"Did it go well?"
"Very well. All four Vegan Legions looked superb," Theodore said, smiling with pride. "I had not expected such parade-ground precision from them. They may no longer be the dregs of our military, but they are still soldiers of the line. A parade is not something they find enjoyable."
"They are fanatically loyal to you, Theodore. They would do nothing to shame you before the Coordinator."
Theodore shrugged, but Constance knew that he was proud that his legions were strong, and honored that they should express such depth of loyalty to him. She could feel it in his kishell and see it in his elaborate casualness.
"The insurrection on Tai-shoRentoshi's homeworld seems serious," Theodore offered in an apparent change of subject. His facial expression lost its lightness and his manner became more businesslike. "The Coordinator granted him permission to attend to it. His first Sword of Light regiment is to accompany him."
"And the Seventh Sword of Light?" Constance prompted, well aware that the subject had never changed.
"They are to leave for training exercises on Daikoku's fourth moon tomorrow."
"The Coordinator has never been without at least one Sword Regiment on Luthien. Will he not override the order?"
"As Deputy for Military Affairs, I deem it necessary for the Seventh Sword to receive this training. Their last missions in such an environment were years ago and they have not had any refreshers on the peculiar tactical concerns of low-gravity operations. Everything has been done according to proper form. Their orders will appear on the weekly update in three days."
"Too late for the Coordinator to object."
Theodore nodded. "Besides, there is no need to keep them here while we have four full regiments of BattleMechs."
"YourLegions. With the Coordinator's favored regiments gone from the planet."
"Surely a coincidence," Theodore stated, deadpan. "I expect that matters will proceed in such a way that the Sword regiments will be needed elsewhere for some time to come. Even the Seventh Sword's recent low-gravity training is likely to be useful."
"Requiring them to leave the system."
Theodore nodded again. "It's a painless, non-violent way to remove the Coordinator's loyal troops from Luthien. The Director is justifiably concerned that such supporters might not understand what is to come. It'll be far simpler if my father has no troops immediately available to him. He has become erratic since his illness. Subhash -samais pleased with the plan."
"Director Indrahar is well-pleased with you now, but he will not be so happy when you act on the information I have given you."
"That is unavoidable. With the war against Davion looming closer, we must take drastic measures that will be unpopular in some circles. The spy-riddled ISF must be purged. It is imperative that the Dragon's next steps be hidden from our enemies. Davion must not learn of our technical gains, nor of our new forces. Already they know too much of our plans."
The ease with which the enemies of the Combine learned their secrets was frightening. Constance had observed the phenomenon during the recent war, but had been unable to do much about it. With the cessation of hostilities, she had set plans in motion. The Order hunted for evidence of spies within the Combine, while expanding its own undercover networks within the other powers of the Inner Sphere. In very short order, the effort was proving fruitful, as the new ventures meshed with slow-developing plans and made judicious use of deep-cover agents.
Theodore was correct that the safety of the Combine required a weakening of the ISF. Enemy spies had to be removed or neutralized and Indrahar might not be willing to let it happen. He was certainly devoted to preserving the safety of the Combine, but he was also a man obsessed with his own power. He was unlikely to surrender it easily. Indeed, she suspected that his concern with maintaining that power contributed to the blind eye he turned toward corruption within his organization.
"The Director will see this cleansing as an attempt to weaken him as you have weakened your father," she warned.
"He will understand."
"He will hate you."
Theodore looked pained. "He won't let hate blind him to necessity. Subhash will see that I do what must be done to preserve and protect the Dragon."
51
Unity Palace, Imperial City, Luthien
Pesht Military District, Draconis Combine
14 March 3034
Subhash Indrahar studied Hassid Ricol as the Duke entered the room. Ricol looked tired, worn by the trials of the last few years. His forces and estates had suffered greatly during the recent fighting, now widely known as the Fourth Succession War. The Duke's private army had fought well in the Combine's counterattacks against the invaders, but they were unable to stop the Steiner juggernaut. It was not because of his limited success in the field that he was present at this impromptu meeting of the council of Warlords, however. Normally, a civilian noble would not be invited to such a meeting, but Kanrei Theodore Kurita, initiator of the meeting, had summoned him.
Only three of the Tai-shu,or warlords, were present: Cherenkoff, Shotugama, and Chi. Absent were Sorenson of Rasalhague and Marcus Kurita. Marcus had pleaded insufficient time to reach Luthien, as he was engaged in a tour of units stationed along the Periphery border. ISF monitors had pinpointed the origin of Marcus's message: Alshain, a world far from the Periphery and not even in Marcus's own district of Pesht. Subhash did not yet know Marcus's motive, but he knew that it was likely some new intrigue for the Coordinator's throne. Alshain was in the Rasalhague District. Perhaps Marcus's intrigue involved the other missing Warlord as well.
Subhash had no time to consider the possibility, because the Coordinator swept into the room. Takashi called the meeting to order, barely waiting until he had limped to his seat before signaling his son to begin. Theodore acknowledged the brusque wave with a polite bow.
"Ohayo,gentlemen. The Coordinator wishes us to be brisk with this morning's business, and I agree. Our guest is not cleared for the Black Room, but Director Indrahar has certified this room to be safe. You may speak freely.
"Yesterday, Haakon Magnusson declared himself Prince of the Free Rasalhague Republic, claiming rulership of most of the Rasalhague District," Theodore stated calmly. "As important as this news is, it is not why we have met today. I have ..."
Takashi rose from his seat, fury contorting his face. His chair crashed explosively to the floor, scarring the high polish of the intricate parquet. His eyes were wild as he shouted, "Rebellion will not be tolerated!"
"We shall crush the ingrates," Vasily Cherenkoff echoed. "Say the word, Tono,and my Dieron Regulars will smash the traitorous dogs."
Theodore raised his voice to cut through Cherenkoff's bluster, but there was no anger in his tone. "Negotiations concerning the disposition of the Rasalhague District have been underway for some time."
"Sorenson will not allow this," Takashi declared, slamming his fist into the table. "He is loyal to the Combine! Loyal to me!"
"He is dead," Ricol informed the Coordinator.
The Coordinator snapped his jaw shut.
"He stood in the way of the Dragon," Theodore observed.
Subhash considered Theodore's words. The Kanrei had informed the ISF of his plans regarding Rasalhague, but there had been no mention of assassinations. Even Ninyu had told Subhash nothing, and he was Theodore's most likely candidate to do the job. This was a new and interesting view of the boy Subhash had shepherded through childhood. The Theodore he knew so well would never countenance assassination as a political tool. What other surprises does he have today?Subhash wondered.