OBT Forum

Imperial Palace, Imperial City
Luthien, Draconis Combine
December 20, 3037

“Ah, Theodore,” Takashi Kurita growled as he rose from his seat behind the polished desk of teak, trimmed in jade.  “My Gunji-no-Kanrei answers my summons swiftly.”

Theodore bowed low.  “As Lord Kurita commands, I obey, Father.”

“It was not always so, my son,” Takashi whispered.  And then he sat back down at his desk, gesturing towards a chair.  “I have received a . . . most unusual communication, and I would have your thoughts on it.”

The younger samurai did not speak, but he only bowed his slightly, and Takashi nodded.  “Would that you always had the sense to realize that sometimes words only get in the way of more important matters.”  The Coordinator of the Draconis Combine pressed a button hidden beneath the edge of the desk and dark blinders lowered over the windows, the lights growing dim; a holographic projection shimmered into existence and froze.

Theodore Kurita swallowed heavily, because the figure depicted within that hologram was none other than Jamie Wolf—the man who had provoked the Dragon into ruinous action at Misery, Glenmora, Harrow’s Sun, Wapakoneta, and Crossing.  The man his father hated above all others in the entire universe—even above Hanse Davion.

“Hai!” chuckled Takashi.  “You see now why I asked you here.  ComStar delivered this message in less than twenty-four hours.  Our friend has also informed me that a similar message was sent to Atreus.  Observe, my son.”

The projection began to play and Wolf’s image bowed low—a perfect and precise bow held for exactly the correct amount of time.  “Lord Kurita,” the image said, “I once swore that the next time I spoke to you would be at the moment of your death; I am casting that now aside.  Not because I do not hate you for what you did to Minobu Tetsuhara, or what you tried to do to my Dragoon’s, but because I find that I . . . must request your assistance, Lord Kurita.”

Theodore sucked in his breath, but he didn’t say a word.

“A storm is rising, Lord Kurita.  It is a storm which threatens not only your realm, but all of the Inner Sphere.  Kerensky’s children are coming home.”  Jamie paused and he nodded sharply.  “I am one of them, sent here to provide recon data for my people prior to their Invasion.  I long since changed my allegiances to that of the Inner Sphere, but my people are coming, Lord Kurita.  With might of arms not seen since the Fall of the Star League.”

“I have information to share with you, with First Prince Davion, with Archon Steiner, with Captain-General Marik, and with Chancellor Liao.  Alone, none of us will survive the coming tsunami; together we might prevail.”  The holographic image knelt before the camera recording this.  “My people have a custom called surkairede, the rite of forgiveness.  I put aside my hatred, my oath of vengeance against you, Lord Kurita, and I ask that we might forgive each other.  If the Dragon stands with us in defense of the Inner Sphere, we may prevail.  If not, we are each destined to become slaves to their might.”

“On March 30th of 3038, I hope that you and your son Theodore will meet with me, the Primus of ComStar, and the other four leaders of the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere on the planet Northwind, Lore Kurita.  I beg of you to lay aside, for now, your anger; because we need you and we need your samurai to have a fighting chance at life and freedom.  I have included in this transmission a small briefing paper on the Clans of Kerensky, as my former people are known.”  Jamie Wolf stood.

“I grant you my word, that you, your son, and your retinue will have safe conduct to this meeting of the Great Houses, and on your return home.”

The transmission ended.

Theodore considered the information given in the transmission; he collected and ordered his thoughts and Takashi remained silent until his son looked up.  “It could be a trap, Father, but what if it is not?”

“Hai.  Walk with me in the gardens, my son.” Takashi said as he stood and slowly walked to the door.  Theodore followed the old man out into the corridor and down a flight of stairs, then through a pair of double doors that opened upon a serene garden, filled with cherry trees full of blossoms, the gurgling of running water, the chirps of birds in all their varied splendor of plumage.  The son followed the father in silence as Takashi ambled through the garden slowly, listening and inhaling the scents, enjoying the sight of the blossoms set loose upon the wind as a breeze wafted down past the stone walls.

“How many Coordinators have walked in this garden, seeking answers to questions of honor and giri, my son?  It was giri, duty, which kept me focused on being a Coordinator instead of a husband, a father.  And in the process, I did not see the boy become a man.  A fine, fine man,” Takashi said as he laid one hand on Theodore’s shoulder.

“If it is a trap, we will face it as Kuritas,” the Coordinator said with conviction.  “If Wolf speaks the truth, however, we must prepare for in that case, all the conflicts we have waged in the past will be that of children playing at being soldier.”

“Regardless, Theodore, you and I must come to terms.  If there is war coming, I cannot fight it.  I cannot lead our armies into battle.  That role will fall to you.  I will unite the Combine and exhort them to remember our honor and our history—but it must you who wields my sword.”

Takashi paused.  “Could this be another scheme by the Fox to draw our attention away?  Another wedding on Terra?”

“I do not believe so, Father,” answered Theodore.  “There have no movements of troops towards our borders—either in the Suns or the Commonwealth.  Our agents have reported no increase in logistical efforts—if it is a scheme, it is a bold one.”

“Hai.  The Fox has always been bold and he has been a gambler upon occasion.  No, if he were aiming a blow at us, there would be units already in motion.  We shall attend this gathering on Northwind—convey that response to Jamie Wolf with my voice.  We will depart in a few weeks time—make what preparations you need, my son.”

Theodore bowed low and he turned to leave his father as the old man reached out his hand plucked a cherry blossom from the closest tree.

Divide and you will be able to rule (old Blake's wisdom  )

Just a small mistake, it is Jaime Wolf and not Jamie Wolf.

Waterly was always a blessing to the Clans. Pretty much ever action she took (other than letting Frederick have his head on Tukayyid) since their arrival has done nothing but help them. It's that very idea that led me to a long-forgotten AU, where ComStar was directly complicit with the Clans.

She makes Hitler and Stalin look sane and compassionate

War Room, Celestial Palace, The Forbidden City
Sian, Capellan Confederation
January 17, 3038

“What is so urgent it could not wait until morning?” Romano Liao asked as she stormed into the deeply buried bunker under the Palace Complex.

Senior Colonel Martin Golan bowed deeply.  “I beg your forgiveness, Celestial Wisdom.  Hostile forces have entered the Sian system and will in position to begin landing operations in forty-two minutes.”

“WHAT FORCES?” Romano thundered.

“We have confirmation on the 1st and 2nd Kearny Highlanders, Marion’s Highlanders, and McCormack’s Fusiliers—it appears that all four Regiments of the Northwind Highlanders have returned, Celestial Wisdom.”

“New transponder identities confirmed,” announced one of the technicians.  “Alpha Regiment of Wolf’s Dragoons; Black Widow Battalion, Wolf’s Dragoons; Zeta Battalion, Wolf’s Dragoons; 1st St. Ives Lancers; 2nd St. Ives Lancers; St. Ives Cheveau Legers; Devon’s Armored Cavalry; Shepard’s Mounted Fusiliers; the Blackwind Lancers; Justina’s Cuirassiers,” the technician ended and he noted the stunned silence in the room and added just two words, “Celestial Wisdom.”

Romano looked over the frightened men and women within the room with disgust.  “So, my sister has decided to try and take away my throne, has she?” she whispered.  “Colonel Golan; you will send the planetary defense forces to their highest state of alert.  I want these traitors under fire from the moment they arrive in orbit to the time they draw their final breath.”

“I have already sent the alert on my own initiative, Celestial Wisdom,” he said with a deep bow.

“Did you?” the Chancellor purred.  “Perhaps I will let you live after all, Colonel Golan.  Now defend my capital.”

She turned on her heel and exited to where her paramour Tsen Shang waited.  He fell in lockstep with her as she pressed on into the palace complex.  “That fool will never hold Candace back,” she whispered.

“Shall I remove him?”

“No.  Candace is a whore but she is no fool.  She has stripped her realm bare to bring this much force against me—Sian cannot hold.  We will utilize the final solution.”

Tseng grinned as kept pace with her.  “I have experts who will swear upon their last that it was Candace who detonated the device.”

“Good.  Let us gather the children and board the DropShip.  When these troops take Sian we will destroy them and the capital—and then we can rebuild.  Fire cleanses all, Tseng.”

“Yes, Celestial Wisdom,” he said as the two of them reached the nursery.  Romano gasped, and then she smiled at the sight which awaited.  Her daughter’s latest puppy swayed back and forth on the end of long wire attached to the ceiling; one paw kicking reflexively, although it was certainly dead.

“KALI!” she screeched, and the little girl came running; she stopped before her mother and curtseyed, as her older brother—all of six—followed at a safe distance.  “Kali, did you hang your bitch Candace again?”

“Yes, Mother,” she answered.  And Romano smiled.  “Good girl,” she said and she hugged her daughter.  “Come children, we must make haste.”

**************************************************************************

Adjacent to the palace there was a hidden silo, and within that silo a fast Seeker-class DropShip.  The faceless guards with their mirrored visors snapped to attention as Romano, Shang, and the children passed.  This ship was kept here, ready to launch on a moment’s notice at her command; it waited for precisely this event.  The ramp retracted and the doors sealed behind the Chancellor as she boarded and she crossed over the elevator that led to her mobile command center.

In seconds the car halted and the doors opened; she stepped out onto the tiles of polished wood that covered the deck surface and keyed the intercom.  “This is the Chancellor.  Lift off and take us to the rendezvous, Captain.”

But there was no answer.  Romano frowned, and then her chair—her throne—slowly turned around to reveal Candace Liao sitting there, holding a sub-machine gun in her lap.

“Hello, sister,” Candace said.

“So, the invasion is a distraction—while you crawl in like a thief to assassinate me,” Romano spat.

“Surrender, Romano; you cannot win.”

“But I can, dear sister.  I am willing to die for my beliefs,” she said as one hand darted out and hit a hidden button—but nothing happened.

“I disconnected your detonator to the suicide nuke you had stashed away, Romano,” Candace quietly said.  “And there are no intact comms aboard this ship for you transmit your command for The Forbidden City to burn.”

“I have only but to yell, and my guards will be here atop of you, Candace.”

“Really?  Please yell, Romano.”

Romano’s consort gave an inarticulate cry and he clawed for his holster, but a ruby beam of laser energy tore through his chest from behind a screen.  And Justin Xiang Allard-Liao stepped into the light.

“Do you spread your legs for Hanse Davion as well, Candace?” Romano spat, fingering the hilt of the dagger hidden up her sleeve.

“It is good to see you, Romano,” Justin said.  “Don’t worry; this will all be over very shortly.  And your children will be raised by proper human beings instead of soulless monsters.”

“My children, Justin?  You will never corrupt my innocent children,” Romano spat and the knife slid into her hand, slicing Sun-Tzu along the forearm as the Chancellor grabbed Kali and held the blade at her throat.  She smiled as she slit her daughter’s throat from ear-to-ear, as Justin stared in horror, shock keeping him from firing.  Candace noticed that young Sun Tzu was frothing at the mouth, and he started going into convulsions on the floor.

“Poison.  How so like you Romano; if you cannot win you will destroy the game.”

“They were my brats—I have the right to determine their fate.”

Candace raised the SMG and slid off the safety.  “Not anymore, sister.  Good bye,” she finished as she tightened her finger on the trigger and the weapon barked, dozens of bullets riddling Romano Liao until she lay in a pool of blood.

The new Chancellor dropped the weapon and she thumbed a switch on her chair.  “Establish communications with Colonel Golan, Captain.  Let’s see if they still want a fight.  I will be ont he bridge momentarily.”

“By your command, Celestial Wisdom,” her commando’s voice came back from the bridge of the ship.

Candace sat back, and she gazed upon the bodies of her dead sister, her dead nephew, her dead niece.  “Justin, make certain the guards take proper care of the bodies,” she said as she stood.

“Of course, Candace,” he whispered as his wife, the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation walked out through the hatch and made her way towards the bridge.

I just had a thought, would not a ship representing all the Clans carry an SLS designator?

Strangely enough, each of the books I just checked, the SLS McKenna's Pride is only ever referred to as the McKenna's Pride, so perhaps their is no overall Clan level designation.

Checked Wars of Reaving, Warriors of Kerensky and Betrayal of Ideals.