Threads of Ambition

by Loren L. Coleman

  And that was a problem.

  * * *

  Under the cover of House Hiritsu BattleMechs, Li Wynn and the rest of the House infantry moved from vehicle to vehicle and 'Mech to 'Mech to place under arrest every enemy who had resisted the Star League occupation forces. Li prodded his current captive with the business end of his assault rifle, urging him along toward the holding area, which was really just a roped-off square under guard by two BattleMechs and a dozen infantrymen. The roped-off area was also near a flagpole, which usually flew the St. Ives standard of the ivory horse's head. Right now the lines hung empty, clanging against the metal pole in the light breeze, which made Li feel good.

  "Sooner or later someone is going to hand you Warrior Houses your heads," Li's captive, a Home Guard tank driver with light Asian features, called back over his shoulder. "I just hope I'm there to see it." He shook his head. "Sooner or later," he repeated.

  Li prodded him again, none too gently, then brought his rifle to port arms and slammed the stock hard into the tank driver's back, shoving him forward toward the ropes. The St. Ives soldier stumbled and recovered and then spun on Li Wynn, who stood ready with rifle aimed unerringly at the man's chest. Li's finger tightened on the trigger as he read the hatred in the other man's dark Asian eyes. "Better figure it being later, sick trash."

  The soldier thought better of trying anything, turned slowly and ducked under the restraining ropes. Li grinned at his back.

  "You will give me your attention!" The announcement blared out from external speakers mounted to House Master Non's Yu Huang.

  Li glanced that way, but then returned his attention to the men under guard. This is for you, not me. He smiled thinly as he saw a small troop of infantrymen walk over to the flagpole.

  "For Denbar's initial assault against the Capellan world of Hustaing, and since military and civilian forces present obviously do not respect the authority of the Star League occupation forces, House Hiritsu now claims Denbar in the name of the Capellan Confederation. This world will be held in such a state indefinitely. From now on, any resistance will be dealt with under the Capellan forms of martial law."

  Angry shouts of protest and a mass movement on behalf of the prisoners to surge past the roped area were quickly put down by several infantrymen firing into the air in warning. Li kept his rifle leveled, his eyes staring unblinking into those of nearby prisoners. My first shot will be for effect. He let his thoughts show on his face, and they backed off.

  "The Capellan Confederation flag will be raised all over the planet in every city," Ty Wu Non continued. "The St. Ives flag may be flown at half-mast. Violation of this order will be an indication of rebellion. Return to your homes and make it clear to your families and any comrades still in arms that the Capellan Confederation has returned to Denbar, and will no longer tolerate St. Ives-sanctioned resistance. Vehicles will be impounded and reassigned to Capellan units or a loyal Home Guard force. That is all."

  The Yu Huang turned and walked away slowly, its footfalls sending light tremors through the ground. The ropes fell away and an infantry company leader indicated by which way the prisoners would be allowed to leave. Only a few thought to check the flagpole, but their outbursts soon had everyone looking. Li Wynn allowed himself a second's distraction to glance that way himself.

  The Confederation flag had been raised during House Master Non's speech. Not the flag of old, however—subtle changes had been wrought. The katana sword had been replaced with a sword of more obvious Chinese descent—a type of darndao— and the arm thrusting from the triangle border was more slender than before, suggesting a strong Asian heredity. It signified that the final stages of Xin Sheng had begun, Li Wynn thought with pride. But of even stronger importance than the changes was a simple fact that not one person on the field could ignore.

  For the first time in over thirty years, the flag of the Capellan Confederation flew over a St. Ives Compact world.

  23

  Celestial Palace

  Zi-jin Cheng (Forbidden City), Sian

  Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

  20 February 3061

  Silence reigned in Sun-Tzu Liao's palatial office, the quiet undermined only by the low hum of the corner aquarium and the occasional heavy whisper of pages being turned. While his sangjiang-jun continued to scan through the top-secret papers, Sun-Tzu sat forward in his chair, elbows on his desk and fingers interlaced. He studied the three outside fingers of each hand, inspecting the razor-sharp edges of the fingernails he had grown out in the same affectation his father had once adopted. Incense burned in a censer—cherry today. A rare smile played at the edges of the First Lord's lips as he glanced at Talon Zahn, who was sitting in the office's only other chair, raptly studying the pages of a hardcopy report.

  Zahn finished up the final page of the document and then straightened the thin pile. He rested the papers in his lap and rubbed at his jaw, dark eyes shining with a new intensity. "I have suspected off and on for the last year that our goal was the total reclamation of the St. Ives Compact. The military maneuvers. Your Xin Sheng tour of the border. Misleading troop reports that were sure to leak to Candace." He shrugged. "But always the art of misdirection, using the occupation force and overt political maneuverings." His eyes narrowed slightly. "If you had informed me before now, I might have been even better prepared."

  Or you might have made a mistake. "Do you know how many people can keep a secret, Talon?" Sun-Tzu waved off any reply his senior general was about to make. "One," he stated emphatically. "To include anyone else requires discussing it, which means the potential exists for a leak. And almost certainly the secret will be referred to again, in who can tell how many offhand manners that would eventually suggest the nature of the secret to others."

  Nodding his understanding, Zahn glanced back down at the secret document. "May I ask how long this has been in the making?"

  "Since the Star League Conference of 3058. Since a conversation with Katrina Steiner-Davion." Sun-Tzu smiled in recollection. "I have slowly built up what would be needed. The papers in your lap, compiled by myself and kept in my private vault, are the only copy of my notes and pertinent briefings and reports. The only existing hints of the existence of Operation Tian-e-réng Shou-tao. It was at our meeting of March last year that I decided to proceed."

  "Operation Velvet Glove," Zahn translated, voice far-off, speculative. "Concealment behind a mildness of approach. But 3058?" He shook his head. "Surely the Maskirovka has some clue."

  "The Mask provided me with information as I requested it, but always for a supposed purpose that was tangential to my real reasons." Sun-Tzu gestured to the pile of papers with an offhand gesture. "You will find several reports in there that you yourself wrote over two years ago."

  Talon Zahn stared out the balcony doors a moment, collecting his thoughts. Finally, after another glance at the document he had finally been allowed to read, he shifted his gaze back to the Chancellor. "But the Blackwind Lancers. How could you be so sure they would jump the border?"

  "Ah, well that part is not in the report, Sang Jiang-jun Zahn." Sun-Tzu leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers before him and smiling. "But since you will be involved with that area momentarily," he said, "I cheated."

  Zahn blinked. "You cheated?"

  "I had every intention of baiting the Cossacks off Indicass." Sun-Tzu's eyes glittered dangerously. And I would have succeeded, if my aunt had not taken certain precautions. "But I was forced to rely on one of my back-up plans. A deep cover agent, who was activated by certain phrases in my Relevow speech. My Gei-Fu speech gave the agent direction, so I knew to leave before Hustaing."

  He leaned forward just far enough to press a button hidden under the lip of his desk. A door to a connecting office opened, and an athletically built woman entered, dressed in regular Capellan uniform. "Talon Zahn, may I present Zhong-shao Daqing, lately Major Smithson of the Blackwind Lancers Third Battalion."

  Talon Zahn appeared utterly at
a loss for words. Finally he found his voice. "We've met, Chancellor. I interviewed the major—sorry, the zhong-shao—when she was first brought to Sian. A most convincing performance."

  "Shi-fen gan-xie, Sang Jiang-jun Zahn," she said, thanking him in flawless Chinese. At a nod from Sun-Tzu, she retired back into the other office.

  "Her initial mission was to gain my aunt's attention with her anti-Confederation stance. Unfortunately, that never happened." Thanks to an overprotective Lancers colonel. Sun-Tzu drummed his fingers slowly against the arm of the chair. "I'm telling you this because I'm giving her to you."

  "Chancellor?" Zahn asked, more curious than confused. "Giving her to me?"

  Sun-Tzu nodded. "Sasha does not believe the zhong-shao can be used again as a field agent without a complete makeover. I want you to figure out how to insert her back with her old unit instead. Or, if you can find another way to use the Smithson identity, you may do so at your own discretion."

  "This is quite a briefing, Chancellor." Zahn tapped the sheaf of papers on his lap. "Do you intend to bring all this out into the open among your advisory staff?"

  "Not just yet. Sasha knows only what she has to with regard to Zhong-shao Daqing. And of course the Maskirovka are heading propaganda efforts on the St. Ives border worlds. Ion Rush, once he is out of physical therapy, will know as much as he needs to in order to command the Warrior Houses effectively. How much that is, I leave to your discretion."

  Sun-Tzu fixed Zahn with a hard stare. "You, as my Strategic Coordinator, will know it all. 'He whose generals are able and not interfered with by the sovereign will be victorious,' " he said, citing a line from the Art of War. "The time has come for you to take over matters of warfare, while I apply myself to diplomatic endeavors. My question to you is, can you do it?"

  "You have my promise, Celestial Wisdom," Zahn answered at once and with conviction, his respect for the plan expressed by the formal address. "The Compact will be yours."

  "Even with the draining efforts in the Chaos March?"

  Zahn knew a moment of hesitation, then nodded. "Even so," he promised. "Most of the Disputed Worlds are under control, except for a few isolated cases. The Chaos March forces will suffer if I cannot support them completely, but the retaking of the St. Ives Compact is obviously of greater importance."

  Sun-Tzu nodded, his face growing very serious. "And what of Wei?" he asked, referring to the troublesome Disputed Territory world. "Lord Marcus Baxter is screaming for blood, and I will need him in St. Ives."

  Zahn's own features became grim. "I cannot blame him for his anger. A full Cavalry battalion, lost without so much as a shot fired." He shook his head at the thought. "But we never counted on the planetary defenders uncovering an old cache of nerve agent. A terrible way to go. We will lose good men there."

  "Isolate the world if you have to," Sun-Tzu ordered. He had seen the holopics of the deaths. No Capellan should have to die in such a way. Then he thought better of that. No true Capellan, anyway. "Send in mercenaries and regular units of questionable loyalty first. If they can isolate the problem, fine. If not, make sure you recover their equipment."

  "I still do not like losing men in such a manner."

  "No one likes losing people, Sang Jiang-jun," Sun-Tzu said with a hard edge to his voice. "Remember, every person who dies on Wei or in the St. Ives Compact is also a Capellan." A son or daughter of the state, even if misguided at the moment.

  Zahn bowed his head, accepting the rebuke. "Of course, Chancellor. I did not mean to imply otherwise."

  Sun-Tzu drew in a deep breath, inhaling the cherry-scented incense and allowing the sensation to distract him briefly. And with that calculated reminder, you will watch carefully the amount of force you bring to bear against the Compact. I want them beaten, not crushed.

  A light knock at the door interrupted further conversation. "Enter," Sun-Tzu commanded.

  A Death Commando stepped into the office, his large muscle-heavy build blocking most of the doorway behind him. "Chancellor. The St. Ives Compact representative has begged admission to your presence. He waits in the throne room."

  Sun-Tzu easily guessed what Candace's representative wanted to see him about. Three days later than I had expected. "Tell him that I cannot be bothered with formalities now, and then show him up here."

  The Death Commando saluted and went to do as bid. Talon Zahn also made as if to rise, but Sun-Tzu waved him back into his seat. "No, Zahn, stay. You might find this amusing. Part of the diplomatic endeavors I mentioned earlier. But give me the briefing papers."

  "As the Chancellor desires, of course," Zahn said, handing over the bundle of reports and briefs and then settling himself back in.

  "Just too bad we have none of that Wei nerve agent," Sun-Tzu said thoughtfully, staring at the open door. "I could find some interesting uses for it right now."

  * * *

  The Death Commando escort made Representative Jonathan Xiam-hu nervous, to say the least. A calculated insult by the Chancellor, he was sure, on top of being forbidden the title and most privileges of a full ambassador. The Capellans had never relinquished their claim to the Compact, denying the sovereignty that every other Great House recognized and honored. That was why the Compact representative to Sian was not allowed permanent facilities on the Capellan capital world and had to put up with such indignities as a military escort at all times.

  The near-impossibly muscled warrior led Xiam-hu down a tiled hall to a door that looked like any other, then half stood in the doorway to gesture inside. The representative paused, straightening his suit and fussing with his attache case while waiting for the warrior to move. The man simply stood there, grinning. A flush warming his cheeks, Xiam-hu squeezed past, careful not to touch the Death Commando.

  The office was simple, though tastefully decorated in a Capellan manner. The rosewood used in the shelving, the desk, and other trimming gleamed dark and rich. A few soft-brushed charcoal sketches decorated the walls, and cherry-scented incense lightly perfumed the air. Xiam-hu might have felt comfortable in the room if not for the two men seated before him.

  Sun-Tzu was behind the desk, elbows resting on the desktop and idly tapping his fingertips together. On the wall behind him was a small banner of han-yu ideograms translated into the message I go to war only when I am ready. The Chancellor stared silently at Xiam-hu, his jade eyes distant as if looking right through him, giving away nothing of his thoughts or feelings. Sitting in the room's only other chair was Talon Zahn, his unblinking dark eyes just as unsettling.

  Determined not to be intimidated, Xiam-hu stood just inside the doorway, hands clasped behind his back in a military manner while waiting to be offered a chair, or at least be officially recognized. He counted five times that his attache case bumped into the back of his legs before Sun-Tzu finally spoke.

  "You wished to see me, Mister Xiam-hu," Sun-Tzu said with impatience. "Do you plan on speaking at all?"

  So much for official courtesy. Xiam-hu swallowed past the embarrassed lump in his throat and brought his attaché case forward. He opened it and withdrew a manila folder, which he placed on the Chancellor's desk.

  "The folder contains the official transcript of Duchess Liao's call for a repeal," he said most formally, "as well as the verigraphed responses of each Star League member state. The results have been known for a month, four to two against, but the Duchess thought the official papers should be delivered to you, First Lord."

  Sun-Tzu made no move to claim the folder. He looked at it with a bored expression, and when he spoke it was with an insulting sneer. "Is that all, Xiam-hu? Or did Candace send you with more whining?"

  "No, that is not all," the representative said, dropping the geniality from his own voice but holding carefully to a neutral formality. He would not give Sun-Tzu any further excuse to claim difficulty with St. Ives. "Duchess Liao, of the St. Ives Compact," he said, stressing the titles, in case Sun-Tzu had forgotten that he dealt with an independent and recognized member state of the
Star League, "officially protests the Confederation's action on Denbar and the arrival of additional forces on several border worlds. Forces that are flying Capellan colors, First Lord, not those of the Star League Defense Force."

  Glancing over at his senior military officer, Sun-Tzu nodded for him to speak. "Obviously," Zahn said, as if lecturing a simple child, "that is because the new forces are sent in Sun-Tzu Liao's capacity as Chancellor of the Confederation, not First Lord of the Star League. One does not preclude the other." He spread his hands in a display of false helplessness. "And you can blame the Capellan occupation on the garrison forces of those worlds, Xiam-hu. They refused to accept Star League peaceful occupation, which means that I must classify those worlds as potentially hostile to our nation."

  "No Confederation world will suffer as did Hustaing," Sun-Tzu said simply.

  Xiam-hu started to speak, then closed his mouth and counted out five deep breaths as he marshaled his thoughts and his calm. Careful, he told himself. He has to listen to reason. Doesn't he? "The Blackwind Lancers battalion was disbanded, as per Duchess Liao's promise. She has empowered me to begin negotiations for reparations to the Confederation. But to expect the St. Ives Compact to completely demilitarize its border in the face of your provocation is too much to ask." The representative drew himself up proudly. "We will not submit so easily."

  "I see," Sun-Tzu said quietly, his eyes half-lidded as he considered the other man's words. "You are leaving me with no choice."

  "I'm glad you see reason, First Lord. Now if—"

  "No choice at all," Sun-Tzu interrupted, still quietly but with a razor-sharp edge to his voice. "After all, Denbar does not have to be the only world totally pacified."