Threads of Ambition

by Loren L. Coleman

  "We hurt them," he reminded his people, wanting to get them thinking on this as a tactical retreat, not a rout. "Maybe not as bad as they hurt us, but it could have been much worse. Two months ago, I doubt any of us would've walked out of the canyons alive. Take what you can from that, Hustaing Warriors. And don't worry. We'll get another shot at them."

  Dho closed the commline and piloted the Victor out from the canyons. Yes, we'll get another shot at them. And another, he told himself. And another.

  The war is far from over.

  * * *

  Near sunset, the shadow of the He-Mi-Lu Canyon walls already falling over the St. Ives Lancers' DropShip, Cassandra Liao shook hands with Brevet-Major Warner Doles of the resurrected Blackwind Lancers second battalion. "Your people did good today, Major Doles," she said, having already confirmed his new rank before the battle. "Sorry we couldn't grab you an entire company."

  "You tried, Major Allard-Liao." Doles broke his grip and stepped back, then snapped Cassandra a crisp salute, which she answered. "No one can ask for more."

  Cassandra shook her head. "I can," she said. "Good hunting." The she turned away sharply and moved up the ramp into the ship. The Overlord's 'Mech bay was a flurry of activity as technicians secured the Lancers' BattleMechs into their stalls, preparing for space travel. No one approached her or called out, and Cassandra was glad for the privacy.

  My plan could have worked. Should have worked. Not that she expected to turn the tide of the war on one raid's success. But if the Lancers could've taken down a company of the Hustaing Warriors, threatened the Confederation hold on this planet, it might have forced Sun-Tzu to tie up more forces in garrisoning Denbar. To be thwarted by a rockslide!

  Cassandra forced a calm on herself. The Blackwind Lancers were running back at company strength at least, plus three more machines acquired from the Hustaing Warriors. With any luck, they could now mount a successful guerrilla warfare campaign.

  Not that Denbar was such a major priority now. Even before landing, the ship had picked up on local news that told of fighting also on St. Loris and Ambergrist, two nearby worlds. No telling what is happening up near Nashuar and Brighton. Cassandra pursed her lips in thought. If nothing else, though, the Cossacks on St. Loris will give my cousin's forces a welcome they will not soon forget.

  Thinking of the Cossacks, Cassandra wondered how Tamas was getting by on Indicass. The planet was considered Confederation-controlled, like Denbar a part of Sun-Tzu's Xin Sheng Commonality, but not completely pacified. Until some priority reports caught up to her, she could only assume that meant Rubinsky's Light Horse retained a strong presence there. Good luck, Tamas. I'll get back to you when I can.

  Cassandra found an empty crate and dragged it over next to a stanchion, where she could sit with her back to the cool metal and watch techs work on her Cestus' damaged armor. Her mother would be off for Tharkad soon, to the next Star League conference, leaving Caroline Seng behind in charge of the ongoing resistance. Cassandra would remain in the field. The St. Ives Lancers go to Ambergrist next, to assist in its defense. Then perhaps back to Indicass. And somewhere along the way I can hope to find a fatal flaw in my cousin's armor. She offered thanks once again at not having been dragged from her unit, from the fighting, to accompany Candace. I am not needed on Tharkad. Mother and Kai can handle that. I'm needed here. I can see what needs doing, and I can get the job done.

  I can!

  Epilogue

  Royal Palace

  Tian-tan, St. Ives

  St. Ives Compact

  1 July 3061

  Candace Liao walked slowly through the Hall of Treasures, paced by Senior Colonel Caroline Seng. Comfortable in the museum setting but not taking the time to enjoy any of the exhibits, Candace's bearing remained almost military in nature, back straight and hands clasped behind her. Even with the strain of the last six months, the weight that often settled on her when no one was around, she refused to give in to the effects of age. While I live, I owe my people more than frailty or weakness. I owe them hope, and whatever possibilities I may wring from the situation.

  "Indicass is confirmed?" she asked, more to ease Seng's growing discomfort at her own silence than any hope for a denial.

  "It is," Seng answered. "Indicass, Denbar, and Vestallas are all under direct Confederation authority now. Part of this so-called Xin Sheng Commonality." She sneered the words, her opinion obvious. "We still have resisting forces on each world, mostly thanks to Cassandra's efforts, but the civilian populations are suffering under the prolonged struggle." She paused in thought. "Could we present the growing civilian problems as a charge against Sun-Tzu's efforts? That his Xin Sheng program is failing?"

  "In the Star League chambers in November, perhaps. But for the common masses .. ." Candace considered the idea a moment as the two walked in silence, their footfalls against the polished wood floor echoing in the stillness. "No, he could too easily reverse that against us." And he might anyway. "See what he has done with Kuan Yin's humanitarian efforts, presenting them as proof that we hold ourselves responsible for the devastation even though I'm sure her efforts keep him frustrated.

  "Xin Sheng means new birth. It would be very Capellan to argue that deteriorating conditions in the Xin Sheng Commonality are due to the bad karma earned from the Compact's previous life. For our abandonment of the Confederation during the Fourth Succession War." Yes, that would be just his way. And the sad thing is, such an idea would find a reception in my realm as well as his.

  Caroline Seng was not put off so easily. "Well we must do something, Duchess, or we will lose Brighton next. Our forces were making progress with noncompliance against the Star League occupation units present, but reports now place a regiment of McCarron's Armored Cavalry on the world. Nashuar is a mess, and Milos . .." She shook her head. ". .. Milos we've heard nothing from, good or bad. And that worries me." The Compact's Senior Colonel clenched her hands into fists. "We must do something," she repeated.

  "We are, Caroline," Candace said, placing one slim hand on the arm of her aide and friend. "We have slowed the Confederation's advance, and now we must be patient." But patience, Candace knew, was a trait hard-learned and one that atrophied quickly if not practiced. Dear Justin taught it to me so long ago, and I have never had cause to put it aside in favor of impulsiveness. Caroline has spent her career reacting, and so cannot be expected to take such waiting easily.

  "Are you saying there is nothing left to do, Duchess?" Caroline Seng's frustration colored her voice with just a touch of resignation.

  Candace smiled grimly, and shook her head. "There never was anything to do, Caroline. Nothing to prevent this, and certainly nothing to contain it now. Sun-Tzu made up his mind to come after the Compact, and would have found his support somewhere to do so. But," and Candace heard the confidence in her own voice as she explained her plans, "he relies heavily on the political weight of the First Lord office, as well as the SLDF troops placed at his disposal, and there we can attack him. It is just a matter of when, not whether."

  "The Tharkad conference in November," Caroline said, nodding her understanding.

  "Yes. My brother Tormano's recent messages have hinted at a pledge of support by Katrina, in return for my vote toward her candidacy, I am sure, which could be used to reverse the failure of my vote six months ago. And even if not, I believe Thomas Marik may be persuadable. He has to be considering his chance for the First Lord office, and this would present an opportune moment to reinforce his image as a facilitator for peace." Candace's eyes narrowed and her voice hardened. "And Kai will be there. If anyone can give Sun-Tzu pause for thought, it will be my son."

  Caroline smiled at the thought. "Kai is enough to give anyone pause, Candace. He's the best warrior anyone has ever seen. You are right to be proud of him." She clasped her hands together, rubbing them gently while analyzing the situation. "So we undercut Sun-Tzu's support, and then force a recall of the Star League Defense Forces, which will leave his positions in the Co
mpact vulnerable. Better still if we can shift the SLDF troops over to our side and immediately put them back into use."

  "That is the ideal," Candace agreed, "but we must beware. I will not have the Compact becoming a Star League protectorate. Katrina Steiner-Davion is too near, sitting on her throne on New Avalon. We could easily trade one conqueror, hiding behind the title of First Lord, for another." One I might have to vote into office, whatever my personal feelings are toward her. I am sorry, Victor.

  "A tough decision, choosing between Katrina or Sun-Tzu," Seng said, attempting a light touch of humor but failing.

  Candace gazed off with a far-away look in her eyes. "No," she said softly, "it wouldn't be. Not for the people of the Compact, and I doubt even for you, Caroline. That is the danger.

  And that is the power we must not allow to fall into my nephew's hands, at any cost."

  Not if the Compact is going to live.

  Celestial Palace

  Zi-jin Cheng (Forbidden City), Sian

  Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

  Sun-Tzu Liao sat on the carved mahogany throne of the Capellan Confederation, left hand cradling a small glass of light plum wine while the right traced the smooth back of one long fingernail down his jawline. We've come such a long way in the last twelve months, so close now to restoring to the Capellan Confederation a large measure of its former strength and glory. He leveled a cool, jade gaze at his chief advisors, who carried their own drinks and stood just below the dais awaiting his recognition.

  Jiang-jun Zahn bore up under the scrutiny well, secure as always in his competency. A far-off glaze to his eyes suggested that he might be looking in on another scene. Perhaps reviewing a recent battle in the Compact, or orchestrating a future one? Only a flicker of unease showed on Sasha Wanli's face, the remnants of her failures in the past year. But the Maskirovka reform was coming along well, and so Sun-Tzu did not begrudge her a slight sense of well-being. Ion Rush, fully recovered from his ordeal and operations, waited off to one side as if distancing himself from the meeting. Burn scars peeked out from his collar and left cuff. They all deserve a word of recognition, if not praise, but also a reminder that we have yet to finish what we have started. The threads begun last year will see 3062 with certainty before the design is finished.

  Sun-Tzu raised his crystal goblet. "To the rebirth of the Capellan Confederation," he toasted, voice soft yet full of its own strength. He sipped at the sweet wine, noticing the slight tartness for which the year was known.

  On the floor, all three raised glasses in salute and then sipped at their own wine, poured by the Chancellor's hand. Sun-Tzu noticed Sasha's hesitation, as if considering whether the wine had been poisoned. Ion Rush moved slowly, with great deliberation as if the slightest muscle twitch required great concentration of effort. The Chancellor and First Lord could see the Imarra Master's myomer muscles bulging under his uniform, even in their relaxed state. I left the choice to him. He will adjust.

  "Jiang-jun Zahn, I saw by your initial report that the Death Commandos have put an end to the situation on Wei." Sun-Tzu controlled his eagerness by speaking slowly. "We now have possession of the nerve agent they used against McCarron's Armored Cavalry and others?"

  Zahn's self-assured expression faded just slightly. "Not yet, Chancellor Liao. Wei is pacified, yes." He glanced toward the door, on the other side of which two members of the Black Watch stood guard. "Using the Watch to free up your Death Commandos allowed me to put an end to the rebellion, but Sang-shao Hertzog reports that the chemical graveyard was already raided and the nerve agent gone." Zahn glanced at Sasha Wanli. "Though the rebellion leaders deny ever having removed more than a small percentage, I feel fairly confident that the Maskirovka investigation will find that they moved it to a new storage center."

  Unfortunate. Not that Sun-Tzu had immediate uses for such deadly material. But better I have control of it than anyone else. "And you have read Naomi Centrella's report on the situation on Detroit? You are satisfied with the outcome?"

  Zahn settled a politically neutral mask over his face. Only Sun-Tzu's sharp gaze picked out that his jiang-jun's dark eyes lost some of their normal animation. "I do not grieve for the loss of Jeffrey Calderon, Chancellor, that is true. He was a hindrance to Confederation goals. His death during the final battle for Detroit is most convenient, from a military viewpoint." Now Zahn's gaze sought out Sun-Tzu, and he raised his glass slightly in a silent salute. "Perhaps we will find assistance from the Taurian Concordat after all."

  Sasha Wanli cleared her throat, edging in on the conversation. "If I may. The Maskirovka has noted an increase in anti-FedCom sentiment coming out of the Taurian Concordat. While it does not constitute proof, the Taurians, at least, seem to believe that the FedCom was behind Maltin's coup and Calderon's death." She paused, considering, before speaking again. "The Maskirovka can find no trace of intentional assassination," she said, though her expression hinted that she might have said more in other company.

  Not even back to me, is that what you left unsaid, Sasha? And you are consumed with curiosity to know whether, and how, I might have arranged it. Sun-Tzu awarded her a tight-lipped smile. Do you know how many people can keep a secret? I do. The Chancellor then spared a few seconds for Naomi, liberator of Detriot and now Emma Centrella's heir. The thread that pulls all final knots free? Perhaps.

  Sun-Tzu sipped again at the purple-tinted wine. "Ion, what about the SLDF troops in the Compact? Are you prepared?"

  The Imarra Master again nodded, only his head and neck moving. The rest of his body remained motionless, like an immovable slab of rock. Or steel, the Chancellor thought. "The Lyran troops were already pulled back to Brighton, abandoning Nashuar to Jiang-jun Zahn's forces alone. We control Indicass through Vestallas, so no troubles there. On your order, Chancellor, I will move them out. Security will hold."

  "I trust that it will," Sun-Tzu said. "Begin operations, then. I want no SLDF troops left in the Compact by the time of the conference." And won't that ruin Katrina's plans? Promise my Uncle Tormano that as First Lord you would order the SLDF occupation troops out, will you? He glanced to his Maskirovka Director, who for once had pulled off a fair intelligence coup, intercepting Tormano's messages to Candace. That might have hurt, losing a standing garrison force such as that so quickly. I must find a way to remind Katrina that I am a better ally than enemy. In case she has forgotten.

  He glanced between his ranking general and intelligence chief. "Step up activity in the Tikonov area," he ordered. That is a start, but I still have a personal score with her. One that can be settled on Tharkad, though.

  Tharkad. "I leave very soon for the Star League conference," he said. "I expect to return to Sian with matters further advanced than when I leave them." His three advisors all nodded with a degree of solemnity. Though it has been my office, they too have enjoyed some additional power from my carrying the title of First Lord. And when I return, that will be gone. He sympathized, not that it mattered so much to him personally. Up until the final vote is cast, I am First Lord. No one can take that away from me, just as I will not let anyone ever again take away my Capellan Confederation.

  "Our renewed Capellan effort has been a success," he reminded them, "so far. We have our paths to travel, and threads to collect, but what was once ours will be again. Do not lose faith." He let a trace of threat creep into his voice. "But do not ever think to relax our vigil." Just in case they are inclined to forget what complacency once cost us. "We will protect our victories, and we will grow stronger yet.

  "The Xin Sheng has only begun."

  Glossary

  Officer Ranks

  Capellan (Han)

  Sao-wei

  Sang-wei

  Sao-shao

  Zhong-shao

  Sang-shao

  Jiang-jun

  Sang-jiang-jun

  Old Ranking

  Subcommander

  Commander

  Captain

  Major

 
Colonel

  Senior Colonel

  Nonexistent

  Equivalent

  Lieutenant

  Captain

  Major

  Lieutenant Colonel Colonel General Senior General

  Warrior House Ranks

  Zhang-si

  Ban-zhang

  Pai-zhang

  Lien-zhang Ying-zhang

  Shiao-zhang

  Infantryman Squad Leader Lance/Platoon

  Leader Company Leader Battalion Leader

  (infantry) House Master

  Lance Corporal

  Lieutenant

  Captain

  Major

  Lieutenant Colonel Lord Colonel

  About the Author

  Loren L. Coleman has lived most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, an on-again off-again resident of Longview, Washington. He wrote fiction in high school, but it was during his five years as a member of the United States Navy, Nuclear Power Field, that he began to write seriously.

  His first year out of the military, Loren joined the Eugene Professional Writers Workshop, and within a few months sold his first story. He has spent the last four years working as a professional freelancer, writing source material and fiction for game companies such as FASA Corporation and TSR. For FASA, he has written for both the BattleTech and Earthdawn games. His first two novels, Double-Blind and Binding Force, were also set in the BattleTech universe and published by Roc Books.

  Loren Coleman now lives in Washington State with his wife, Heather Joy, two sons, Talon LaRon and Conner Rhys Monroe, a new daughter, Alexia Joy, and the usual troublesome cats.