Trial by Chaos

by J. Steven York

  "It's being tied in directly at the broadcast transmitters. I suspect the Labor Party has something to do with it. Most of the broadcast technicians are with them."

  Hall continued. "Recent events have caused me to question many fundamental aspects of my Clan and its ways. As I have always considered myself fiercely loyal to my Clan, these questions troubled me greatly. I was aware of the Freeminder movement, and certain circumstances made it possible for me to learn more about them.

  "One of the things I learned about was a document called the Final Codex. This document, if genuine, represents lost writings of our great Founder, Nicholas Kerensky. In those writings, and in the beliefs of the Freeminders that are based on them, I have come to suspect that much of what I believed about Clan ways was wrong, and that we have placed far too little emphasis on that which our Clan's founders, Jorgensson and Tseng, held most dear: family.

  "Thousands of our fellow Ghost Bears have, against the authority of our Clan, created families based on the same bonds of love that Jorgensson and Tseng shared. They still follow Clan law: these families are in addition to the families mandated by our scientific breeding program. But when these families bonded by love are discovered, these Clansmen are shunned, punished and denied the right to keep their families together. That is tragic, and I have come to believe that it does not represent our Clan's true way. The Freeminders believe that we must end this hypocrisy, and in this I support them fully.

  "You may ask why I would choose to do this thing, knowing it could cost me everything I have achieved in my life: my rank, my Bloodname, my position as warrior. It could even cost me my freedom, my life or, worst of all, my right to call myself a member of the Ghost Bear Clan."

  He looked away from the camera for a moment, then faced it squarely and took a deep breath. "I, Star Colonel Conner Hall, declare my love for a Vegan woman, a freeborn. Her name is Captain Karen Tupolov, a MechWarrior of the First Vega Regulars. I have come to respect her as a MechWarrior and a comrade in arms.

  "But she is also much more. She is Karen, whose touch I celebrate, and whose voice I crave. Karen, for whom I would give up all other things for the opportunity to form with her that precious thing called family. Karen, with whom I would happily live out all the days a warrior's life will grant me.

  "This is my dream, but it may never come true. Karen lies in a coma in our hospital, and despite all our doctors can do, she may never wake again. She may never know, as you now know, how I feel for her. If she does wake, she may not know me, may not remember the feelings she had for me, if indeed, she ever had any at all.

  "But I say to you, my fellow Clansmen, and also to the people of Vega, that does not change my feelings. If—if she is dead, that does not change my feelings. What I do today—" He seemed to choke on the words, finally managing, "I do for her." He looked to his left. "Stop recording."

  The screen blanked briefly, then cut to a shocked-looking news broadcaster who seemed unaware that he was back on camera. His coanchor nudged him with her elbow, and he turned to face the lens. "You have just heard an unauthorized feed that was patched into our broadcast system by person or persons unknown, a most unexpected source making a plea for tolerance of the Clan Freeminder movement. We'll be back in a moment with analysis of—"

  She muted the audio, her brain already churning through scenario after scenario. She was shocked and dismayed, but already she could see that this might work to her advantage. It was critical, however, that she be seen—especially by the Vegan people—as acting on this development, rather than reacting to it. "Trenton, have the cameras in here activated and let the broadcast centers know that we want to go live in two minutes. I'll be giving a statement about the Freeminder movement."

  He looked at her. "The vote on the floor isn't finished. We don't have confirmation that it will pass."

  She shook her head. "We cannot wait. Whatever his reasons for speaking now, Conner Hall has forced our hand." I'm on that runaway horse again, but this time I know a little better what I should do.

  * * *

  There was a crash in the darkness, and Taylor Bane instinctively reached for the gun under his pillow.

  It wasn't there.

  He rolled, reaching for the backup weapon hung out of sight below the headboard, but a powerful hand grabbed his wrist. He tried to twist free but, unable even to tell where his attacker was standing, he failed. Even as he made the attempt, other hands grabbed him by the ankles. And his other arm was pulled back and pinned to the bed under someone's knee. In seconds, he was hopelessly trapped.

  The light snapped on, and he saw that around him were standing five large men, all dressed in black clothing. body armor and ski masks. All wore adaptive night-vision goggles that let them see as well in the lighted room as they had in the darkness. The man nearest the light switch appeared to be their leader, and he held an assault Needler aimed casually at Bane's midsection.

  Bane craned his neck to see through the doorway into the adjoining room, where Bruno had been sleeping. He caught a glimpse of Bruno, blood dripping from his face, crawling across the floor towards the door.

  Suddenly, a sixth man appeared, an assault rifle slung over his shoulder and carrying what appeared to be a fire ax.

  Bane yelled a warning, but Bruno never saw the butt of the ax handle as it slammed straight down on the back of his head.

  Bruno dropped like a bag of sand.

  Man six stepped over the fallen man and entered the room, passing the ax to the leader.

  The leader stepped forward. "I heard," he said, "you two were very dangerous. We took no chances."

  Bane managed a scratchy sort of laugh. "You could have just made an appointment."

  Man six stepped forward and slammed the butt of his rifle against the side of Bane's face.

  Bane shook his head, trying to clear his double vision. He tasted blood in his mouth and spit, trying to hit the face of one of the men holding him. The bright red glob splattered on the man's armor vest.

  Leader-man grimaced at him. "We know all about your appointments. Bane. We know who you work for, and we know he has designs on this world. We are going to send him a message."

  "The boss, he doesn't respond well to threats."

  "Maybe not, Mr. Bane, but he is a businessman. Like all businessmen, he'll follow the path of least resistance. He needs to know that it's a big galaxy, and if he needs somewhere to go, there are many other planets to choose from. But this one belongs to the Draconis Combine."

  "Is that your message?" Bane's swollen mouth slurred the words.

  Leader-man smiled. "No. I have one more thing to add."

  Suddenly, the men holding Bane dragged him off one side of the bed. He struggled, his body bucking, until man six returned and gave him another smack with the rifle butt.

  There was an interval of nothingness, then Bane realized he'd passed out for a moment. Someone had his knee in his chest, someone was holding his upper right arm, and someone else was holding his right hand, stretching his arm across the heavy wooden night table.

  Leader-man approached holding the ax, still smiling. "This," he said, "is the message."

  The ax fell.

  14

  Broadcast transcript of address by Galaxy Commander Isis Bekker to all Ghost Bear occupation forces on Vega, 1 December 3136, 0500 hours Nasew time:

  My fellow Ghost Bears, my fellow Raging Bears, my family. This morning we face the gravest challenges we have encountered in our long history. We are besieged, from without and within, by forces that threaten to divide us and overwhelm us. The division and chaos that have nearly destroyed Vega have infected our own ranks.

  By now, most of you have seen or have heard secondhand the statement just given to the Vegan media by Star Colonel Conner Hall. If you have not seen it, I suspect it will be in frequent rotation on the Vegan media, so you will not have to wait long.

  I will be honest. I was as shocked as any of you by this development, and have not yet been a
ble to speak with the Star colonel about his statement. He is currently on his way back to the capital, and I will make an additional statement to you as soon as we have spoken.

  But his statement represents only the tip of an iceberg I have long known existed, and long feared facing. I knew the day would come when I would have to confront it, but this is a difficult day on which to do so.

  Most of you are aware of the Freeminder movement. I suspect that more than a few of you listening to this broadcast are intimately familiar with it. The Freeminders question many of our most deeply seated traditions. They threaten our established sense of order and discipline, and as such, it is easy to consider them a threat.

  I ask today that you reject the easy path. I do not believe as the Freeminders believe, but I do not have enough information to dismiss the possibility that there may be some truth in what they say. They have shown us a fragmentary document called the Final Codex, that they say was written by Nicholas Kerensky. This document supports many of their proposed reforms. If these are indeed the words of our Founder, then perhaps it is we who have strayed from the true path of the Clans, and the Freeminders point the way back.

  Is this document genuine? I cannot say. It seems to run contrary to the earlier teachings of the Founder, but he often presented short-term goals and plans that seemed to lead one place, while his gaze was fixed on a different spot along the distant horizon.

  What I can say is that it resonates strongly with the teachings and lessons of Jorgensson and Tseng. It speaks most deeply to what they held most dear: family. It resonates with the Great Father's Hidden Hope Doctrine, that we would somehow bring our greatness back to the Inner Sphere.

  I know that many of you now are angry and confused. You wish to find those among you who you see as traitors to our traditions and use those traditions to strike at them. Perhaps you wish to declare trials against your fellow Ghost Bears, or your commanding officers. Perhaps, by the time I am through here, you will consider a Trial of Refusal against me.

  I ask you to reconsider.

  We face unknown and imminent military threats here in Nasew, and I suspect we will see combat within the next seventy-two hours.

  Perhaps sooner.

  Our forces are divided across two planets and scattered around this globe, and already, in our first skirmish, we were bloodied by superior forces. Because of the acts of traitors, we do not know what forces we face. What is clear is that the Draconis Combine is either supplying the insurgents or supplanting them as our enemy. We expect to find our forces outmatched in numbers and firepower.

  Victory is not certain. But if we do not stand together as a Clan, and as a unit, and alongside the Vegan people, defeat is certain.

  And so I give the following order: A new policy of openness exists within the Clan occupation forces on Vega. The Freeminder movement and its teachings are no longer forbidden. Freeminders may, as long as it does not conflict with their duty or the duties of others, hold meetings, recruit members and peacefully debate their beliefs. They are not to be reduced in rank or status for their association with the movement.

  As always, our members will be judged by their performance in the fulfillment of their duties. Participation in the Freeminders will under no circumstances be used as an excuse for inferior performance by any Clan member of any caste.

  Additionally, members of the Vegan Labor Party have expressed their sympathy with and support for the Freeminder movement, and desire to meet with its members. In the interest of planetary unity and improved relations with the people of Vega, I will permit such meetings, within the general restrictions placed on Freeminder activities.

  I also remind all Clan members that the security of the Clan and its holdings is your responsibility. The Vegans may be our allies and friends, but they are not yet family. Until then, guard what is ours jealously.

  Only in unity can we find strength. And in battle, that unity can be tested. What use are individual trials, when we all face a trial for our very existence?

  Fight well, and I will see you all at the end of the Honor Road.

  War Room, Provisional Capitol Building, East Central District

  Nasew, North Nanturo continent, Vega

  1 December 3136

  Galaxy Commander Isis Bekker surveyed the icons floating over the map of Vega. There were more reports of enemy "Mechs northwest of the city. Their objectives were still unclear. But their most obvious target was the one she was sitting in. Capturing the provisional capital would be a tremendous strategic and symbolic victory.

  Even if she could safely withdraw her command staff and the high-level government officials, doing so would shatter their fragile authority over the Vegan people. Certainly there were those among the Vegans who would welcome anyone willing to wipe the Ghosts Bears and their "collaborators" off the planet.

  But that was not the only possible objective. They might want to capture the spaceport, or to cripple the Ghost Bear base there. It was even possible that they would attack in such a way as to inflict maximum civilian casualties and property damage, in order to turn the Vegans even further against the occupation.

  A reflection caught her eye. She looked up and saw Conner Hall standing across the map table from her. He stood tall and straight, his prominent chin held high. "Star Colonel Hall reporting. Galaxy Commander."

  She glared at him. She literally had no idea what to say. She looked around. Trenton watched her from the far end of the room. She could see officers and staff watching them from their glass galleries above the pit.

  Whatever she decided to say, she resolved to say it out of earshot of this audience. "If I may speak with you privately, Star Colonel." She directed him to the nearest of several small, soundproofed rooms off the map area. These rooms also had windows, but the glass could be made opaque for privacy.

  He led the way and she followed, closing the door after them. She flipped a switch on the wall, and the glass windows instantly turned milky white.

  The stared at each other for a moment. Then she burst out, "What the devil did you think you were doing, Conner? I do not care about your freeborn girlfriend, or whatever issues you have twisted around inside your head about the destiny of the Clans! You muddied waters for me that were already more dirt than water! I am talking about the very survival of our unit here!"

  "As am I. I am sorry if I have weakened our strategic situation, but I did what I felt was necessary and right. I regret that I did not act with full knowledge of our situation, or I might have chosen differently. But an officer can only act on the intelligence available to them. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am prepared to face any punishment you deem fit without trial or debate."

  "Is that a poor way of asking for surkai?"

  "Surkai requires that I admit my wrongdoing in order to restore my honor. I feel I did nothing wrong. I only state that I am willing to accept punishment as an acceptable cost for my actions. If that means death or Abjuration, then I face them gladly. No matter how great or small the punishment, I do not expect repair of my honor because I do not feel I have violated it. That others, you included, may think differently is hurtful, but ultimately not my concern."

  She shook her head. "You have an answer for everything, do you not?"

  "Truth is always a position of strength."

  She rubbed her temples. "You heard the statement I made to our people on Vega?"

  "I heard it as I was coming into the building. Frankly, I had expected to sacrifice myself for very little return, a symbolic act more than an effective one. Your reaction seems out of character."

  She laughed harshly. "You were right the first time, Conner. This is not about you. My decision to recognize the Freeminders is part of a desperate political compromise with the Labor Party. You forced me into making my announcement before I could confirm that the compromise had passed the senate, but I would have made it regardless."

  He stared at her, mouth agape.

  She grinned. "O
h, yes. You could have done nothing, and your precious movement still would have gone mainstream."

  He squared his shoulders. "I regret nothing."

  "Perhaps. But I doubt you celebrate your decision quite so fully now."

  She paused. "Well, neither of us can turn back the hands of time. Neither of us can undo what is done. So the question is, where do we go from here?"

  "That is up to you, Galaxy Commander."

  "Indeed it is, and I am glad you still recognize that. Trenton tells me that in his opinion most Freeminders remain devoted to their duty and to their Clan. Do you believe that to be true?"

  "I do. Based on my limited encounters, the Freeminders are loyal to the Clan, some fiercely so, and have no tolerance for those whose loyalty wavers. They can be counted on to fulfill their duties."

  "Can I count on you?"

  "My love of my Clan has never been an issue, Galaxy Commander. I am prepared to serve to the best of my abilities in any role you assign, no matter how humble. I am prepared to lay down my life at your command."

  "It could come to that, but I hope not. No, Star Colonel. The role I need you to fulfill is the one in which you have until now ably served me. I need someone to lead our forces against our enemies. I wonder, however, if you have destroyed your ability to lead them."

  "Your speech was a good one. Galaxy Commander. Many will heed your words."

  "I was performing damage control, and this situation requires much more than that."

  "Let me talk to my troops."

  "I expect you will, and at length. Right now, though, we need to present a united front to our troops and the Vegan people. We will talk to them together."

  She flipped the switch on the wall, and the windows again became transparent. There was a sudden flurry of activity as everyone in the room tried to feign being busy and concerned with something other than their conversation.

  As she and Conner left the room, she looked for Trenton. He was standing above them in the back of an empty spectator gallery, engaged in an animated phone conversation, an intense look on his face.