Romita. Everything now comes through Campoleone and then proceeds on to Astrokaszy."
Demona nodded. Astrokaszy was a barbaric desert world just beyond Free Worlds League space. Only a single jump from Campoleone, it sat directly between the Magistracy of Canopus and the Marian Hegemony. Hostile, savage, and rife with corruption, Astrokaszy was still everything people used to fear about the Periphery. It also made an excellent distribution point for the secret flow of weapons into the Hegemony. It was a double-blind, concealing any connection between the Hegemony and the Word of Blake activities on Campoleone. Just as Cameron and his 6th of June group protect me and the rest of the Toyama should this fail.
"Caesar Sean O'Reilly is very pleased with the increased flow of supplies," St. Jamais continued, "and actually untied those tight purse strings of his to award us with a bonus shipment of germanium along with our regular payment."
Demona raised an eyebrow. A twitch at one corner of her mouth gave a brief sign of her pleasure at that news. Germanium was a critical element in the production of a jump drive, the device that allowed a starship to make its instantaneous leaps between stars. Every power within the Inner Sphere—and without, she amended thinking of the Clans—needed the elusive element. And by a stroke of cosmic fortune, Alphard of the Marian Hegemony was blessed with a bountiful supply. If Word of Blake could become the dispenser of that supply . . . "And our hints at establishing a production facility on Alphard?" she asked.
"Well, of course, O'Reilly would like to possess the ability to produce the newer technologies himself," St. Jamais said, his voice revealing a rare hesitancy. "But he is not about to give Word of Blake the exclusive rights to purchase his germanium."
Demona frowned as she thought on possible ways to deal with Caesar Sean O'Reilly. Then she dismissed that line of thought with a wave of her hand. "No matter. Yet. O'Reilly will see the wisdom of accepting our offer, especially once his strengthened army suddenly becomes a threat to nearby portions of the Free Worlds League, and Thomas Marik begins to eye him with greater suspicion. For now, just work to keep O'Reilly's lust for more worlds in check. We want the Magistracy to feel harassed and vulnerable enough that they start to rely more on the Treaty of Taurus. But if the Marian Hegemony begins to conquer worlds, the Canopians might rally even without Taurian support. And that would strengthen their independence instead of making them inclined to form an alliance."
St. Jamais smiled. "Not to worry. Caesar O'Reilly makes the perfect cat's paw. He knows that he gains more through access to the higher technology we give him than what he might win through conquering any Magistracy border world. Besides, he could always use the improved army we're helping him to build for conquests at a later date."
Demona brushed a hand idly along the table as if discussing nothing more than routine business. "So what has the Caesar done with his new toys?"
St. Jamais drew in a deep breath as if considering the best presentation. "Hegemony raids against the Magistracy of Canopus have accelerated to the point of constantly threatening six Magistracy worlds, in a line from Thraxa to Marantha," he finally said, "and also including Palladix and Tarol IV. Those are the worlds closest to the border, as if the attacks are being staged out of the Hegemony world of Islington."
"Good choices. And the Magistracy Armed Forces?"
"The MAF are beginning to heavily garrison these worlds, but with little headway. We provide the Hegemony with accurate intelligence on where garrison forces are located, which lets the raiders avoid them every time. Also, the raiders don't limit themselves to military targets, which forces the garrison units to spread thinner."
"They're not attacking civilians," Demona said, her mouth suddenly dry and a warm flush spreading along the base of her neck. Mass destruction leveled against a civilian population violated the accords of modern warfare, as set down in the Ares Conventions some two centuries before. The Conventions had made war more humane, but also a continual fact of life in the centuries since. It would bring unwanted attention to the area if St. Jamais allowed such flagrant violations as the massacre of civilians.
The demi-Precentor's quick shake of the head calmed her fear. "Of course not. I would never authorize widespread slaughter." He paused. "But the raiders can target support facilities such as power stations and transportation centers, as well as the supply depots for large commercial enterprises. Such attacks raise the level of dissatisfaction among the world population, which in turn puts more pressure on the government and Canopus itself."
The explanation made sound tactical sense, but Demona also read a special significance in his pause. Widespread slaughter, as opposed to single murders? She swallowed against the dryness of her throat and adjusted her robes to cover her lapse of self-control. "Who have you sanctioned!" she asked, using his preferred euphemism for assassination.
"The planetary governors of Gambilon, Palladix, and Marantha," St. Jamais said with a grim smile. "I have full reports prepared on each world. My BattleMech forces dropped under the guise of Hegemony raiders to hit military supply depots while a 6th of June team infiltrated and disposed of the governors. Analysis of follow-up raids conducted by actual Hegemony forces show a marked decrease in garrison efficiency, ranging from ten to twenty-five percent, due to lack of coordination and a reluctance to commit to battle. In the case of Gambilon, it took the accession of the ranking regimental commander and her declaration of martial law to restore adequate defenses." His smile turned colder. "I am interested to see how her sanction will affect the garrison troops'
performance."
Demona carefully stifled the anger building within her, smothering it with the same determination that let her meet with Precentor Blane and suffer his subtle disapprobation. I should have known St. Jamais would try something like this. Still, I can't argue with success. Her anger in check, she considered what he was saying and found herself more interested in the results than upset over the methods. "And the outcome of your raids?" she asked, her tone even and noncommittal.
"More successful than the Hegemony efforts by an average of thirty percent. I've lost only five warriors, all bodies recovered, and ten BattleMechs, eight recovered and seven of those repaired and back in service." The words came out in a rapid stream, allowing St. Jamais to hold the floor and justify all his actions before Demona could protest. "The other two 'Mechs suffered complete loss of containment in the fusion reactor. Not much left of them." Another pause. "Of course, all identifying marks had been removed beforehand."
Demona nodded, as if his actions were in keeping with her own plans. A new thought did occur to her, though. "Have you performed an analysis of the level of improved technology being acquired by Canopus in the form of salvage?"
Again, he was ready with his answer. "All taken into account. With the limits we place on technology flowing into the Marian Hegemony, Canopus can salvage little that they couldn't purchase from the Free Worlds League in the form of field-upgrade packages—a small supply of raw construction material or the odd extra-light engine notwithstanding. And, analysis clearly shows the damage done in the average raid exceeds their average salvage recovery by over two hundred percent. It's a losing effort on their part."
"Has there been no official response from Canopus on the assassinations?"
"Demi-Precentor Nicholas reported a small quarrel among Emma Centrella and two of her daughters, which is apparently as far as it went. One daughter argued for public condemnation and the other counseled caution, with the Magestrix still undecided. Emma Centrella is leery about going public with her outrage, since the Hegemony could dredge up the assassination attempt against Caesar O'Reilly back in 3056."
Demona reached into one of her robe's deep pockets and removed a small datadisk. "I have other news as well. The warning that came down from demi-Precentor Nicholas has been validated: Canopus is indeed hiring mercenaries to bear the brunt of the fighting."
The frown that settled over St. Jamais' face was dark and foreboding. "That is not welcome news. I had hoped the Jeffrey Calderon would finally honor the Magestrix' request for Taurian forces to assist in border defense."
"What's the problem? The Treaty of Taurus provides for just such mutual assistance."
St. Jamais shook his head. "Apparently the treaty is not as binding as we'd hoped. From what my sources have gathered, Calderon doesn't want to put the entire breadth of the Magistracy of Canopus between his troops and home. He's offered to relieve the Magistracy Armed Forces on worlds bordering his own realm to free up MAF troops for reassignment to the far Magistracy border. But Emma Centrella balked. If she handed over the protection of those worlds to Calderon, he might be tempted to simply annex a large portion of her realm, or even form the initial staging area for a thrust directly at Canopus IV."
Demona exhaled in a drawn-out sigh. "Is there any way to break through this barrier of distrust and paranoia?" Seeing the wild light shining in the eyes of St. Jamais, she quickly amended her question. "Without the use of the 6th of June's particular talents?"
A shrug. "Only by continuing on with our current endeavors and hoping to sway either Emma Centrella or Jeffrey Calderon toward a more trustful position. I do know that Emma's eldest daughter, Danai Centrella, believes the Concordat should forget about trying to help from the Taurians and simply attack the Marian Hegemony directly. Her position in the Royal Guards makes her believe Canopus can handle its own problems. Danai is also the current favorite to succeed her mother as ruler of the Magistracy."
"No assassinations, Cameron." Demona caught and held his gaze, again testing the limits of his loyalty to her. When he finally nodded, she continued in an authoritative tone. "Keep your people in place, but for now we give the Hegemony border conflict time to work. Your job is to keep that conflict fresh and threatening in the minds of the Canopians."
She waited until he again gave her a gesture of his assent, then threw him a bone. "You may continue your raids disguised as Hegemony troops. I am bringing up a second Level III BattleMech unit of the Toyama from Gibson. Those will be enough to guard our interests here on Campoleone. The other Level III unit is released into your command and can travel with you to Astrokaszy."
The demi-Precentor blinked his surprise. "Astrokaszy?"
Demona nodded. "The man we're dealing with there— what's his name?"
"Caliph Shervanis. The closest thing they have to a ruler."
"Him. Keep a rein on Shervanis and make sure the false evidence is in place to implicate either Thomas Marik or Sun-Tzu Liao, depending on what we eventually need. Safeguard our distribution point, and be ready to burn all bridges behind you. Also, I trust that from there you can strike at areas considered too risky for actual Hegemony raiders."
She pushed the datadisk across the table, pausing at the halfway point and letting her hand rest over it. "This is the data we've gathered on the mercenary units being deployed to the border. It includes unit histories, where available, and even general terms of their contracts as gleaned from message traffic by Toyama members. There are many gaps in both due to time restraints, but I have people working on it."
St. Jamais reached out to accept the disk, but Demona caught his hand in hers and held it. With expression stern and voice harder, she continued. "Avoid the mercenaries when at all possible, and crush them when not. Let the Magistracy see them as an additional expense that neither deters the raids nor provides an adequate defense."
St. Jamais gave her hand a warm and reassuring squeeze. "Blake's will be done," he intoned, then let his eyes soften as he smiled an invitation.
Demona allowed her own sternness to melt away as she smiled back assent, noting the immediate effect it had on St. Jamais. Is this a weakness I detect on your part, Cameron? Can it be used to control you? "Keep control of the Periphery," she said, permitting an uncharacteristic warmth to seep into her voice. "I depend on you."
Cameron St. Jamais used one hand to take the disk from her and pocket it, while the other kept the familiar contact with hers. "Not to worry, Demona. A handful of mercenaries won't make the difference, and I doubt we'll ever see much more than that.
"There just aren't that many in the Inner Sphere who concern themselves with the affairs of the Periphery."
7
Celestial Palace
Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
30 March 3058
The office smelled lightly of sandalwood incense and wood polish. It was a comfortable room, with soft charcoal sketches hung on the walls and a small aquarium set into one corner. Rosewood gleamed darkly in the room's subdued lighting, its cherry-glow trimming shelves, french doors opening onto a small balcony, and the desk.
Sun-Tzu Liao hesitated in the doorway, almost as though he thought to see Candace Liao, his aunt and ruler of the St. Ives Compact, seated behind that desk. The memory of her visit was seven years old. That night Candace had murdered his mother, Romano, then-Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation. That night Sun-Tzu ascended to the Celestial Throne.
This is an evening for old memories, he thought.
One such memory had disturbed him this evening, rousing him from his bedchamber before he could sleep. To sleep would risk the memory invading his mind in the form of a dream, and Sun-Tzu hated dreams. He loathed the half-formed thoughts they represented. His younger sister, Kali, attached great spiritual significance to such things, but then she rushed to attach great spiritual significance to anything that appealed to her pseudo-religious mania.
Sun-Tzu believed that dreams were a sub
conscious analysis of events, nothing more. And any old memory, dredged up from the depths of his normally well-ordered mind, could only be of similar nature. Able to recognize this, he could analyze it for its true significance. He always allowed himself time, refusing any rush to judgment that his sister or their mother before them might have made. Sun-Tzu knew he could not afford the luxury of hasty decisions.
His long robes whispered of heavy silk, and his slippers offered only the softest footfall against the hardwood floors as he entered the room and shut the door behind him. He crossed over to the aquarium, studiously ignoring the desk. It was an exercise in patience, like any one of several routines he performed throughout a given day. All good things come to those who wait.
Bending over to peer into the clear waters of the aquarium, Sun-Tzu felt as much as heard the low hum of the pump. Inside, near a small yellow patch of long grasses, a flame-orange Chinese Battling Fish cruised gracefully. Its overly large fins were tinged with just the slightest touch of violet. A beautiful creature, its hostility matched only by another male Battling Fish placed in with it. Sun-Tzu reached into a ceramic pot kept on a nearby shelf, and withdrew a pinch of food. When he lifted the aquarium's top, the dull odor of much-recycled water momentarily overrode the sandalwood scent. As he sprinkled the food across the waters, one of the fish rose on strong cuts of its tail, nipping gracefully at the surface to swallow large portions of the food. “That's right, Kai. Put on your little show."
Sun-Tzu smiled thinly. Kai Allard-Liao, his cousin and son to Candace Liao, was one of the greatest threats to his position as Chancellor of the Confederation. In spite of Kai's self-proclaimed lack of interest in the Celestial Throne, he was heir to the St. Ives Compact and had recently taken over leadership of the Free Capella movement. He ran it more like a charitable enterprise than a resistance movement, but Sun-Tzu was all too aware of the power base it gave his cousin. Not to mention the backing Kai received from Victor Davion, Prince of the Federated Commonwealth. Though good old Victor had more than enough to keep him busy at the moment, what with the Chaos March and his sister Katrina making off with half his realm.
Double-Blind Page 6