"Hanse Davion suffers no such illusion. He does not seek personal glory and gain. What he plans is the founding of a dynasty. Already he has united the two economically strongest realms with his marriage to Melissa Steiner. His armies have gobbled up the most productive parts of the Capellan Confederation, and our Interdiction has not slowed those troops in any measurable way. It is as though Hanse Davion knows our true purpose and uses that knowledge against us."
A wave of heat passed over the Primus, beading sweat on his shaven head. The burning in his chest increased and with it, so did his fury at Precentor Dieron. Full retribution... is that what you want, Myndo? Did it so pain you ten years ago when I did not take you as my consort? I refused to take you to my bed because it would have forced me to chose between you and my great mission as Primus and guide of ComStar. You would have seduced me with your physical charms and then, intellectually, accomplished the same thing. We would have still reached this place, you and I, because I would not have moved quickly or ruthlessly enough for you. You have never understood how this office hobbles even the boldest of those who attain it.
Myndo ticked off points on her fingers as her voice rose to fill the chamber. "The Primus failed when he said there would be no change in the Liao-Davion border in our lifetime. He failed to maintain security during the Davion-Steiner wedding. Jaime Wolf appeared with two swords. Three ComStar ROM agents died. A Liao assassin made an attempt on the life of Quintus Allard. When I pressed for an Interdiction of House Liao for this violation, the Primus blocked it. When I asked for an Interdiction of House Davion to cut off their invasion in the early stages, again he blocked it. Now that Ardan Sortek has stepped in to run the Tikonov Free Republic until 'free' elections can be held, the Primus will not allow us to interdict Tikonov, which is no more than a Davion puppet-state!"
Her hands tightened into fists. "Every time I suggest action that could slow the unification that is anathema to our goals, Primus Julian Tiepolo opposes me and puts into place a program that assists our enemies. He is a heretic! We must remove him before he has a chance to block our reponse to a most serious situation."
The Primus's left arm jerked slightly as a sharp pain jolted from shoulder to fist. What is she talking about? These cryptic references will be the death of me.He pulled his right hand from his left sleeve and rubbed it against his chest. Damn. Why does my ulcer have to flare up now?For a moment, his attention wandered to the trivial thought of another year of bland food and foul concoctions.
Myndo's face hardened with contempt. "We all recall the gross failure of the Primus's personal aide, Precentor Emilio Rachan. Under the Primus's watchful eye, Rachan tried to carve himself a little kingdom and compromised security by allying with renegade Marik lords. Rachan located but failed to recover a Star League library memory core. In fact, he allowed it to fall into the hands of civilians who have treated it as a storehouse of lostech."
Her arctic gaze swept around the room. "For two years, we have hunted down every copy of the core we could find. To destroy these cores, we sponsored terrorism and let the blame fall to Davion or Kurita. Until now, we have kept the information in the copies from reaching people skilled enough to realize what they have. But that is no longer true because the New Avalon Institute of Science now has a copy of the core!"
More pain wracked the Primus's chest, again clawing down his left arm. No, that's not possible! She must be lying. How could Myndo have such information? We have no ROM agents in the NAIS. . . . If it is true . . . By the Blood of Blake, we are undone!
Myndo smiled cruelly at her shocked compatriots. "Yes, the core has reached the NAIS. Their experts are studying it, but their enthusiasm has let hints of their great find leak through the security net. How do I know?" Her eyes glowed with triumph. "I have placed an agent in the area and she managed to seduce the son of the military research chief. He told her just enough to communicate to me what is really happening in the NAIS."
Myndo turned and pointed at the Primus. "We must take action . .. action that this man will not sanction. Otherwise, this core will provide the NAIS with data that will allow them to take quantum leaps in technology. We must strike and destroy the NAIS!"
No! Such a naked display of power is impossible!Julian Tiepolo glowered at Myndo and opened his mouth to bellow at her, but no words escaped his throat. A bolt of pain exploded in his chest and engulfed his left arm in agony. The world swam out of focus as it spun away.
He tore at his chest with his right hand and collapsed in a heap. His breath, coming in ragged gasps, stoked the fire in his chest.
Myndo watched the paramedics wheel Julian Tiepolo away to the infirmary. As the chamber's door slid shut behind them, she faced her peers. "We must vote."
Still pale, Precentor Tharkad stared at her, unbelieving. "I, for one, will not sanction removing the Primus's title and office while he lies fighting for his life!"
Even before the others could voice agreement, Myndo cut them off. "Not that, you fool! Do you think me so heartless and cruel that I would take that from him? I may have opposed him, but I would not strip him of his dignity on his deathbed." She shook her head slowly. "No, I would not do that. Still, we must vote on whether or not to take action against the NAIS."
Villius Tejh watched her with the eyes of an eagle. "We cannot openly strike at the school."
Myndo laughed, wondering what sort of a fool he took her for. "Point well taken. Since our impersonation of a Davion unit was so successful in creating the holovid for the Federated Suns Interdiction, I have prepared a 'Mech battalion that in every detail matches that of the Liao Death Commandos. As far as anyone will know, Liao has launched an attack on the NAIS."
Precentor Tharkad rubbed his chin. "When?"
"They can be there in three weeks," she said. "Infantry will scour the research center to recover information that we do not have while the 'Mech battalion destroys whatever we don't need. Finally, they raze the whole research facility to cover our tracks."
Slowly, Precentor Tharkad raised his hand to signal agreement. Following his lead, in fits and starts, the other Precentors also voted in favor of the attack. Savoring her victory, Myndo made the vote unanimous by being the last one to raise her hand.
She smiled at her fellows, knowing herself the strongest among them. Thus begins a new age for ComStar. The Word of Blake be done!
37
Kathil
Capellan March, Federated Suns
29 August 3029
Captain Andrew Redburn hunched his neck into his shoulders as cold, hard rain slashed at his face. This Fredek Vebber may think Kathil is his own fief, but he's wearing on me.The Mech Warrior shot a glance at Morgan Hasek-Davion, admiring the look of calm nobility on the other man's face. His ability to stay cool even under less-than-ideal conditions is why he and not you is in charge of this operation, Andy.
The main doors to Kearny-Fuchida Yare Industries sprang open, releasing a flood of harsh white lights that blinded the quartet of officers walking toward the building. The lights, mounted on holovid cameras, reduced Fredek Vebber to a corpulent silhouette. Andrew smiled despite the lash of windblown rain. Vebber's not a complete fool. He, at least, is out of this downpour.