Act 2 - Bargaining[]
With A Bared Sword[]
Chapter 31[]
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The Triad, Tharkad
Donegal March, Federated Commonwealth
14 December 3056
Victor Steiner-Davion had sat on the Archon’s throne many times over the last year and a half. Today was the first time he felt proud to do so.
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The Griffins either side of him were piloted by the usual handpicked members of the First Royal Guards, but in honor of the occasion, they had been repainted. The one on his right wore the colors of the Lyran Guards, bearing the emblems of both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth RCTs. Its partner wore the colors of the Skye Rangers, a silent message to loyal members of that brigade, with the badge of the Tenth Rangers featured prominently.
The holo camera’s red LED lit up, letting him know that it was live. If that hadn’t been clear enough, the thumbs up from the palace’s media director would have been enough for Victor.
“Citizens of the Federated Commonwealth,” he began quietly. “I am here today to speak of many things. Most importantly, after more than six months, I can inform you that the Second Skye Revolt is drawing to a conclusion. It is not over, as much as I might wish for that. Many of their leaders have not been captured, often deserting their followers with the same lack of loyalty that they have shown to the Federated Commonwealth. Many outposts and strongholds have not yet been brought to surrender. This is not the end, but is the beginning of that end.”
“I tell you now, that just as the Fourth Skye Guards were defeated upon Glengarry, we have now defeated the other regiments raised by the renegade Richard Steiner in the cause of the Free Skye. The Third Skye Guards have surrendered upon Lyons. The Second regiment were shattered upon Summer. The Fifth were ground to dust between the Lyran Guards defending Hesperus II, and the Donegal Guards that formed our relief force. And on Skye, we have received the surrender of the First Skye Guards and Fourth Skye Rangers - the surrender of their ‘mechs and of the usurping Sarah Aten.”
Victor rose smoothly to his feet. “Sarah Aten was a figurehead,” he declared grimly. “Although she will be facing charges for her complicity in treason. But she was not the mastermind behind this uprising, she was not the true leader of the conspiracy that sought to undermine the Federated Commonwealth by inciting Free Skye into moving from legitimate political discourse - something that they have every right to, no matter how much I or anyone else may disagree with them - into terrorism and treason.”
“That conspiracy, those ambitious few…” The Archon-Prince shook his head. “I doubt that the idea of a truly independent Isle of Skye was ever their goal. No, they wanted a negotiated peace, one that would elevate them to positions in power within the Commonwealth. To them, everyone who has died was a more than acceptable prices if it discredited my government and gave them the chance to seize power, dissolving the Federated Commonwealth and claiming this throne that lies behind me.” He swept his hand back to point. “This throne. This lump of stone.”
“That is what so many have died for, so many more left injured - bearing scars that will never leave them. Those who fought, and those who were simply caught in the battlefields and unable to escape. Not for the freedom of Skye, if that is even possible when those rich worlds would find themselves ill-protected and surrounded by the forces of the other Great Houses. No, for the sake of the ambitions of a faction within House Steiner who desired simply to secure this throne for themselves.”
He stepped forwards once more. “I have been accused of plotting the death of my own mother, by men who did not hesitate to tear the Isle of Skye apart and shed the blood of hundreds of thousands so they can seat themselves in positions of power. I ask you, whose actions do you find the more suspect? The soldier who spent his days seeking nothing more than to protect my people from the Clans? Or those who spent that time conspiring to take this throne. Which do you trust? Those who desire the privilege of that throne? Or those who took on the responsibilities that came to it?”
Victor paused, letting breath flow out of him, taking some of that anger with him.
“We are hunting for my treacherous cousins. We will find them, and they will face a fair and honest trial. That is my duty, to all of you. I find it unlikely that they will be found innocent of treason, but previous rulers who have sat here have - for the most part - felt it best to allow the Judiciary to do its work without the interference of an Archon, and I find that to be a principle best maintained by an Archon-Prince.”
Then he clenched his fist. “And based on evidence gathered from captured documents, and from the investigation that has been going on for more than a year, they will be tried similarly for high treason.” In case the distinction was unclear, he clarified: “That is to say, for conspiracy to murder Archon Melissa Steiner.”
Slowly, he returned to the throne and seated himself, sweeping his uniform cape to sit neatly beneath himself. “I hope soon to meet with the men and women who have done so much to bring this conflict to an end. Much remains to be done, but I am free to honor those who have fought and bled for the people of the Federated Commonwealth without waiting for the courts. That will be a happier day than the inevitable day when we hear the verdict of those trials.”
“For there will be no pardons. No deals struck. There will be full and fair weight of the law, with neither fear nor favor.” His voice lowered ominously. “As my mother, may God rest her soul, would have wanted.”
The light blinked out and Victor remained still upon the throne, watching as the camera crew checked their equipment. It was possible that they might ask him to repeat some or all of the speech. He hoped not, it had taken much out of him. But this too was part of the duty of his office. He felt more as if he was acting the role at times than being the real Archon-Prince.
As the crew checked their recordings, he let his mind drift to other matters. The trade and supply routes through Skye were restored, with enough worlds secure so that shipments of military gear could be sent through. It would be enough materials to bring the Third Davion Guards and Tenth Skye Rangers back to strength. Manpower would be harder, the majority of the senior year at Sanglamore - Skye’s premier military academy - had been swept up to join the revolt. At least some of their underclassmen had no doubt also been swayed.
Condemning Richard, Robert and their senior officers would be easy, but some other solution would have to be found for the bulk of the followers. On a case by case basis, some might be reintegrated back into combat units, although they would likely not be allowed to serve in Skye again, nor to assemble in a single unit.
As a complication to keeping Skye secure, while the Draconis Combine was far too focused on the Clans to interfere, the Free Worlds League was under no such pressure. A number of worlds taken from them in the Fourth Succession War were part of the Skye March and weakness must be tempting.
The problem was Thomas Marik’s son, Joshua. Since 3051, the boy had been a patient on New Avalon, being treated for his leukemia. A hostage against his father, although the medical care was something that could not have been offered anywhere else.
Unfortunately, despite all the hopes, the College of Medical Science was reaching the end of their resources. There was no magic bullet to cure the cancer killing the young Marik. After months of remission, his condition was declining once more and predictions were that he might have less than a year left. Without that restraint, there was a real chance that Thomas Marik would move to reclaim those lost worlds. And without Joshua as heir, that meant the most likely candidate to succeed him was Thomas’ daughter Isis, who was engaged to Chancellor Liao.
I don’t want the boy to die, Victor told himself. None of this is my fault. It’s just dreadful timing.
A year from now and it likely wouldn’t matter. He could warn the Captain-General of the inevitable, invite him to New Avalon - for that matter, be there himself to please Kathy. Let the father say goodbye to his son and perhaps forge a closer understanding with the ruler of the Free Worlds League.
Given the chance, the rest of House Marik would insist on finding some heir other than Isis. None of them wanted Capellan influence on their leader. It was just a matter of timing.
“That was fine,” the media director declared. “Excellent, in fact, your highness.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your help,” Victor told him. He got up from the throne. “Please carry on as discussed. I will have to go back to my other duties.”
As he left the throne room, throwing a wave up to the two mechwarriors overlooking the event, Victor realized he’d made his decision. His father had planned for this possibility, and his mother had maintained the preparations. Joshua Marik would be kept alive as long as possible, but his father could not know.
A carefully groomed replacement would take the Marik princeling’s place at NAIS and wait out the months from now until it was safe to tell Thomas Marik that his son was dying. It had to be done. A small lie, to avert a greater loss.
“It has to be done.” he whispered.