Part 136: Political Vote 7 Results and Combat Theater Vote 7 - Freedom
Freedom: Political Vote Results and Combat Theater Vote 8Julien Tiepolo’s tired eyes snapped open as someone called for his attention. Deeply set in gaunt features, he swept the room with his gaze.
“Precentor Martial.”
Miraborg canted his head. Extensive nerve damage prevented him from doing much more than that. The pressure bandage over his eye had been removed, revealing a twisted, serpentine scar along his left cheek where a Clan armored-infantryman had nearly taken his eye with a swipe of a battle claw.
“Primus,” Miraborg spoke again, “we must end this interdiction.”
Tiepolo remained silent, steeped his fingers.
“The Clans won’t succeed without intelligence—”
“They will,” Miraborg replied. “They have every advantage. It’s the successor states who can’t win without communications; without being able to see where the Clans are. Primus, for all we know, they’re about to breach the dead zone. Any threat can be dealt with, if you see it coming.”
Tiepolo nodded quietly.
“I have come to similar conclusions, after reading your reports. These Clans seem… implacable. Nonetheless, I dislike giving them so much information; and if we restore the network—”
“Contact the Lyrans, and the Kuritas in advance. Tell them we may have defeated Clan jamming. Tell them, if the Clans know as much about the HPG network as they seem to, that they may be intercepting transmissions.”
Miraborg leaned forward, resting on his good arm. “Tell them we will be altering data, forcing the Clans to commit far more troops to targets of no strategic value; and that we will work with them—”
“I dislike that thought.”
“—a small price to pay, to defeat the Star League Defense Force. Tell them we will work with them, to set up ambushes. We have the knowledge, we have the capability. We need commit no troops, if we can pass word to the Successor States where the Clans assault forces will be at their weakest.”
Miraborg relaxed into his wheelchair. His white robes blending with the white cloth covering that hid most of the chair’s mechanisms from sight. “We die, without information. Clear the destroyer code.”
**********
“Tai-sho Kurita!”
An aide offered a deep bow, then kneeled in silence. Theodore Kurita frowned. There had been no need for such excitement since the Legions of Vega had been reassigned to Trolloc Prime. A mere two jumps from a dozen planets on the Lyran—now Skye—border, and perhaps three to reach any DCMS unit along the border of the colloquially-named ‘Dead Zone,’ the Legions of Vega were perfectly poised to throw their lives away when the time came.
Excitement meant the time had come, that the Clans had finally breached the area of their supposed jamming.
“It is time, then? The Clans have come?”
“Gomen, iie!” His aide’s head shook. “ComStar has announced: they have found a way to end the Dead Zone jamming!”
Theodore frowned, couldn’t help but wonder precisely what games ComStar was playing.
“You are wanted badly in the command center, Tai-shoKurita. We expect an update of our military status from Luthien at any time.”
**********
“—invest you, Duke Frederick Steiner, as the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth!”
Thunderous applause rose to meet him as Archon Steiner settled into the Lyran throne. Flanked by a pair of Griffins from his own Tenth Lyran Guards, and Sanglamore sash draped proudly about his waist, he certainly looked the part, although some would doubtless believe a sixty year old man too old to rule for long, and Frederick had no obvious heir.
“People of the Lyran Commonwealth,” he began, his rich, commanding voice carrying with ease. “This is a troubled time for our people. The Clan invasion continues to sweep through our territory, protected by their own wall of utter silence.”
He stood again. “Worse, the secession of Skye has stripped from us many of our resources and trade. For all their shortsightedness, Skye, and Duke Clovis Holstein, are still Lyrans. I wish to assure you all today: I will not wage a war upon our own Lyran people.”
At Frederick’s side, Aldo Lestrade started, then glared at the new Archon.
“Skye can be returned to us, politically. For now, however? I formally recognize their nation, and my niece Melissa and her husband as Skye’s hereditary rulers. Let it be known throughout the successor states, that the Lyran Commonwealth will guarantee the continued safety and sovereignty of the Skye Hegemony, and pledge to defend her against all external threats.”
He turned, smiling, to the holocameras. “Our disputes can be settled peacefully, in time. For now, it is my sincerest hope that the people of Skye will continue to trade with us.”
He turned back to his audience, “… Talk of trade, however, brings me to my second official act as Archon: We will begin negotiations with the Free Worlds League for arms and equipment, and even mercenaries. We will need every advantage we can find to face the threat of these Clans.”
“Finally,” the Archon turned, quietly regarding his old mentor Aldo Lestrade, “I would like to formally honor the man who has guided our state through what is perhaps the greatest crisis in her history.”
He paused, warmth leeching from his expression. “I would like to honor him; but instead, I must condemn him. Guards! Seize the former Duke, Aldo Lestrade!”
“What?!” Aldo barked, writhing as guards seized his arms. Apparently well- briefed, the LOKI agents took care to seize Aldo’s prosthetic arm and immobilize it, lest he attempt to use the hidden laser pistol mounted within to assassinate the new Archon.
“It is my deepest regret,” Frederick turned to his audience, “that many of the charges leveled against Aldo Lestrade by his own son, and by our citizens in Skye, are true. Aldo Lestrade has nearly brought the great Lyran Commonwealth’s ship of state to ruin, but it is not too late save her!”
**********
“No…” Theodore breathed as the first real intelligence they’d received in four months updated the map in the command center’s massive holotank.
“No, this cannot be!”
“Tai-sho?”
Theodore Kurita rubbed his eyes with his hands, viewing for the first time the extent of the Clans’ invasion—not only into the Draconis Combine, but into Lyran space as well. Symbols for two dozen units were simply missing, others dotted the old border of the Dead Zone. Very few lay past, and several worlds pulsed blue: they were currently being invaded.
“The Hell’s Horses appear to have lost their direction.”
“Scout forces,” Theodore pointed out, “Searching for the outskirts of the Dead Zone.”
Proof positive of ComStar’s duplicity.
Theodore pointed at the map, “… We are deploying immediately.”
The other generals of the Legions of Vega regarded him as though he had lost his mind.
“Tai-sho, we have received no orders—”
“The main Hell’s Horses push is here.” Theodore explained. Were they really too blind to see?
“Is it not as you said earlier? Simply scout forces—”
“No.” Theodore growled.
The Hell’s Horses were poised to strike the Black Pearl itself! Luthien, the capital of the Draconis Combine! With the bulk of the Draconis Combine’s forces spread thin along the Dead Zone…
“We will not make it in time.”
**********
Combat Theater Vote 8
Alpha Keshik “Might Before Metal”
Alpha Galaxy “Stampede of Steel”
Omega Keshik “Hell’s Inferno”
Beta Galaxy “The Apocalypse”
The Hell’s Horses have launched an unexpected attack on Luthien, the capital of the Draconis Combine! Outnumbered and in dire straits, the Hell’s Horses stand poised to strike the head from the Dragon in a single decisive blow!
Northwind Highlanders
Although delayed by a visit to Tikonov, Chancellor Liao’s visit to the Northwind Highlanders is certain to arrive any day now…
1st Regulan Hussars
With the Free Worlds League’s morale crumbling in the face of a war that has seen no victory in months, the elite Rolling Thunder Company of the 1st Regulan Hussars are all that stand between the Capellans and total victory.
Solaris VII: “Under New Management”
With Mechwarriors of Skye looking to make a name for their nation against the best House Steiner has to offer, will the Capellans continue hold the Medium-weight championship, or will the vengeful Mechwarriors of House Marik stand to oppose them?
Combat Theater Vote 8:
A) Invasion of Luthien
B) Northwind Highlanders
C) 1st Regulan Hussars
D) Solaris VII: “Under New Management”