Act 2 - Bargaining[]
With A Bared Sword[]
Chapter 16[]
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
10 September 3055
Jackson Davion had come to her office this time. Kate could have used the mono-rail to go down to the Fox’s Den, her new post as viceroy did come with some perks. But she’d have had to return for her next meeting so this time she had elected to impose upon him.
The Field Marshal looked around as he entered. “A change from when I was last here.”
The curtains framing the two large windows were now Davion bottle-green, with the fist-and-sunburst embroidered into them in gold. Kate had moved her father’s decorations such as the glass sculpture of his first love Dana Stephenson into storage and replaced them with a cabinet of models. A scale model of her Guillotine she’d made as part of her NAIS coursework stood in pride of place, flanked by Galax’s concept model for the new corvettes and a lovingly painted Atlas kit that someone had once gifted to her uncle Ian.
“It’s a working office, not a museum,” Kate told him. “Tea? Coffee?”
“Coffee, please. Your staff should know how I take it?”
Sure enough, it was moments before one of Kate’s assistants entered with two coffee cups on a silver tray, setting them down before them both. Kate’s had some cream while Jackson’s was black as pitch.
“You wanted to talk about the March Militias?” he asked, after tasting the coffee and smiling appreciatively.
Kate nodded. “I sent a proposal to your office for review.”
“The volunteer repair program?” he asked. “Yes, I saw it. I believe it was forwarded for further investigation. It does seem promising, but I’d want to see the numbers on how many volunteers we can find before going further.”
“That’s reasonable,” she agreed. “So I sent out queries to gauge interest. Assuming that half of those that responded actually follow through, I think we’d be looking at between two or three companies of additional Battlemechs coming available in every defense zone and combat region within your purview, if we can get the repairs done.”
Jackson paused and set his cup down. “That is very promising.”
Her proposal had gone back to the roots of the March Militia, with the selection of the best of the planetary militias in each combat region to form up the brigades that had become the backbone of the AFFS’ defensive strategies. Kate had proposed contacting old mechwarrior families whose ‘mechs were no longer fit for service and offering them full refits that they couldn’t otherwise afford. In exchange, each family was required to place a ‘mech and mechwarrior at the service of their local March Militia for no less than ten years.
“Can we carry out the repairs?” he asked. “I have some concerns about finding enough technical staff?”
“The Bell Repair yards have availability to make a start,” she told him. “I’ve also felt out NAIS, Point Barrow and the Tikonov academies about assigning cadets to carry out some of the work. It won’t cover all the needs, but coupled with the Militias themselves, we can make a start.”
“That will free up more soldiers for other postings,” Jackson observed. “I know Victor will be pleased if we have more replacements to keep the regiments facing the Clans at strength.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “I imagine you have some ideas as well?”
“I said every defense zone and combat region,” Kate repeated. “That includes Kathil, Point Barrow and Broken Wheel. None of which currently have March Militias.”
“Ah…” the graying officer said in understanding. “I take it that you wish to change that.”
The princess offered him a datachip she’d prepared earlier. “Infantry and armor regiments in those regions’ planetary guards that may be suitable for nationalization to re-establish the march militias.”
“It would take more than a few companies per combat region to build up battlemech regiments though,” warned Jackson. “Ten years isn’t a huge amount of time for that.”
“Duke Sandoval has agreed to set aside a number of Watchman and Clint Battlemechs from Robinson Standard BattleWorks as a contribution, although he will still want most of them for the Draconis March. My intention is to start them off with training forces built along the lines of the training battalions we already operate,” Kate explained. “Transfers from the other March Militias would provide some cadre for two battalions each - one of trainees and one of family-owned mechs. The remainder of their strength would be made up of mercenaries hired on long term commitments.”
Jackson nodded in agreement. “It’s innovative, but most of that could work. We can filter in officers who are nearing retirement age as well, particularly those who have served against the Clans and who can pass on that experience. I’m concerned about the mercenaries though, you’re talking about low activity postings for a decade, at least. Most battalion units would be concerned about making ends meet over that time.”
“My thinking is that it would appeal to units not willing to take contracts that put them up against the Clans.” Kate ran one hand through her hair. “A number of units have been taking Capellan and League contracts because they feel those are less likely to see them thrown up against foes they aren’t confident of taking on. If we can offer at least some contracts that don’t include those risks, we’re a little less like to see Sun-Tzu Liao and Thomas Marik bolstering their forces at our expense.”
Two gray eyebrows rose. “A very cogent point, your highness. You understand that I would want my staff to review these ideas before we take them any further.”
Kate sat back, relieved not to be dismissed. Even as viceroy, her authority over the military was tenuous. It would be easy for an appeal to Morgan Hasek-Davion or even her brother to be made if Jackson really didn’t wish to follow her direction. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“I told you some time ago that I’d be delighted to free up forces to respond more easily to problems before they develop into crises.” Jackson pocketed the datachip. “This offers some chance of doing just that. I will make sure they know that I would prefer any criticisms be constructive, with a view to making this work. Do you have any other proposals you’d like us to consider?”
“Just one, although I know it would be a harder sell.”
“Oh?” he sipped on his coffee. “You have more credibility than you may expect.”
“There are a number of battlemech designs we don’t manufacture in the Suns half of the Federated Commonwealth,” she told him. “Just in the New Avalon CMM, we’ve three Panthers and a Hermes II for example.” The former were a standby of the DCMS and the latter was the backbone of medium scout lances in the Free Worlds League.
“That sort of thing is fairly typical.”
“They also impose a disproportionate strain on logistics,” Kate advised. “Where they are owned by the AFFC, I want to systematically concentrate them into individual units. If we have them all in one place, then only one regiment will be in need of the parts.”
Jackson rubbed his chin. “You’re right that that won’t be popular. Mechwarriors do get attached. Perhaps we could soften the blow by suggesting that the units receiving them will be forming dedicated forces to simulate foreign force compositions for training purposes. If the New Avalon CMM had a battalion full of Capellan designs it might look odd on ceremonial occasions, but a company or so that was available for training against the cadets at Albion and NAIS would be arguable.”
“As well as other academies,” Kate said in excitement. “Filtvet and Kilbourne don’t have readily available opposition forces other than their instructors.”
“It’s not worth doing for that reason,” the Marshal pointed out. “But the Department of Military Education supporting the measure could be enough to sway the issue. I suggest you talk to Toni Reynolds about it. You need to sell people on the idea, try and find some reason that will convince every member of the high command you can get hold of. Reynolds in Mil Ed, your aunt Lisa in the Quartermasters and Gris Miller in Mercenary Relations are the most involved. If they all see benefits then that will give you the most impact, but every other senior Field Marshal won over will tip the balance. If enough of them back it, then you could get it pushed through past anything short of your brother’s clearly stated objection. Not that I think he’d oppose the idea.”
She nodded wearily, “I hoped that talking to you would be enough to get the ball rolling - for consideration, not to actually start the work.”
He smiled at the naivety. “Start rolling, yes. But not to get it to where you need to. I’m sorry, Katie, the AFFC is as political as any other bureaucracy.”
They finished their coffee while Kate asked about Jackson’s family and made notes on his advice. She’d have to schedule appointments to meet with other members of the high command. Possibly she could take some time to drop in on those based out of New Avalon, but Lisa Steiner was on Tharkad so that would require correspondence.
Jackson made his exit and the blonde had a couple of moments to freshen up before her next guest arrived.
“Your grace,” she greeted the well-dressed man who was ushered in.
“Your highness.” He bowed and kissed the back of her hand when she extended it.
The Duke of El Dorado was the head of one of the most influential branches of the sprawling Davion dynasty, the Sanromea-Davions had ruled one of the Golden Five worlds at the heart of the Crucis March since the early Star League. While the economy had suffered over the decades, their influence over the financial sector and the High Council was considerable.
Kate gestured to the seats and the coffee table. “Would you mind joining me for a working lunch. My schedule is a little chaotic.”
“That isn’t for the best,” Duke Roger said seriously. “Eating on a regular schedule is important for one’s health.”
“I hope to have the chance at that someday.”
Several platters of food were carried in for them and both filled their plates before sitting back. “I was hoping to discuss some economic matters,” Kate began. “It would be dangerous for me to only receive advice from within the government bureaucracy, I feel I should follow my parents’ example and be open to ideas outside of the Ministries.”
“There is a lot to be said for diversifying your sources of information,” he agreed. “I imagine you have some projects in mind that I might be able to help with.”
Kate swallowed the slices of cucumber she’d eaten as he spoke. “I’m aware of your work with finance groups looking for investments,” she said and wiped the corner of her lips with a napkin. “Marquessa Helen Trempeleau has been talking to me about enterprises in the outback that are looking for financial support to take advantage of new military contracts.”
The duke frowned. “I confess that military affairs are somewhat outside my area of expertise. El Dorado has avoided having military production and it’s been successful as a means of avoiding direct attack during the Succession Wars.”
“Quite so, but there’s a difference between building those factories on El Dorado and helping companies on, for example, June to develop the facilities to build components for Lycomb-Davion Introtech’s prospective new complex there.”
Her distant cousin looked thoughtful. “The risks of such investments do center around the lamentable chances of such facilities being targeted for raiding,” he concluded. “Just how secure would June be?”
He hadn’t rejected the idea outright, Kate thought. Even if he didn’t go for it right now, any objections he raised and how he reacted to her counter-arguments might help her convince other sources of funds to help build up the infrastructure needed to replace the factories lost to the Clans…