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Chapter 19 - The Broken Commonwealth[]
Royal Palace
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
August 25th, 3146
[...in rare live HPG Transmission]
"Trillian, do you have any idea what you've done??" on the video screen, Clan Wolf Khan Alaric Ward actually looked distressed.
"Yes." Trillian said, "We're at war, Alaric. My nation is invaded, and this war is not an optional conflict, it is existential. Relax, I've no intention of turning her loose on you."
He digested this with a moment's hesitation. "Trillian, your...subordinate...is playing with fire that could ignite everything you have left! Nuclear weapons-"
"Orbital Bombardments and Mass Slaughters, Alaric. Malvina's Mongols slammed a Warship into a planet in a fit of pique. She set the terms of the engagement, the rules of the road here at total war. The Commonwealth is responding in kind. I know what the risks are, but what choice did any of you leave us with? Except to respond with the maximum force we can to a threat to our nation's very existence?"
"Your 'total war' is cracking continents!"
"Yes. Yes. It is." she calmly responded, "They did it to their own people first. That shows there is no limit on them save imagination and preparation against such a foe. There are no 'rules'...albeit, Sharon Ngo still thinks there should be, which is why she didn't target fault lines and dormant volcanoes. This is why she will not utilize those ships of hers in the direct-fire role in ground support. Per the Ares Conventions, her use of thermonuclear arms has been within the letter of the conventions. For engagements in deep space only, against known targets of a military nature or with direct military value."
"What of the super-strikes?" Alaric asked
"The non-nuclear kinetic weapons delivered with precise targeting to destroy hardened targets at a distance." she pointed out, "Every reasonable precaution to prevent civilian casualties was taken."
"And what of the Commerce raiding?" he further probed her.
"Perfectly legal." she stated. "Beyond that, no theft of materiel or kidnapping of personnel has occurred or will occur...and I have a limit on her conduct."
"A...limit?" he scoffed.
"A limit. In phase two her forces are required to offer the opportunity for Jade Falcon defenders to observe Zellbrigen, evacuate, or fight according to their Mongol beliefs. With the full understanding that the last choice will result in the employment of unrestricted total warfare methods and tactics to defeat them."
"What if those ground forces fail in a Zell situation?"
"I will insist she accepts the outcome of the battle, Alaric. That means they can win if they strictly observe and adhere to Traditional Clan Methods and values." Trillian told him
His expression gained a hint of cunning,"YOu are trying to moderate their behavior!"
"Yes. We don't have the manpower to retake the amount of the Commonwealth. As in I just don't have enough bodies to drive the Jade Falcons out of the Inner Sphere. I would rather NOT be Archon of a funeral pit. The Falcons are already violating your Clan rules among the council of six, if the rumored censure is any indication. We can't trust them to make a deal without first demonstrating that breaking it has consequences...which you and the other Clans are loathe to impose. They will either win following the code of Zellbrigen, or they will be graveled because they adhered to the Mongol philosophy. a few object lessons on what succeeds versus what gets your world shot out from under you should serve as an instruction on how to behave. Maybe in a few generations they'll discover diplomacy is even cheaper."
He looked skeptical, "What makes you think this will work?"
"I don't know if it will, but we can't just roll them up right now. We can't afford for them to be at full strength and I certainly have no interest in letting Malvina's Madmen claim this 'ilClan' status. At least you're at least Sane. If we survive this, Facing you I at least know you won't burn the ****** Commonwealth to the ground in a temper tantrum!"
"You do know I have claimed the title of Archon." Alaric commented
"When you're done with fighting on your far border, and I'm done fighting Malvina, we can have it out. I'll tell you something, cousin. Sharon Ngo and Anna MacAulliffe both were on the fence, and what brought them to my side of that future argument is that you didn't show up, and I did. For now, I'm content to leave the Wolf Empire alone to fight your war with the Republic, and you don't have to worry about Lyrans coming in on your back-field to wreak havoc. I'm even fine with a two-state solution and letting the Wolf Empire retain what you took from Melissa after Brewer's perfidy...but please, if you're not going to help, stay out of our way. I've already fought one more civil war than I am willing to endure."
"A Two-State solution is unacceptable. The Lyran Commonwealth is MY realm!" He barked.
"THEN ACT LIKE IT!!" she challenged, "Until you do, no-one on this side of the border is going to accept a claim from one of Crazy Katherine Steiner-Davion's offspring!" she puffed up, "Do you think I wanted this job? I was perfectly fine with being out of the succession, Alaric! I had plans, those plans are dust now!! You want your inheritance? Then act like it. Fight the brutal, lunatic invaders instead of wasting Lyran Lives on a Republic Front!! You won't, because ilClan is more important to you than your nation. Just like New Avalon was more important to your mother than this nation! I turned Sharon Ngo loose because we're drowning here!"