"You have given him little chance to know the court here on Luthien."
"It is not safe. There are too many intrigues, too many unscrupulous villains who would dupe him into their treasonous plots as he was duped in Rasalhague."
"He is not a boy anymore, my friend," Subhash ventured. "He needs to learn how to survive here at court."
"He needs to rid himself of his battlefield fantasies first," Takashi snapped with sudden heat. "The only communications I receive from him are wild plans for the conquest of the Lyran Commonwealth and curt refusals to consider any woman I suggest as a suitable wife. The reports from Marfix show him to be content with pretending he is in command of soldiers, happy to play with his concubine. After all these years, he still does not understand the demands of the realm."
"Those demands are great indeed, Tono,"Subhash said in a placatory manner.
There was little else he could do. Takashi still refused to accept that Theodore would never be the man the Coordinator wanted him to be. Certainly the heir could be guided, but not with Takashi's strong-arm tactics. The Coordinator's pigheadedness was itself a threat to the continuity of the House Kurita's rule, and therefore to the Draconis Combine. But Subhash knew that open opposition to Takashi would only weaken his own position and make it harder for him to protect the Combine.
The Draconis Combine stood in increasing peril. It needed the undivided attention of its Coordinator, and Subhash intended that nothing would prevent that.
"Have you read my reports, Tono?"he asked, doffing his armor.
"Yes. This morning," Takashi replied, removing his own do."You are sure this Davion adventure is over?”
“It would seem so."
For most of the past three months, there have been massive troop movements along the Davion border. Ten Battle-Mech regiments and a hundred conventional units had been involved in something called Operation Galahad. It had not turned out to be the beginnings of a war, as Subhash had feared. Only a few minor raiding forces had crossed into Combine space. House Davion had gone to great expense "to demonstrate the Federated Suns' preparedness to repel hostile invaders." He knew that Prince Hanse Davion, whom many called "the Fox," must have something more in mind, but his ISF agents had so far come up empty.
Takashi finished arranging his armor on its stand and headed for the showers. Subhash followed, willing to let Takashi determine the conversation's next step. They had washed away the sweat from their exercise and begun dressing before Takashi spoke again.
"Your assessment of our allies is uninspiring."
"I do not report strength where there is none. If Prince Davion starts a war, we should not expect much of our Kapteyn allies."
They both knew that the lack of reliable allies was a serious weakness. A man of vision could no longer ignore the ever-stronger alliance between the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth, the Combine's bitterest enemies. Any sane ruler would fear such a combination.
"We must be strong if the Fox decides we are his prey," Takashi stated.
"Our strength increases. The Ryuken experiment has proven its worth. I recommended expansion."
"That seems reasonable," Takashi conceded. Subhash knew that the Coordinator would not make a final decision until after he consulted the Warlords, but Takashi seemed inclined to take the step.
"They and the Genyosha will become very important if Wolf's Dragoons cannot be retained."
"Yes, the Dragoons. Your report was not specific. What is the real situation there?"
"Our plans are in motion, Tono.Their debt increases daily, and we prepare in case they do not fall to the 'company-store' ploy. Where the Dragoons fail to provide us with material for blackmail, I have arranged to manufacture it. We have been fortunate in finding a most convincing Natasha Kerensky."
Takashi nodded solemnly as he slipped into the simple soldier's jumpsuit he affected on military occasions.
"I do not want the Dragoons to leave the Combine," he stated firmly.
"I will convey your wishes to our agents, Tono."
"In the meantime, we must attend to the more pressing business of the Combine's strategy for the coming year."
"Indeed, Tono,"Subhash agreed, pleased that, for the moment, Takashi had forgotten his problems with his son. Now the Coordinator would apply his considerable wiles to important problems. "The Warlords await you."
"Then let us get to work."
Subhash was even more pleased at the resolution in Takashi's voice. His own work had been successful. As they started for the main building of the palace, he said, "Allow me to precede you, Tono.It would be better if the Coordinator were not seen to favor the ISF over the Warlords by arriving in the company of the Director."
"As usual, my friend, you are right."
Indrahar bowed and proceeded across the court, satisfied that Takashi was well-prepared to meet with his Council.
19
Legion of Vega HQ, Massingham, Marfik
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
11 December 3027
The red banner snapped in the stiff breeze. Rattling pulleys caught Theodore's attention, drawing his eyes to the Legion's symbol boldly emblazoned on the flag. The scruffy, cigarette-smoking rat, seated in front of the red disk, returned his gaze with the serene indifference of the two-dimensional.
"Another fine day under Takashi's eyes," Theodore mused to the massive man at his side.
Olivares rubbed at his scar with a grimy finger before responding. "The rat ain't got no eyes, Sama."
"That seems to have been a problem all my life."
Olivares' face contorted into a grimace of confusion as he shook his head slowly. "You is fine in the field, sama,but sometimes you sure do talk strange."
Theodore chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Olivares -kun. Hadn't you best get down to the landing field? The DropShip with our new recruits is due within the hour."
"Recruits?" the big man rumbled as he walked off in the direction of the landing field. "That's a good joke."
Theodore listened to the Sho-sa'slaughter fade into the distance. Almost three years on Marfik, and he still didn't understand Olivares' sense of humor. But that seemed only fair; neither did the Sho-saever seem to grasp the ironies that Theodore perceived in existence.
Marfik was a fine world, an unlikely dumping ground for the refuse of the Combine military. It was a far pleasanter posting than Vega, where the Legion's other two regiments were stationed.
Theodore gazed past the city of Massingham at the distant forest of brella trees, a magnificent sight to start a morning. Thirty meters of massive, naked trunk rose from the leaf-mold of the forest floor before the branches began, arching out and interlacing in an intricate web. Those limbs were bare now, but when spring came, their deep blue leaves would cast the forest into deep shadow, making it a bewildering maze for those who did not know the paths. The forest was a wonder, one of the many on this pleasant world.
Refreshed, Theodore mounted the steps to the one-room hut ostentatiously labeled "Comanding Oficer." The misspelling did not bother him; the sign was a gift from his officers and he treasured the respect it signified. He entered the office to find Ninyu Kerai stretched out on the faded couch, feet propped up on the radio table. Ninyu appeared to be asleep, hat pulled low over his eyes, but Theodore knew better.
"Must you adopt their slovenly habits?"