Act 2 - Bargaining[]
With A Bared Sword[]
Chapter 27[]
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Mount Asgard, Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
9 May 3056
“My sister is aware that Skye is revolting, isn’t she?” Victor asked rhetorically as he finished watching Kathy’s letter.
“I wouldn’t suggest putting it like that in public unless you want to be lampooned,” Galen replied from his own desk. “But she would have to work very hard not to have heard about it, so I think it’s safe to assume she knows about it. She’s far too busy to be actively ignorant.”
The Archon-Prince hit the controls to close and save his sister’s letter. “And yet she thinks I will make it to New Avalon for Royal Court this year?”
Galen sighed and looked up from his work. “That is four months away,” he said. “I think it’s possible the actual fighting may be done by then.”
“As much as that would please me, I’m not confident of that,” Victor said. “Carlyle has turned the tide on Glengarry but the fighting there isn’t over yet and once that’s done there are the worlds around it that we need to secure.”
Most of the fighting going on was between militias on worlds between the major targets. What would turn the tide were the key strongholds where the Skye Guards and loyalist units were fighting, but that didn’t stop the blood being shed elsewhere.
“On that topic,” he continued, “Is there any update on the Aten situation?”
“Nothing yet,” Galen told him. “It’s like cooking, Victor. Operations like this take as long as they take - asking every other hour won’t make it go faster.”
“I don’t know much of anything about cooking,” the Archon-Prince admitted. “The closest I ever got to it was preparing self-heating ration packs.”
“You’re living evidence that royalty really are different from real people,” his friend told him. “Why does Katherine want you to come to New Avalon?”
“The usual. She worries too much about the stability of the Suns. All my problems so far have been with regions governed from Tharkad, she has everything under control.”
“It’s hard to argue with that, but since she is so capable and she also thinks you should visit New Avalon…”
Victor chuckled. “I will go once things settle down. Kathy’s always inclined to err on the side of caution - it’s the engineer in her. But we need Aten back in control of Skye first and I can’t see that happening before the end of the year. Even if she was deposed via a coup, reinstating the Duchess will be a political wrangle and there will need to be trials.” He paused and then sighed. “And I need to find a replacement for Nondi - it would be better to have someone in place before I leave.”
“Do you have a candidate in mind?”
“No. Do you want the job?” he asked hopefully.
Galen laughed. “I think there would be questions asked about bumping me from Leftenant General to Field Marshal.”
“I considered David Sandoval, he’s been doing a fine job in the Sarna March,” the Archon-Prince continued, not surprised at the response. “But even if he’s technically part of Lyran State Command, it would still be seen as a ‘Davion’ officer taking over a ‘Steiner’ post.”
“Have you considered Roman Steiner?” his aide suggested. “He worked for Jackson Davion on New Avalon so he has experience at that level.”
“I asked him but he wants to retire,” Victor replied. “Losing his home on Somerset hit him hard and his daughter being a prisoner of the Jade Falcons hurt as well. Breaking her free and bringing her home didn’t heal those wounds.”
“And I take it that promoting Xerxes Davion would have the same issue as Marshal Sandoval,” Galen concluded.
“Exactly. I have some officers in mind to bring up to take over vacancies in Skye and they might be candidates in the future but they’re not quite ready yet.” The entire command structure of the March would need to be restructured, and while the officers who’d proved loyal could be retained, there needed to be several transfers to make good the losses and rebuild the defenses of the region. As hard as it was to come by ‘mechs, experienced and trustworthy officers were even more difficult to find.
Galen nodded. “Are there any Lyran candidates who are not members of House Steiner?” he asked. “There have to be some competent marshals who don’t share your surname.”
“Besides you? If I absolutely had to pick someone today it would be Olaf Dinesen. He doesn’t really have the experience, but he’s at least of suitable rank.”
His aide frowned. “The commander of the Periphery March?”
“He’s only got a year in the post and it’s not the most challenging role but we lost a lot of promising officers facing the Clans. At least he’s managed to keep things running smoothly.”
“Much like your sister.”
Victor chuckled. “Yes, that’s true. Perhaps he’s a better candidate than I thought.”
His friend turned back to his own work but then paused. “I hate to say this, but have you considered what to do if Margaret Aten and her daughter Ilse don’t make it? Without her testimony that she was deposed it might be hard to contest Sarah Aten’s claim to Skye. You said yourself it’s more likely that she’s a dupe than a willing participant in her mother’s overthrow.”
“Stupidity would not be an excuse for conspiracy on this level,” Victor said, his earlier humor lost at the idea. “And I can’t just hand the position on to her younger daughter, she and her husband are in this up to their necks. No, if it comes to that I’ll have no choice but to attaint House Aten entirely and appoint a new Duke of Skye. God only knows who - an outsider would have an uphill battle. One of the officers who stayed loyal would be best, but that also depends on who survives.” He rubbed his face. “I hope I don’t have to do that.”
At least, he thought, things can’t get much worse.