Threads of Ambition

by Loren L. Coleman

  "Frakes," she called out on her scrambled command circuit, "reduce jamming enough to allow me to talk with the Marshal." She gave it a few seconds, then tried an unscrambled broadcast on a general frequency. "This is Major Cassandra Allard-Liao. Do you copy?"

  The reply came back weak and full of static, but intelligible and obviously female. "Barely, but yes. What ransom will you take to allow my unit to withdraw?"

  Cassandra knew a few seconds of surprise, having assumed her opponent was male. She had forgotten that in the Magistracy of Canopus women were dominant in the military. She swallowed to clear the dryness from her throat. "I cannot take any ransom," she said clearly. "My mission was to secure material and equipment any way I could to make up for that confiscated by Capellan forces on Hustaing and Denbar. Your people will be held, pending a prisoner exchange."

  "Then we will fight to the end, Major Liao. And any deaths will be your responsibility."

  Breathing easier now that her cockpit's heat levels had fallen back to a more bearable level, Cassandra bristled at the remark. "You do not lead warriors into battle unless you are willing to risk that," she said brusquely. "Besides, the disappearance of your unit will cause resources to be spent searching for you, instead of against Compact defenses." Even as she spoke, though, Cassandra felt some of her anger melting away and knew that the Fusilier commander might find a way to convince her otherwise.

  The other warrior did not disappoint. "If I may," she said, "two of my MechWarriors who were forced to eject were picked up by a civilian truck. There will be no extensive search. I have four operational 'Mechs, if we include a Commando with a missing leg. I will surrender my Marshal, in return for the other three BattleMechs and freedom for all my warriors. I expect First Lord Liao will make good our losses from your captured equipment, or perhaps some of the newer Confederation designs."

  Cassandra, jaw clenched tight at hearing Sun-Tzu referred to in such a respectful manner, almost denied the request out of spite. But then she thought it over. What would my mother do? What would Kai do? For the first time, she couldn't be sure that the two of them would have agreed. Well, Kai would never have taken so long to put down a Marshal, so he 'd be concerned with clean-up and salvage by now. My mother, she would probably refuse or bargain for a much harder deal.

  But I am neither.

  I have a victory here today. It is not the complete success I wished for, but it is a start. Cassandra nodded to the darkness outside her cockpit. "I agree to your terms, commander." Next time I will do better.

  27

  Celestial Palace

  Zi-jin Cheng (Forbidden City), Sian

  Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

  1 April 3061

  Sun-Tzu had pulled his chair over to sit in front of the aquarium in the corner of his office. The low hum of the pump was barely noticeable against the backdrop of busy footsteps out in the palace halls, most likely court functionaries roaming about on their morning duties. Sun-Tzu ignored the activity, instead letting himself become fascinated by the flame-orange Chinese battling fish that cruised gracefully within the tank among neon tetras and small silver angelfish. "So, Kai," he said to the battling fish as it paused in its watery flight, "have you returned with Victor?"

  Naming his pet after his cousin went beyond belittling Kai Allard-Liao, though Sun-Tzu admitted that amused him as well. Like many things in his life, it served a second purpose. The fish was as fierce as it was graceful, just as Kai could be. And its wide, staring eyes were always on Sun-Tzu, cautioning him never to discount its namesake, who certainly looked toward Sian from time to time to judge Sun-Tzu's threat to the Allard-Liaos of the St. Ives Compact. Fortunately, Kai has always embraced his warrior nature over any grand political impulses.

  Then again, that is more than enough reason to worry over my cousin. He frowned at the fish.

  Over the last two years Sun-Tzu had occasionally dropped other named battling fish into the tank with Kai, just to watch them go at it. Eerily enough, Kai had never lost and often won handily. It was almost enough to make Sun-Tzu consider the idea of portents, though fortunately Kali's preoccupation with signs and omens and other such religious mania was a constant reminder of the sheer lunacy of such thoughts. However, there was that one time he had placed a "Victor" into the tank. The two fish had avoided each other, dividing up the territory and not fighting. Sun-Tzu had put it down to the coloration of the second fish, then netted Victor out and tossed the fish into the garbage himself. That had not been a good day.

  But the one thing he had never done was name a battling fish after himself to set it against the one named for his cousin. Though he did not believe in omens, neither did he believe in tempting fate either. Sun-Tzu traced the flat of a long fingernail down the edge of his jawline. Kai is the deadliest MechWarrior of his generation. Possibly the best ever. If Kai had remained home, Sun-Tzu honestly doubted he would be making this attempt against the St. Ives Compact right now.

  But Kai went off with Victor to fight the Clans, and even if he has returned it is too late.

  "Little Victor," Sun-Tzu whispered, his mood lightening as he smiled at his partial reflection in the aquarium glass. "Enjoy your stay on Luthien." He laughed out loud, enjoying the Sound of his own voice and almost wishing he'd been there when Yvonne Davion had informed her dethroned brother how she'd lost his realm. According to Maskirovka reports, Victor Steiner-Davion had returned to the Inner Sphere two weeks ago with the remnants of Task Force Serpent and his own forces, only to learn the bad news and then find himself exiled on Luthien. The task force had also returned bearing the body of Morgan Hasek-Davion, now deceased but formerly the leader of the FedCom's Capellan March and certain to have been a strong supporter of Candace.

  Life is good today, he thought.

  Very little he'd learned in the last twenty-four hours had been unfavorable. Talon Zahn's reports indicated that the Compact was beginning to show strains in its military resources. Candace's recent raids against forward supply bases on the Disputed Worlds hurt, and her employment of several veteran and elite mercenary units would slow things down as the fighting moved to new worlds, but they should not make the difference. Even Kai, at the head of the First St. Ives Lancers, is impotent at this late stage of the game.

  The Chaos March worlds were still opposing his return far harder than anyone would have thought, but they were a minor concern. Only Wei and possibly the heavily garrisoned world of Pleione presented any real or potentially lasting threat among the Disputed Worlds. And the Free Tikonov Movement was well-established, beyond Katrina's means to quash it. But I hope she tries. Nothing fuels a civil fire like forced repression. For all the Davion propaganda that it is the Confederation which suppresses freedoms, they are just as guilty, if not more so, of maintaining government control through force of arms.

  So many threads, spreading out from his hand and trailing over the horizon. So a few are soaked in blood, even Capellan blood. The occasional knot must be pulled free, and the tapestry they make will rival anything ever before known.

  Naomi Centrella—another thread, and one of a few that could pull all final knots loose—was soon arriving on Detroit at the head of the Colonial Marshals and a Cappellan regiment to rescue her mother and put an end to Maltin's laughable attempt at a coup. After that, Sun-Tzu would pass along the news that her older sister was dead, lost to the Clans under Victor's command. That places Naomi next in line for the throne of the Magistracy. Forces both her and her mother more into my camp as opponents of the Federated Commonwealth—who cares that Victor is no longer its ruler? And, I did not have to arrange for Danai's death myself. Always a bonus, that.

  Sun-Tzu forced himself to the edge of his seat. It was tempting to simply settle back into his chair, relaxing in front of the aquarium and leaving any troubles for the next day. But that was not his way. What I have right now is a series of minor victories that strengthen my realm and promise greater things. But victories are not absolutes. Th
ey must be protected.

  He rose from the chair, lit a new stick of sandalwood incense, and slowly paced the office. Locating a problem before it happened was not an easy feat. So far as he could tell, the plans already set in motion would carry him all the way to the next Star League Conference six months away. Six more months as First Lord. In that time he would have to establish a stable presence in the St. Ives Compact, to reinforce his claim to the area. That, and something more.

  Since I cannot hope to reclaim the entire Tikonov Commonality by November—not without tipping my hand or making a sacrifice elsewhere—it would help if I arrived on Tharkad with something other than ongoing trouble in St. Ives as a testament to my rule as First Lord. He had kept supply lines open throughout the Inner Sphere assault on Clan Smoke Jaguar, and had helped rebuild the shattered armies quickly, but that would be forgotten against Victor's ultimate victory and Candace's current complaints.

  I need to force the other members off-balance in some way. Keep them focused where I would have them, and prevent any concerted effort against me. Katrina will offer limited support, but only until I nominate her as my successor and the votes are cast. Win, lose, or draw, she will then discard me as I would her. I might once have counted on Thomas, but with young Janos Marik insufferably healthy and rumors of a second child on the way, I can't even be sure that Isis' endangerment on Hustaing will be a lasting concern with him.

  Isis—now there was a problem, though not for today. He shook his head. I need something. Some added prestige or victory that might make others cautious in how they deal with me.

  Whatever that could be, it escaped him for the moment.

  But, he would not let it slow down his plans for the Compact. A stable presence in St. Ives requires pacified worlds. Sun-Tzu paused near the french doors and stared out at the gray skies hanging over his capital city. "If you had any doubts, Aunt Candace, as to my resolve, you will have no longer."

  Royal Compound

  Tian-tan, St. Ives

  St. Ives Compact

  Candace Liao stole quietly into the Royal Compound's war room, not wishing to interrupt the discussion going on between Colonel Caroline Seng and a number of the St. Ives Compact's senior officers. She waved the guard on duty at the door to silence, passing by him but not venturing far into the room. Her senior colonel was studying a holographic display of clashing BattleMech forces on one of the room's tactical tables. The results of a recent battle, or a proposed action?

  "On Nashuar we are taking heavy losses now," a major was saying, waving his hand over the small-scale BattleMechs that tore at each other, "as evidenced by the battle ROMs of this latest conflict." So, Candace thought, a recent battle. And more disappointing news. "The Lyran forces under Star League colors are pressing forward harder, and now they are supported by House Hiritsu. The Seventh RCT is holding, but slowly their support structure is being kicked out from under them."

  AFFC General Simone Devon shook her head. "They'll hold for as long as they're needed." She glanced to Caroline Seng, deferring to her when matters concerned Compact policy. "If you would place one of the new mercenary units under their command, though, it would relieve some of the pressure for holding the northern reaches on Nashuar."

  Seng nodded absently, listening but still studying the board. "Do you have any unit in mind?" she asked.

  "The Arcadians," Devon spoke up at once. "Their command structure consists largely of Federated Commonwealth expatriots, so integration will not be overly stressful. Also their general tactics lend to flanking support actions."

  Candace could not help but be impressed, again, with Simone Devon's level of recall. We are fortunate to have her, but then she is staunchly pro-Victor so Katrina probably does not want her back anytime soon.

  "I will second your request and place it before the Duchess," Seng responded. "I'm sure the order will go out at once."

  Candace cleared her throat, breaking into the discussion. "You have my permission, Colonel Seng. I do not argue against common sense." And if such a move can bring a measure of relief to Simone's forces, that is the least I can do. "Is there anything else I can do, so long as I am here and have intruded?"

  No one dared demand anything from her, though Candace read a hesitation in Seng's eyes. "Yes, Caroline?"

  "Our military units are still acting under your call for minimum force," Seng said hesitantly. "In the last week, Sun-Tzu's Confederation forces have stepped up their aggressive drive. It's costing us. I know that it will escalate matters—"

  "—but there is no avoiding that anyway," Candace broke in, "and it will give our people more options. I've been expecting that." She gave the tactical holographic display on the table a determined nod. "I've just been hoping we could delay until closer to the time of the next Star League summit. Sun-Tzu apparently does not wish to grant us that time."

  "It's not just Nashuar, Duchess," a new voice chimed in. A mere captain from the Second St. Ives Lancers, but if Caroline Seng had invited him into this session he had to be extremely competent. He was certainly sure enough of himself to speak his mind. "Vestallas and Brighton are ready to fold, especially with the arrival of forces from McCarron's Armored Cavalry. They need reinforcements, and they need a freer hand in how to deal with the invaders in order to tie them up on those worlds."

  "Tie them up?" Candace asked. "Are you suggesting that they do not intend to remain and secure those worlds?"

  The captain shook his head. "I've studied the Cavalry, Duchess. They will leapfrog from these worlds once they've bought other Capellan units some breathing space, and hit Taga and possibly St. Loris. It is the next logical step."

  Seng nodded her support for the young officer. "I concur. Sun-Tzu will want to shove us back first, place us on the defensive deeper into the Compact, and then he will pull back and consolidate the first-wave worlds while we are shoring up the defenses of secondary targets."

  Candace frowned. It is a devious enough plan, but is it the right one? "What about the steamroller offense used in the Marik-Liao offensive of '57?"

  "Sun-Tzu had the strength of the Free Worlds League at his back then," Seng answered. "Here he is more limited in resources. Despite his access to Magistracy troops, he has strong commitments to uphold in the New Colony Region and the Chaos March."

  "And he will want a solid foothold before the conference on Tharkad," Candace said, spotting a new advantage that her nephew would want to gain. It was holding up nicely to scrutiny, which led Candace to believe that for once they had a chance of thwarting his plans.

  "Very well," she said, her tone decisive. "Step up our offensive stance and strengthen the border worlds with mercenary reserves. I had hoped to delay this move, but obviously the time has come to make the territory Sun-Tzu wants more costly."

  She was about to turn to the door, but paused for one final word to her senior officers. "One way or another, we will shut this war down."

  The Killing Fields

  The reason troops slay the enemy is because they are enraged.

  —Sun-Tzu, The Art of War

  What most generals seem to forget is that this works both ways.

  —Sun-Tzu Liao, journal entry, 28 July 3059, Sian

  28

  Shi-Zhong-Xin Park

  Pinedale, Denbar

  Xin Sheng Commonality, Capellan Confederation

  18 April 3061

  The scent of grass and disturbed earth mingled on the warm breeze in Pinedale's central park, where the Hustaing Warriors and many Pinedale volunteers worked to repair some of the damage caused in February's fighting. Ni Tehn Doh, shovel in hand, paused in his work and wiped one sleeve across his brow, mopping up the sweat that trickled from his matted gray hair. The exertion of simple labor under a warm sun had his old heart pumping in a way that even the thrill of BattleMech combat could not duplicate. Still, before returning to his shovel-work he couldn't help fingering the new collar device of a regimental colonel on his utility uniform.

 
"Still getting used to them, Sang-shao?" Sao-wei Hugh Feng offered his CO a hesitant smile, rare on his usually dour face. Apparently Feng was feeling in a fairly good mood as well. Then he dug his shovel into the wheelbarrow of fresh soil, dumping a new spadeful into the blackened scar left by an errant PPC.

  The newly promoted Ni Tehn Dho nodded absently at the question. With the material and equipment House Hiritsu had left his battalion, plus the Chancellor's verigraphed order to expand the unit, he had sent a small team back to Hustaing for more recruits. On Dho's authority, and liberal redefinition of the Chancellor's order, the team also commandeered enough Hustaing Home Guard armor and infantry to fill out a full security and support battalion. Surprisingly, the CCAF's Bureau of Administration and Finance had rubber-stamped his actions and had also pushed through his promotion and their permission for the new sang-shao to promote men as necessary to fill out his Table of Organization.

  But since when do regimental colonels get their hands dirty doing gruntwork? he asked himself. Since the Xin Sheng, and since Sang-shao Dho still had something to prove to his unit, were the answers.

  Except for one BattleMech company and some combined armor/infantry security lances patrolling Pinedale or safeguarding their DropShips at the spaceport, the Hustaing Warriors were all present for the work. Until this week humanitarian efforts had been a higher priority, sponsored first by Kuan Yin Liao and then later by the Chancellor. The fighting had effectively ceased in and around Pinedale, though malcontent civilians still caused trouble enough that Dho had assigned one BattleMech lance to the park to safeguard against any vigilante aggression. Company-strength units traveled to other cities around Denbar on a routine basis to enforce the occupation and place under arrest any non-complying Home Guard units. From reports and a few lost patrols there seemed to be a growing and organized resistance to the Confederation's return, and Sang-shao Dho would have to look into that, but not today.