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Graduation day
by RedHunter |
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Tukwila, Tikonov
Capellan March, Federated Suns
12 February 3065
General Linda McDonald visibly winced as Hauptmann William Steiner-Focht entered her command operations room. Normally, a low ranking Hauptmann, perhaps a company commander at most, wouldn’t have warranted a second glance. In this case, this Hauptmann happened also to be the Duke of Duran - a royal. And a royal pain in her ass.
“Sir, request permission to speak candidly.” Duke William stood at rigid attention, his recently shaved head steaming from the transition into the air-conditioned command post from the dry, hot air of the Tukwila Valley.
Linda McDonald sighed. Duke William and his company from the Duran Miliz had been a welcome addition to her Eleventh Arcturan Guard - especially now that General Maria Esteban had taken the bulk of the Loyalist forces back into the Lyran Alliance. The Duke had brought his planetary militia forces straight on to Tikonov to rendezvous with the Loyalists in the drive against Victor Davion. The traitor Prince was attempting to usurp the thrones of the Lyran Alliance and the Federated Suns from his sister and rightful ruler, Katrina Steiner-Davion. Although only a company, the Duran Miliz was generously outfitted with mostly new Battlemechs and many of the MechWarriors had come from first rate Lyran units. Above all, the Duke of Duran was a staunch Steiner loyalist and backed Archon Katrina unwaveringly. At least he had until now.
“Hauptmann,” McDonald greeted him, purposefully directing the conversation toward one within the confines of the chain of command. “Permission granted, although I don’t have a lot of time. We have several actions going on right now.” She swept her hand across the room where half a dozen busy techs and communications officers coordinated a battalion-level raid against ComStar’s 244th Division, the Prince’s Men.
Steiner-Focht nodded curtly and dropped into parade rest. “Sir, I would like to voice my objection to the treatment of prisoners. I have documented several…”
“Hauptmann,” she interrupted. “I understand your position on this and…” holding up her hand to wave down his response, “and, yes, I’ve read your memo. My decision stands. Those prisoners may hold important intelligence regarding Victor’s plans. The Archon has made it clear that we’re to use any methods available to extract information.” She turned toward him. “My decision is final, Hauptmann. So, if there is nothing else…”
William drew himself to full attention again. “General, I realize that I am under your command here on Tikonov, and I will not lightly pull rank on you out of respect for your office. However, I must make a formal complaint to both Nondi Steiner and the Archon. I will request operational command as Duke of Duran over the Loyalist forces here on Tikonov. I cannot stand by as this Civil War continues to descend farther and farther into barbarism. Someone must draw a line in the sand.”
William saluted, turned crisply on his heel, and marched out of the command post before McDonald could make a response. She slammed her fist down onto the nearest console, bouncing a coffee mug off to shatter on the floor. “Damn!”
The techs and comm officers around her looked up in surprise, but turned quickly back to their consoles as they saw the look on her face. McDonald stalked out of the operations room and into her adjoining private office, wishing she could slam a door shut behind her. The automated door hissed to a close, and she paced the cramped office in an attempt to bring herself back under control.
She had just decided to return to the operations center when the door slid back open. “Who the hell…” she stammered, stumbling in mid-stride as Hans Gruber entered her office. She felt a quick chill; one not brought on by the overtaxed cooling system, as the Loki agent dropped silently into one of the two armchairs before her desk.
Hans Gruber was a poster child for LAAF recruiting officers. Tall, well-built and with blond hair and strong Germanic looks, Gruber would have been thought handsome by many but his good looks ended at his eyes. McDonald couldn’t put a finger on it, but something about them seemed at the same time lifeless, yet ever watchful. It was as if he had been turned into an automaton of the State. As a Loki agent, he was a member of the most feared group within the Lyran Intelligence Corps - tasked with carrying out acts of sabotage, terrorism, and counter-terrorism on enemies of the Lyran Alliance. She had protested his assignment to her staff to General Esteban, but the Archon herself had signed the order. McDonald secretly wondered whether Gruber’s ultimate mission was to eliminate Victor Davion himself.
Gruber waited patiently for McDonald to make her way behind the desk and take a seat. “General, you have a problem,” the Loki agent stated matter-of-factly. “The Duke,” he drenched the word in scorn, “is a bomb waiting to explode.”
“And what am I supposed to do about it?” she asked petulantly. “Tell him to take his ‘Mechs and go home? He’s a bloody duke for the Archon’s sake!”
Gruber leaned back into his chair and smiled. “For the Archon’s sake,” he said, “we have to stop him from becoming a liability. And, speaking of the Archon, I have received a response to the report I generated on the Duke.” Gruber, as McDonald’s Loki liaison, had suggested documenting Duke William’s growing unease with “questionable” tactics.
McDonald leaned forward in her seat. “And…”
“And,” Gruber smiled, “the Archon has designated Duke William to be a clear and present danger to the Lyran State. She has given me orders.”
Linda McDonald rocked back heavily into the swivel chair. “My God,” she said.
Hans Gruber smiled. |
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