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Beyond Hope
- Chapter 66 - Prelude to the Storm[]
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Guests Arrive[]
Zenith Jump Point
Kowloon System, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
Nha Tranh time, 18:00 Star League Universal (GMT)
"This is the Jade Falcon ship Turkina's Pride, requesting entry into the system. We are carrying a pennant. Do you copy, System Control?"
<<”We read you, Turkina’s Pride. Do you require ferry service?”>>
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Black Lion II Class Battlecruiser, CJF Turkina's Pride
Star Admiral Patricia Von Jankmon looked to her Khan.
Khan Marthe Pryde nodded, "Aff."
"Yes, Port Control, we do request passage on the Ferry system for Kowloon under the present Star League Accord, Over."
<<"Roger that, Turkina's Pride. Stand by forty minutes, in-system Ferry is en-route. Port Control Out.">>
"Will it be a warp ship then?" Khan Karianna Schmitt asked.
"Neg. See-?"
Forty minutes out by dropship, a slender Jump-core with barely any thrust capacity and a long row of docking collars slaved to a minimalist core, slid into being on a wave of neutrinos and heat.
"They updated the ferries, quiaff?" Marthe directed this to Loremaster Kael Pershaw. "I do not recognize that configuration."
"It is a local design, they placed the crew module and the engine together on one end with the sail assembly, and then just extended the docking gantry along the core. Roshak's reports indicated this was done to ease maintenance and distinguish the short-ranged core from conventional cores being produced on merchant designs."
“He has served his Clan well. I will have to think on how to reward him for that. Of course, the difficulty is that I still require him here for the time being,” Marthe nodded.
A dropship separated from the gantry, and that one, at least, was the unusual thruster-less design.
"Security is tighter. That is a Silver Streak patrol ship, not a transport."
“Then we shall have to be observant.” Marthe smirked.
<<"Turkina's Pride, this is Kowloon Ferry Service Baker's Wings. We've got an open collar if you want to send a dropship, Over?">>
“Aff. Sending over Falcon Wing Oh One.”
The trip was uneventful, a standard docking transfer. It was almost boring how routinely and professionally it was done.
The jump was likewise uneventful, though appearing directly in Kowloon's orbit amid a gantry assembly of dampener/polarizers was new.
"They make a lot of use of the Steiner-Davion device." Khan Barbara Sennet observed.
"Aff, and it is even sensible. That cut the transit by hours," Marthe noted. "It is also an active system, which means it must be anticipated before it is active, an invader can not use it without local cooperation."
“Information or psychological warfare could be used.” Kael observed.
"Aff," Sennet nodded. "But consider how extensively it would NEED to be used, and how lacking in the necessary subtlety most opponents in this end of Lyran space…Star League...are. The station itself is a flex- 'look what we can do and how fine our control is'."
“Aff,” Kael nodded. “There is no denying it.”
“We are already outmatched…” Ariel Suvarov noted. “We are too far behind now.”
"Are we really?" Marthe asked. "I wonder on that score. Yes, technical marvels abound, and they have made great strides… Yet they do not leverage that into conquest, so I wonder. And we will learn something here, I think… aff, we will."
“They do not have to leverage it for conquest, at least not in a form we would recognize. What it represents is an ability to mobilize a superior population and industrial base to make us irrelevant. If we unified and put all our Technicians, Laborers, and Merchants to the task of trying to replicate this, yes we could, but by the time we did? They will be onto their next discovery.”
"Replicate? Neg," Marthe said. "We would need to exceed this, not merely copy it…and I think we might yet do that, eventually."
“Why you need Roshak and Icaza to remain at the University,” Kael nodded.
"One must know what one must exceed, to reach further," Marthe said almost-happily. "As it is, we are invited to discuss something more martial. We are not as irrelevant as it would seem."
“And having Warriors who actually understand the tools at their disposal will change the dynamic of Clan warfare,” Khan Sennet nodded.
"Crimson Shadow Road indicates that dynamic must change," Marthe noted. "Even if they are working to make it irrelevant, the fact that they managed to construct a supply line with a delay of days where our best efforts during Revival still resulted in a delay of months, and theirs allowed them to counter-invade the Homeworlds with enough force to make their presence a fact of life, not a novel event."
“Aff. On that point we are most certainly agreed,” Ariel granted.
Their dropship detached, and cruised into a traffic pattern, coming down on the Ia Drang Plateau smoothly in a new spaceport. One with the kind of facilities even Strana Mechty lacked, including multilevel docking concourses and built-in cooling fountains.
The assortment of Khans, saKhans, and Loremasters filed off the Dropship.
Waiting for them was an honor guard from their embassy on world.
Nathan Roshak was in the lead position.
“Welcome to Kowloon, my Khan.”
"You have gained weight, Nathan Roshak, and is that gray I see?" Marthe teased.
Roshak laughed, "More than a little gray, I fear. Turning forty has not been entirely kind to me."
"Forty already? How time flies," Marthe noted. "Have you arranged suitable accommodations?"
Nathan shrugged. "I have secured a compound for the Clan. The Kaminsky Farm on the outskirts of Ia Drang was for sale, and our Clan… Well, you, approved the purchase."
“So I did. A shame our Embassy has insufficient accommodations for all of us at the same time. But it might be wise if we were not all in the same building at the same time anyway. The trip nearly frayed some nerves and re-ignited some old rivalries.” Marthe granted.
"There are others here to greet you." Nathan gestured up the concourse.
"Lead on."
Meeting of Clans and Kowloonians[]
Drop Port
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
Helena recognized Marthe Pryde from Coventry, though she looked less harried now, and far more at ease.
"Huh." Liz leaned on her cane next to the First Lord. "Thought they'd be… dunno… taller?"
“I don’t see one of them under two meters. That seems pretty tall to me. So, you going to tell me what’s up with the cane?”
"Prop," Liz said quietly. "It's part of the image now. Has been since I was a teenager."
“Theater. That I get.” Helena held up her gloves with one hand as she adjusted her uniform jacket with the other.
"Also, I twisted my knee in the shower," Liz admitted. "It's healing, but the doctors were pretty clear I needed to go easy on it."
“As long as that’s what it is, Liz. If there’s something more to it you can tell me. I’m not the delicate flower I used to be.”
"No worries, Helena. Let's go meet the psychotic barbarians."
“Yeah. Think calm thoughts, happy thoughts. Don’t cause an incident by punching one in the face,” Helena said as a mantra.
They walked towards the group with their own entourage of escorts.
“Khan Pryde,” Helena said as they closed to conversational distance.
“It has been a while, Lady Cameron,” Marthe bowed her head.
"My companion is your hostess, Her Grace, the sovereign Duchess of Kowloon and the Kowloon system, Elizabeth Ngo-Steiner-Davion," Helena introduced Elizabeth.
"Somehow, I imagined you would look more… unhinged," Marthe said.
"My reputation does precede me, doesn't it?" Liz smirked.
"The mad scientist? Aff… And your reputation as 'Duchess Headshot'." Marthe said somewhat cheerfully.
"Wow, they didn't spare the details," Liz said. "I imagined you'd be… taller? More like a holovid star."
“According to DBC, the Falcon OZ is number three in regions watching your biopic,” Helena commented with a glance at Liz.
"The actress overacted in the shower scene. I didn't scream," Liz commented. "I was kind of in shock after being shot, not wailing. It's hard to wail when you've got a lung full of water and blood."
“Supposedly, the new version coming out later this year is going to fix that,” Helena offered cheerfully.
“Ahem,” Marthe reminded them that this was an official meeting, not gossip time.
“Apologies, Khan Pryde. Please, follow us. With so many people, we’re going to have quite the motorcade. Traffic analysis experts say the delays we’re causing securing the route just for today will cause aberrant traffic patterns that will not return to normal for three weeks. So perhaps we should conclude introductions at the meeting,” Helena offered.
“Aff,” Marthe nodded.
Task of Peace Keeping[]
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
More Clans had shown up than Helena expected. She had to wind up making it a blanket invite rather than to just the Clans she would have preferred.
“Gathered Khans, saKhans, and Loremasters. Thank you for coming. I am humbled so many of you accepted my invitation.” Helena began.
“Your invitation was most intriguing. It was impossible to resist. Tell us what you desire from us,” Marthe probed.
“I need the SLDF. One of the guiding principles of the old SLDF was to act as peacekeepers in times of uncertainty. The Inner Sphere is currently in a period of uncertainty. A bad actor has instigated mass uprisings and fratricidal events,” Helena answered.
“You wish us to contribute our Toumans to this effort, quiaff?”
“No. Not your entire Toumans. A few clusters each. Perhaps a galaxy for some of the more populated worlds.”
“That is no small ask still.” Khan Sennet said.
“I know. But think of it. Those that agree would have the glory of honoring their SLDF roots in one of the most important missions the SLDF had. Not to mention, if you did decide to take advantage of this opportunity you’d be a lot closer to Terra than those who don’t.” Helena looked at each delegation in turn as she spoke.
“There will need to be some finer details that need to be worked out, as we need more than this. Practicality demands it,” Marthe spoke again.
“I’ve already got a whole week blocked off just for these meetings,” Helena smiled.
Assisting a Person in Need[]
After his duties seeing to the council of Khans had concluded, it was time for him to return to class at the university. Which had ended for the day not long ago.
So he decided to go to the gym.
He’d been allowing himself to gain weight after all, and he was still a Clan Trueborn Warrior.
So he made for the free weights.
As he started lifting, he saw an unusual sight.
A woman at one of the pull up racks with a wheelchair nearby.
Her form was… off.
“Your form is terrible.”
“I know. Thanks,” the woman hissed as she did another rep.
Nathan paused for a moment.
“Not used to seeing a cripple are you?” The woman was still clearly irritable, again doing another rep.
“No, I am not.” Nathan admitted.
“Well that’s why my form is crap. I can’t properly control my legs. And I need to work on my upper body strength so I can stop having to have someone else help me with my sanitary needs.”
“Then why are you not in physical therapy?” Nathan asked.
“It’s too slow,” the woman frowned. “Shit. My wheelchair moved on me.”
“Allow me.” Nathan steadied her with one arm while he grabbed the wheelchair with the other and moved it under her.
“I could have handled it.”
“Without falling and aggravating your condition?”
The woman looked away, her face reddening.
“I am Nathan Roshak of Clan Jade Falcon. There is no shame in asking for assistance while you heal.”
“It’s humiliating.”
“Humiliation is a temporary condition. Stubborn pride can have far more lasting effects.” Nathan countered.
“Not bad. Still angry with you for butting in.”
“Tell me your name, then perhaps I can figure out a way to make up for my transgression.”
“Hauptman Sean MacIntyre. AFFC. On extended medical leave to undergo experimental therapy to correct injuries sustained in battle,” Sean replied reflexively.
“A soldier,” Nathan nodded. “What role?”
“MechWarrior. Though that might be in doubt now. Even if this therapy works, I might get a medical discharge.” Sean didn’t know why she was opening up so much to a stranger, especially one she was mad at moments ago.
“Not a native of this world then. They do not know the word ‘quit’. Well they do, just not in this context. Their educational system is quite superb.”
Sean tried to swing a right hook at Nathan but being wheelchair bound he was able to easily evade it.
“So you do have some spirit left. Good. I have decided that is how I shall make my recompense. I shall hone your body and spirit until your legs do function. I will not always be ‘nice’, but you will walk again.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Sean said as she started to wheel away.
“I will be here at the same time tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll have to change what time I come to the gym.” Sean wheeled out of the gym.
Working out the Details[]
"A world… not entirely tamed. No trophy?" the Khan asked.
"It would be difficult to take one that is in any sane way safe from the creature," Morgan Icaza explained. "The Broward Beast's evolution must have been truly remarkable, since it seems to violate any number of stable patterns in evolution."
“Could someone have guided its evolution?”
"Some of the locals think so," Morgan allowed. "Of course, such speculations are treated as loose conspiracy theories by the majority of the population, including most of the leaders. They are consistent only in asserting the creatures were here when the first colonists landed, and could not have been engineered by human hands."
“I see. So either someone came before the first colonists and played god, then left. Which I find unlikely. Or the beasts developed in such a way as to challenge our ideas of evolution.”
"I chose to make a study of a few. They are antisocial, not merely asocial. They actively pursue one another to death after reaching the first molt." Morgan flicked the screen, "After which, it eats, it grows, it goes dormant for a while, then goes active, stripping an area of animal life and some plant life, before going dormant again. I believe 'mating' occurs in the pre-adult or late adolescent stages. But the fertilized eggs remain dormant until the mother… dies. Then, just like the locals believe, the young eat their way out, disperse, grow for a while, and then hunt one another until there is only one left in a given territory." He clasped his hands. "That pattern is not consistent with most animal life…. and neither is this.
The imagery changed. "Is that..?"
"Somewhere between animal, and fungal? Aff, animal cells incorporating fungal structures at the level of the DNA molecule, three strands instead of two. Nothing else on the planet shares this architecture, or has a similar life cycle. Very few animals native to Kowloon can metabolize it. Thus, why I say it breaks evolutionary rules."
“The sheer distance of Kowloon still makes it highly improbable someone engineered this creature. Unless you are suggesting there is another intelligence at work here?”
"I can not say. I can only show you what I have. There are a handful of lifeforms that have evolved digestive processes that can handle those triple-strand DNA molecules. Fursnakes, some of the insectoid predators, particularly the locally termed 'army ant'. And a maritime predator called a 'Brassfish' that competes for the same territory.”
“Truly alien biology is not completely unheard of. We have many native species in the Homeworlds that share no links with Terran life, and have their own peculiarities.”
"Aff, but it is interesting. Did you know the Kowloonese imported Killer Whales?"
“Aff. We were invited on a whale watching tour. Their adaptation to local conditions has resulted in a small number of very subtle differences from their ancestors,” Khan Sennet answered.
"Do you know why?" Morgan asked. "Because it is actually quite amusing, Khan Sennet."
“Something about controlling a local creature’s population.”
"Not a local creature. You see, the Rim Worlds imported a genetically modified White Shark species, to put their 'stamp' on Kowloon when they conquered it during the Age of War. The Kowloonese imported Orcinus Orca to eradicate the imported Sharks, they did so as part of their agreement with General Kerensky to fight Amaris. As I said, quite amusing…this is the shark species they were intent on removing…" He brought up a faded historical slide.
Of a Diamond Shark, or something that could have been an ancestor of one.
"Amusing, right? The Snow Ravens used the reverse strategy against your Clan's ancestors."
“Savashri…” Khan Sennet curled her fist into a ball and squeezed in frustration.
"From my studies here, I speculate that the Sea Fox was a Sea-Lion analogue, based on structure and images. Part of why the Orcas have so many variations after only five hundred years, is that there were a vast number of ecological niches that were absent when they arrived."
“Why discuss this with us? Do you believe there is a link?”
"Conditions create psychology. Psychology is fundamental to understanding a Warrior's true capability, as well as understanding their motives and methods," Morgan explained. "Kowloon is inhabited, but not fully tamed. This world has dangerous predators, much as the Homeworlds do. It is isolated, much like the Homeworlds are. They adapted a different lifestyle from the rest of the Inner Sphere, much as our ancestors DID. There are parallels, possibly directions of commonality yet unexplored." He paused. "And their solutions were vastly different from ours. What drove that?"
“The debate of nature versus nurture. The often forgotten variable is environment,” Ariel noted.
"Aff." Morgan flipped the presentation to a scene most of them had already seen. "Example: Elizabeth Ngo, not yet married to Arthur Steiner-Davion, at fourteen, chose not to give the task of executing a traitor to someone else. Because she would not ask someone to do what she did not want to do. She did not want to do it, yet here she is, on live broadcast, doing a filthy and unpleasant task… For which, her people here rewarded her."
"Context, Morgan?" Khan Pryde asked.
"The context is the social norms of the rest of the Lyran Commonwealth, where 'important people do not get their hands dirty on tasks that lack glory'," Morgan clarified. "She is important, she gets her hands dirty. This is why they fought us so hard as soon as they came out of their isolation. It is the psychology of the place. I present it is so, in part, because of the environment their culture evolved in."
“Most interesting. I do believe you are on to something Morgan Icaza.” Ariel Suvarov was studying the projection. “Now, the question is how do we use this information to win.”
Morgan smiled thoughtfully. "First, define the win condition," he said. "That is a direct quote from Her Grace there. She sees every conflict in terms of motivations, of 'win conditions'. She interprets every action based on who benefits, how much, and at what risk."
“To not be rendered irrelevant. With as many of our traditions intact as possible,” Ariel said, offering the first two criteria.
"That is certainly a win condition she would acknowledge," Morgan nodded. "Relevance is a condition of victory. Tradition preservation is a condition of victory. These are things I have come to understand she acknowledges as valid… Her win conditions do not, actually, conflict with those. HERS are a threefold objective: a 'three P's contract' if you will. ‘Production, Prosperity, and Progress'. She defines 'peace' in a way I do not think clashes with OURS. That Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of Justice… A blind justice, one not hampered by sentiment or prejudice, but guided by fact and evidence."
“Sentiments often forgotten by those who come to power. Especially among the Traitor Lords,” Khan Sennet nodded.
Morgan glanced at Nathan Roshak, who shrugged, and stood. "I gathered information on her while we were here. Not from her friends. I sought out those who dislike her. The overwhelming view of those who least like their Duchess, is that she has no feelings, or does not have sufficient feelings. Terms like 'inhuman' and 'emotionless' come up frequently when her critics speak, at least, in private."
“Having been in a room with her I can attest that those impressions are incorrect. She has emotions. She is just very good at channeling them into certain actions and goals. Which may give that appearance, but is not the same thing at all,” Khan Pryde offered.
"Well, I was seeking out her enemies," Nathan said. "One might expect there is a bias there. Notably, Helena Cameron seems to have a great deal of affection for Duchess Ngo, which may attest to her more positive traits."
“Aff. Lady Cameron also believes us to be deserters and traitors. She harbors great resentment toward us for it,” Marthe nodded.
"Uhm… shit… you're guests, but ah, you're talking about my Duchess," an Orderly spoke from the doorway. "You also left the door open. You want to know what Her Grace is all about, you can []ask her[/i]. She will tell you. She might not use nice words, but she will tell you what she thinks if you ask her. See, her Grandmama was a Rockjack and her Grandfather raised her in her early years. And he broke three Lohengrin interrogation teams during five years as a political prisoner. So she has the Rokkajakkkah and the Kowloonese raising in her formative years… and here is lunch."
“Thank you. Apologies if we have been disruptive. Clan tradition dictates any Warrior be allowed to observe Council meetings if they so desire, so we have a tendency to leave doors open,” Nathan apologized.
The steward brought in a covered dish meal. "Not disruptive, but y'all are speculating all around the obvious like it's a secret." He uncovered the first course, and started distributing plates and silverware. "Her Grace doesn't see you as Deserters. She sees your ancestors that way. And really, if you found yourself abandoned in time of need by someone you counted on, how would you feel? The red tea is best for killing the burn from the spicing, if you need to…"
“Aff. It is a small but important distinction.” Marthe let her meal breathe for a moment.
"So how does she see us, in your view?"
"I have worked for Her Grace since she came back, doing odd jobs here and there, helping move her to her new quarters, serving guests. Her Grace sees you as potential customers, potential allies, and potentially dangerous enemies. And she sees no real conflict between those views, because she does not see the 'Clans' as a homogenous group. She sees you based on your actions, the actions you tolerate, and the actions you endorse. She's the reason grain ships went up the Crimson Road this year."
“But there is one aspect we all have in common she does take offense at. She does not like our practices when it comes to Trial by Combat, nor our handling of the other castes.”
"She sees it as, pardon my saying, 'grown adults hurling seventy ton warmachines at one another over who cut in the lunch line'. As for your Bondsman practice, that's cultural. The Rim Worlds Republic practiced Chattel Slavery, and used defeated populations, like ours, for forced labor and other, less savory exploitation. It's burned into us all. Some of us can see the distinction, but only because we bothered to study you from a distance without prejudice."
He poured a second cup for Khan Pryde, who'd drained her tea after only a few bites of the meal. "Her bigger issue is she thinks your economy is ridiculous. And mostly, she's concerned that when it implodes, there's going to be one hell of an armed mob coming down the Exodus Road looking for food."
“Aff. If we are to be a stable society, one of relevance, we must contemplate some changes to some of our practices when it comes to the other Castes in particular. It is a slow process that each of us is figuring out for ourselves and many have already started on.” Ariel studied her meal for a moment.
"The Cappies have 'castes'. Some of the regions in the FedSuns do too. And the Draconis Combine, not to mention the Principality of Regulus, still observes them even though they're illegal now. Her Grace is more concerned about your 'just in time production' model, work credit system, and what she terms your inability to prepare for hard times. She sees your entire society as living on borrowed time and poorly exploited resources."
"Poorly exploited?"
"Her Grace can clarify, Khan Suvarov," he said. "I'm just a member of staff."
A few moments later, Elizabeth Ngo came walking in, tapping her cane.
"Percival, I'll take it from here. Get back to your office. And next time, send someone from the wait-staff and stop defending me."
"Ayeh, Mum," he straightened and left.
"So… How are we going to supply your troops in the Sarna region?" Liz asked. "Because you lot did a crap job supplying your forces while you were invading us. I would as soon Helena's project actually succeeds."
"We took forty percent of the Lyran Commonwealth," Marthe reminded her.
"Yes, you did… and then got stopped. This job isn't that job. For one, you'll be SLDF, which means I'm obligated to support you. I signed on to the treaty when Victor cut us loose. That means I gave my word, and I do not have to like it, but I’m obligated to fulfill it."
“There are many items we will have to supply ourselves,” Marthe started.
"Yes, which is why I'm tasked with this," Liz said. "See, I worked out the math that made Crimson Shadow Road happen. I built most of the ships and most of the structures. I financed it, planned it, managed the operations that made it happen. Without that? The Smoked Jaguars would not have been smoked. It’s… my gig. I make supplies flow."
“Then the first question is how much are you going to charge us for the items you will be supplying and for the merchant shipping?” Khan Sennet asked.
"I'm being paid by the Star League," Liz explained. "Not by your clans, Khan Sennet. If I wanted to hurry you down the road to poverty, I'd be offering to cut you in on Gateway. Or selling you some of my husband's big science ideas without first doing the legwork so you can actually afford it. I don't gouge potential customers because they don't become repeat customers. I also don't defecate in my food supply for the same reason."
“But neither do you give away services for free. That is just bad business,” Khan Sennet countered.
"It ain't free, you're just not the ones paying the vig. First Lord Helena Cameron, and the Council of Lords are paying the fees. What THEY go to you for, is out of my control and probably can be negotiated down. If you have a good advocate who can do basic accounting. Word is, Falconbank is pretty sharp on investment strategy and absolutely rational about collections."
“Aff. Each of our Clans seem to have their own economic strength. Our banks, the Wolf’s sheer wealth, and the shrewd cunning of the Diamond Shark Merchant Factors. I am certain between us we will be able to make something equitable,” Marthe nodded.
"Well, first, we'll talk traffic to and from the Homeworlds along Crimson Road," Liz said. "You'll be using it, we'll still be maintaining it. I don't recommend picking fights unless you desperately want to go the slow route. Which has its attractions, like any roadside in the middle of nowhere. From there, your military forces will have several options with SLDF contractors. My main interest is making sure your goods get to your forces, without winding up in someone else's black market."
"What is 'Gateway'?" Ariel asked.
"Gateway is something we're building. It's intended to be a means to shorten transit times inside the Star League. And by doing so, stimulate the economy and solve some chronic under-employment and tax shortages."
“How short?” Khan Sennet perked up.
Liz winced, muttered "Not a secret" in Viet, and said, "Our test model moved a probe packet from just anti-spinward of here, to just spinward and rimward of the Federated Suns, in the Broken Wheel Region near Filtvelt. That's on the far side of the Inner Sphere… in about five minutes. A similar installation could move a larger load, from here to Strana Mechty in about the same amount of time. But we're still not sure it's completely safe yet, so it's still in the prototype phase."
“Savashri.” Ariel leaned back in her chair in shock.
Khan Sennet seemed to sit in silence for a moment, deeply concentrating on something.
“What would you wish for such an installation?” Khan Sennet finally stated.
"You can start by joining the Star League as a member," Liz said flatly. "Because I'm under rules. I can't sell the tech to someone who isn't."
“Not all costs are in currency,” Khan Sennet nodded.
"Part of the package is an industrial bootstrap package. We're running that in the Outworlds and Taurian Concordat, with partners working to boost the Magistracy and some of the Free Worlds League and Draconis Combine," Liz clarified. "So that's why it has to be a Star League member. I privately financed the initial research, but to get it to market required government level commitments. It's still damned expensive, and will be until we have enough producers going to lower the costs via efficiencies of scale."
"Industrial… bootstrap?"
"Yah, see, these are damned big installations still. So 'exclusivity' is a losing proposition. It's like when the Yanks built that canal between the Americas on Earth. If they tried to keep it exclusive, they'd have gone broke running it. In this case, building each installation is so resource intensive that it needs a local industrial base to build it and keep it profitable enough to operate it."
“Clan Goliath Scorpion is convinced. Though there are other matters we would like to negotiate with Kowloon directly, for they do not pertain to current Star League business,” Ariel was the first to speak.
"Mmmh… All right, we'll set up a time while you're here," Liz said. "Now, as to your supply situation… Lead time from the Homeworlds to the Inner Sphere is three weeks from Huntress to Point Alpha. From there, JumpShip chains can get your supplies to Sarna in about a week given wear and tear and the sheer number of ships involved."
“Clan Diamond Shark is also prepared to accept your terms. I can even give you our estimates for what we need a moment after I am given something to write with and upon,” Khan Sennet agreed next.
Elizabeth opened her briefcase, and passed over a Logging Pad and stylus. "The word processor on this one is old-Star League style, so you should have no problems using it."
“Aff. Our estimates and an opening bid of materials and technology for this ‘Gateway’ technology,” Khan Sennet quickly entered the data.
She also handed one to each of the other Khans.
“Any Clan that does not sign on to this will be left behind by those that do,” Khan Schmitt started entering approval.
"Oh, likely," Liz allowed. "Once you're on the program, I'll take a great deal of interest in keeping you from falling behind in other ways. Broke customers don't become repeat customers, after all."
“Falcon Sight will guide us as always, and perhaps there will be some glory in this endeavor after all,” Marthe signed next.
Vlad just nodded as he signed.
Helena, your plan worked, Liz thought fiercely. And now, we've got a dagger pointed right at Old Earth to keep Gaia from devouring her children again.
Though Clan Ghost Bear and Clan Snow Raven had not attended in person their acceptance would come by courier in a few days.
Not that she needed it, their links to other customers got them in by default, as did their acceptance of a provisional role in the Star League. Clan Nova Cat was already a member thanks largely to the Combine.
This is how we end the war that doesn't matter and prepare for the one that does.
Marthe Pryde eyed Elizabeth after signing. "What is your 'win condition' for this?" she asked softly.
"End the war that doesn't matter so we can fight the one that does," Liz said cryptically.
“The Eternal War. Light versus darkness,” Ariel Suvarov nodded.
"Resist Entropy at all costs. That's what it means to be alive," Liz clarified. "We're in a dark age, still. Everything I've done since Helena Cameron showed up and proved there could be something better, is to fight Entropy, drag us out of the darkness for a little while longer. When I started, I had a deadline of deady-by-forty, in agony and insane. I got a reprieve, but I only got it, because I'm willing to fight entropy instead of surrendering to it."
She hopped up on a cleared table that had not been for serving food, and dangled her feet, "See, you know that tech you signed up for? And the package that comes with it? We could have had those centuries ago. But we're in a dark age. The only reason we have it, and you don't? Is because I poured everything I have into clawing a little bit of enlightenment into the world."
“And your one star system has the economic productivity of at minimum a large Clan, possibly several,” Khan Sennet nodded.
"When I'm done? We'll all have it. Kowloon won't be… an outlier. What we have is what everyone will have and take for granted. That's my goal. It means raising the level for everyone I can reach, so we can't be knocked down to the point where we were after the Second Succession War."
“Perhaps we should find your price for a giftake,” Khan Sennet smiled.
"You'll need to talk to my husband." Liz said. "Arthur has a say in any children from me, because we're married, and that's how marriage works."
“Though there is one other matter of practicality we should address. Provisions for those of us who do not have a presence in the Inner Sphere,” Khan Schmitt observed.
"You will," Liz said. "Victor's working with the House Lords to set that up. Good worlds, places with room to settle, where you can have your… culture in safety." She aimed it at Khan Schmitt in particular. "Unmolested by expansionist neighbors. I read Kell's book on the Clans, and some of the reports from our forces, Khan Schmitt. I think if anyone in the Inner Sphere has a hint of a fraction of a grasp what that means, it's my people. We suffered a two hundred year occupation, then lived as beggars for a couple more centuries. Nobody should have to deal with that, or with someone putting a boot on their neck and standing time after time, as a punishment for extending an open hand."
Khan Schmitt nodded.
"Okay, we've got the basics laid out. Helena will be here in twenty minutes to work with you guys on the deployment and strategy. I have to get things rolling in the short-term, which is Crimson Road, and the long term, which is your joining in the Gateway project. I’ll have progress reports delivered by courier. Please, if you must use HPG, keep it internal to your Clan networks when discussing Gateway. It's a… thing for me. I do not trust Earthers, and Comstar or Word of Blake? They're Earthers. As to why, Helena may explain it, and I'll probably have to let you see the Archives, but that's for another day." Elizabeth left the room.
“Khan Pryde, do you require my services any further today?” Nathan Roshak asked.
“Neg. What task requires your attention?” Marthe jabbed.
“I made a promise, and with traffic, I should be just in time.”
"In a sense, it was the result of politics. By enticing the Clans into joining the Gateway project, Elizabeth pointed a dagger right at the heart of the Communications Ministry and the nascent Terran Hegemony. It didn't need to be seen that way. She also floated the idea of restoring the Hegemony, and with Gateway installations, the Terran state would no longer be hemmed in to run out of resources and fall behind… But they didn't see it that way."
-Arthur Steiner-Davion, "An Explanation for my Children"
Recorded in September of 3075.