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Ashes
Continuing the story from "Once More into the Breach"
by Ethan Jennings |
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A sequel to "Once More Unto The Breach." The war between the Star League and the Capellan-Free Worlds alliance continues. Edward Davion is now the Commander-in-Chief of the Star League Defense Forces, and Lara Steiner has been captured by the Capellans, and awaits execution on Sian. It is the year 3219, and the galaxy is about to change . . .
SLDF Headquarters, Tukayyid
ComStar Occupation Zone
Rasalhague Dominion
July 12, 3219
"Ladies and gentlemen," said General Edward Davion, newly minted Commander-in-Chief of the Star League Defense Forces, "we're here because we've got a war to fight. I have no doubt that you all know this, which is why I'm going to get right to the point. Clan Jade Falcon has already joined the Capellan Confederation and its ally, the Free Worlds Republic, and, as you may not have noticed, Clan Nova Cat did not send its representatives to this meeting, nor did Clans Star Adder, Coyote, or Goliath Scorpion, although those last three have already declared neutrality in this conflict. We are expecting the Nova Cats to formally throw in with the Capellans in a matter of days. Clan Ghost Bear-" he nodded to saKhan Tseng "-will launch a military campaign against the Cats to keep them occupied while the rest of the Star League focuses on a four-month campaign that will put us on the doorstep to Sian."
The briefing room was filled with the top brass from every Star League member's military. The faces watched Edward closely, very much aware that he now had more combat command experience than anyone in the Inner Sphere.
"Commander," said Marshal of the Armies Sarah Hasek, senior officer of the AFFS, "what kind of objectives are we looking at for this operation?"
Edward looked at the woman who, until a few weeks ago, had been his commanding officer. "Primary objective is the capture of Sian, and the release of SLDF POWs being held illegally by the Capellan army. That includes General Lara Steiner, commander of the Twelfth Donegal Guard. Secondary objective will be the capture of Chancellor Liao, although without his capital, Chong-lo is going to be hard-pressed to win a war, especially when his friends in House Corrigan have their own problems.
"What we're planning is a two-pronged assault, one, led by myself, which will focus on Sian, and the second, led by Kanrei Kurita, will head for Marik. Our plan will be to destroy as much of the enemy militaries as we can, and force a peace settlement. If Chong-lo or David Corrigan decide not to go along with our demands, well, there's not much they can do if we're holding their worlds. Now, here're the details of what we've worked out so far . . ."
Edward met Benjamin Shenke outside. The operations officer brushed off his new colonel's rank pin, lighting a cigarette.
"I didn't know you smoked," Edward muttered as Shenke fell in stride with him.
"Just started," Shenke explained, taking a long drag. "Sorry I couldn't make it. We were going over logistics and stuff in the staff meeting. It went a little long. How did things work out?"
"Fine. Hasek is a bit reluctant, but I think that's more because she feels uncomfortable with the fact that I got promoted over her head." He shrugged. "Hell, wasn't my fault, it was Nicholas's. I noticed that he wasn't here today, although the Precentor he sent was quite knowledgeable."
"Yeah, ol' Nicky sends his regards, and fully supports your plan, which I shared with him at the staff meeting."
"Why wasn't he at the briefing?"
Shenke shrugged. "I think that a few of the officers are pretty mad at him. They don't recognize that he was covering for Donavan when he resigned."
Edward frowned. "He's not worried about it . . ."
"Oh, hell, you know how Nick doesn't let that kind of thing bother him. What's important is that he knows he did the right thing, and I don't think he really cares what anyone else thinks." Shenke tossed the cigarette butt to the ground, crushing it beneath the heel of his boot. "So," he said, changing the subject, "I hear that you're making me the chief operations officer for the Capellan Campaign."
"That is correct. You're the best one I have, and I'll need your managerial skills to keep my various forces from killing each other." He grimaced. "As I said, I don't think Marshal Hasek is going to like being under my command, at least not at first, and the Davion Heavy Guards are fanatically loyal to her, so there's bound to be tension between her and the First Crucis. Oh, did I mention that to you? Yeah, because I apparently don't have enough problems already, and because my position as Commander-in-Chief is only a temp spot, I still hold my commission in the AFFS, which wouldn't be so bad if Anderson hadn't decided to keep the First Crucis Lancers under my command."
"It won't be so bad," Shenke said. "You'll need an honor guard, after all."
"That I will," Edward agreed, "but I'd like for someone else to be in command of them."
"They pulled Colonel Rian, didn't they?"
Edward nodded. "Yes, he was transferred to take command of the Fourteenth Regimental Combat Team. Anderson is sending me a leftenant-general to take his place."
"That's a pretty advanced rank for XO, even of a multi-regimental force." Shenke shook his head. "Hell, most of our units are commanded by a grade or two lower."
"I know. I'm pretty sure Anderson has at least recognized that I'm going to be busy as hell commanding a task force and nine regiments, and I've read the man's file. He's a graduate of the academy, and he's seen a bit of combat fighting pirates." He shrugged. "And he just finished a two-year stint as the commander of the Fifth Davion Fusiliers. I'm confident he'll be able to handle the details when the shooting starts."
"Does this mystery man have a name?" Shenke asked reprovingly. Edward laughed.
"I believe he does. It's Allen Kell. You've heard of him?"
"Heard of him? He's supposed to be one of the best officers in the AFFS!" Shenke shook his head in disbelief. "Present company accepted, of course," he added with a grin.
Edward ignored the jab. "But back to business, Colonel. We really do have quite a bit to accomplish in just a few days."
"When is the launch date?"
"Tentatively, the twentieth of this month." Edward grimaced. "We have to get to Sian before . . ."
"I know." Shenke also knew that Lara Steiner's capture and subsequent condemnation by the Capellans was wearing hard on his commander. And there were close to three hundred more Davion, Lyran, and even Combine personnel in the hands of House Liao. Edward fully intended to get every one of them back before this was over, and Shenke pitied the fools that tried to stop him.
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March
Federated Suns
July 13, 3219
The agent was shorter than most men, compact and muscular. He wore the uniform of a foreman at the local IndustrialMech factory, but that did not stop Captain Feng from seeing one of the most deadly assassins employed by the Maskirovka, the Capellan Confederation's secretive intelligence agency.
"You shouldn't have come here," Feng scolded. "What if someone from the Secretariat sees you?"
"They won't," said the agent, "I'm better than that."
"Your ego isn't going to do us much good if Davion finds out we're here. It'd be even worse if they find out why we're here."
"They won't find us," the agent said, carefully annunciating each word.
Feng was not impressed. The Maskirovka always operated that way, though, threw aside the warnings of the military that it often used as its tool. It was revolting to a career man like Feng, who had risen through the Capellan hierarchy since his enlistment in 3198. Men like the agent, men whose carelessness could throw that all away, disgusted him.
On the other hand, Feng certainly recognized the value of their mission. If it were to succeed, everyone involved, even the lowliest technician, would be celebrated as heroes when they returned to Sian. Feng would certainly be given a command in a Death Commando regiment, something he had desired since he'd first seen the elite warriors and their boldly painted BattleMechs marching in a parade held to commemorate the Chancellor's birthday, long ago in his childhood.
The agent's demands brought him back to the present.
"The rifle," he said. "Where is it?"
"In the back room, the soundproofed one." The Maskirovka had set up the safehouse six years before when Chong-lo Liao had been contemplating assassinating Jan Hakados, Davion's Intelligence Secretary. Now another assassination was being planned, and the agent had put the safehouse's soundproofed gun range to good use.
Feng followed the agent as he made his way to the range. The agent's rifle was kept in a gun rack off to the side that also held Feng's personal weapon, a standard-issue Fe19 autorifle. The agent's weapon, however, was anything but standard. The long black rifle was made of a super-durable, lightweight plastic similar to the product used in BattleMechs' windows. It could be set to semi or fully automatic, and its banana-shaped clip held forty-five 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds. A large laser scope was mounted on the rifle's top, and its grip had been sculpted to perfectly fit the agent's hand. Feng knew that the rifle was incredibly accurate, even on its full-auto setting, and he'd seen the agent put a full clip through the standard sniper's kill zone at a hundred meters in under a minute.
Moving with the lighting-fast speed of familiarity, the agent checked the rifle's action, loaded a clip, and jacked the first round into the chamber. Standing in with the rifle pulled into his shoulder, his finger caressed the trigger with the tenderness of a man stroking his lover's hair.
The rifle's bark was subdued by the silencer mounted on the muzzle, and a hole the size of Feng's clenched fist was blasted through the man-shaped target's head. Feng watched the agent while he went through a clip with careful determination.
"What is it you wanted?" Feng asked when the agent had cleaned the rifle and returned it to its case. "This isn't your scheduled practice time."
"I know," said the agent. "It's been a stressful day. Some stupid bastard got himself crushed by an AgroMech. I was filling out paperwork for hours."
"Dammit, you came here because you're stressed?" Feng was furious. "You moron, you can't risk blowing the mission because something pissed you off! How dare you-"
Before Feng knew anything different, the agent had him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
"Shut the fuck up, Captain," the agent hissed. "You don't know anything about me. Without me, you have no mission. So shut your damned mouth." The agent threw Feng aside, walking out of the safehouse without another word.
Gagging, Feng pulled himself to his feet. "Son of a bitch," he muttered, "I hope the Davionists do catch you." He smiled to himself. "After you complete your mission, of course."
Presidential Palace, Marik
Marik Commonwealth
Free Worlds Republic
"Captain-General, you have a message from Chancellor Liao. It just came in on the HPG."
David Corrigan looked up from his desk, hardly surprised. Chong-lo, despotic bastard that he was, had been obsessive about maintaining the final say in their alliance. After only a few months of his behavior, Corrigan was beginning to have second thoughts about leaving the safety of the Star League to throw in with his cause.
"Thank you, just have it transferred to my desk viewer."
"Of course, sir."
Corrigan set the report he had been reading aside, rubbing his temples in an effort to stave off the headache that he knew was coming. An alliance with the Capellan Confederation had seemed like such a simple thing when he had first considered it, and the Free Worlds Republic had much to gain from it . . . or much to lose. Fighting had erupted on several worlds where the Wolf Clan had substantial garrisons, but after a month, his forces had been able to regain control. Corrigan only wished that they had done as well in the Tikonov Principality. He'd lost the First Marik Knights to Edward Davion, and the Atreus Brigade had been devastated. Liao had told him that such things were to be expected, but Corrigan was sick and tired of the Chancellor's crap. His decision to have Lara Steiner grandiosely executed was idiotic; it was bringing the SLDF down on them like the hammer of God. David Corrigan certainly did not relish the thought of the AFFS landing on Marik, nor did he like to think about what the Star League would exact in retribution if Steiner were put to death.
He activated his viewer and started Chong-lo's message. The Chancellor was wearing the gaudy colors that he loved, and his shiny black hair was combed back from his forehead.
"Captain-General," he said, "first, let me convey my condolences on the loss of your First Marik Knights. I know that such a blow will be difficult for your military to recover from, but, given the current state of affairs, I am afraid that we cannot allow such a minor setback to inhibit our operations. Given your forces' failure in the Tikonov Principality-"
"Without my forces, we wouldn't even have Bharat, you son of a bitch!" Corrigan yelled at the screen. He shook his head and backed up the video to catch what he had missed.
"-forces' failure in the Tikonov Principality, the Confederation will have to lead the next offensive. My generals are planning to strike the worlds of Northwind and Caph in the Federated Suns, and Thorin in the Lyran Alliance. Your troops are welcome to assist, of course, but the Confederation shall lead the way."
And claim the prizes, of course, Corrigan added silently, painfully aware that the original agreement had left the Lyran Alliance for the Free Worlds Republic. Well, if Liao can renege on his part of the deal, then so can I. Chong-lo continued to speak, giving Corrigan detailed plans on his invasion, followed by a request for more support in the Principality, citing "the tremendous demands of the operation."
"Go to hell," Corrigan said when the message was done. He hit the intercom switch.
"Terry, could you please have General Romanov shown in?"
"Very well, sir."
A moment later, Andrei Romanov stepped into the office. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yeah, shut the door, would you? Have a seat." Corrigan folded his hands in front of him. "Chong-lo is being a prick."
"What else is new?"
"He's taking the offensive. He's going to hit Northwind, Caph . . and Thorin."
Romanov sat up. "Huh? Thorin is in the Alliance . . . and the conditions of the arrangement . . ."
"Yes, but there's no formal treaty," Corrigan pointed out. "Nothing more than a verbal agreement between Chancellor Liao and myself. Which means that he's not technically betraying anything. Little bastard. Well, I've got a trick or two up my sleeve, as well."
"What've you got in mind?" Romanov asked.
"Chong-lo wants me to send him reinforcements for Tikonov. Considering that good ol' Eddie Davion beat the hell out of us in the Principality already, I have no desire to lose any more valuable forces to that hellhole." He shrugged. "Let's face the facts, Andrei, Tikonov is lost. They've got Anderson Davion on their side, and that new prince of theirs, that Zander, he's a lot smarter than his late predecessor. He's really pulled the Principality Defense Corps together, and they're kicking the crap out of the Capellans on Liao."
"Ironic, isn't it?"
"Well, the point is that I do not intend to send them another elite unit to be slaughtered. They get the Third Atrean Militia, nothing more. And no WarShips, either." Corrigan smiled. "Those we'll reserve for a target of our own."
"And where," asked Romanov, "might that be?"
"Tharkad," said Corrigan. "We're going to hit Tharkad." |
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