“The wording in Warlord Samsonov's account of the Udibi action shows that he is furious. He is a man who does not take kindly to being embarrassed. As far as he is concerned, your success speaks against you in this. It has also been related to me, in private, that he has sworn the destruction of the Dragoons if they break faith with House Kurita. Regardless of your fidelity to the Combine, he seems to feel that your actions have touched his honor. A shamed man may take drastic steps. Even when such steps may not be in his own best interest, shame may drive him on.”
Wolf sat quietly for a moment after Minobu finished. He interlaced his fingers and ran them back and forth across each other. Still looking at his hands, Wolf asked, “Are you saying that he will try to destroy us anyway?”
“I am not sure what he will do.” Minobu took a deep breath. “He has warned me that he will have the head of any Kuritan who aids Wolf's Dragoons against the Combine ... or against him.”
“We don't need any help against that toad-licking slime snake,” Kerensky boasted. “The Dragoons can kick his butt to Aldebaran and back. If he tries anything, that's just what we'll do.”
Dragoons around the table chorused agreement. Out of the midst of the insults and complaints about ungrateful employers, Kerensky's voice rose again. “Let's cut them off now, Colonel. Unity knows they've asked for it.”
“There is much to what Captain Kerensky says,” Korsht seconded. “Perhaps it would be best to break contract now and forfeit the bond.” Many other officers nodded or voiced their agreement.
“And where will we go?” Wolf asked. “Nobody wants a merc unit that runs away when things are tough.”
“They'll understand,” Major Patrick Chan protested. “Nobody will fault us for leaving Kurita.”
“You're wrong, Pat. The Successor Lords watch our every move,” Wolf reminded him. “If we break faith with one of them, each one will assume we'd to the same to him or her if we get unhappy. What seems like a good reason to us doesn't look the same from the other side of the paychest.
“Even if we have a good business reason to break contract, we still have our own honor to worry about. We gave our word. If we break it, what are we worth? We'll be the cheap sellswords they claim we are. Can any of you say you want that?”
The only reply was silence.
“We'll keep our contract, to the letter,” Wolf continued. “If the Combine steps over the line, then we can act in all honor. Until then, we work for House Kurita.”
The acknowledgements were soft, but they came forth, Minobu noticed that some of the Dragoons, including Kerensky and Korsht, said nothing. At least they did not disagree. Despite their outspoken opinions, Minobu did not think they would disobey Wolf.
“Your devotion to honor is most ennobling, Colonel Wolf,” Minobu complimented him. “It will stand you in good stead.”
Wolf looked up sharply. “There's something else, isn't there, Tai-saTetsuhara?”
Whether or not Wolf had felt anything earlier, Minobu experienced the sting of the formal address. He inclined his head, took a deep breath, and released it. He pushed the message flimsy forward on the table before raising his gaze toward Wolf.
“Lord Takashi Kurita summons you to Luthien to account for your actions.”
Interlude
Unity Palace, Imperial City, Luthien
Pesht Military District, Draconis Combine
28 August 3027
The small Dragoon contingent arrived at Unity Palace. There were only six of them, all that the travel passes accompanying the summons would allow. Jaime Wolf had wanted to go alone, believing that the fewer who went, the fewer might be made hostage. Major Stanford Blake had made the case that, as intel chief, he would be needed to present the Dragoon position. Major Olga Kormenski had included herself, claiming that her job as Wolf's Security Chief required her presence. The three others in the group wore the uniforms of Dragoon officers, but looked as though they'd be more at home in muddied combat armor. It was Kormenski who had insisted that they come. If she couldn't take BattleMechs to protect Wolf, she settled on the next best thing: troopers from Seventh Kommando, the highly secret Dragoon Special Forces Team.
A squad of Otomo,the Coordinator's fiercely loyal bodyguards, met them at the palace gates to serve as escort. The Tai-iof the Guard wore a black leather holster and the traditional two swords, each bearing the insignia of the Sun Zhang Military Academy. The white tunic of his dress uniform contrasted sharply with the red and blue uniforms and polished ceramet defenses of his squad. Those guardsmen wore the ceremonial armor of the palace, and each carried a heavy-barreled stunner at port arms. The weapons looked almost delicate against their bulky chest plates and gauntlets.
The Tai-igreeted the Dragoons with a stiff, formal bow before leading them in silence through the gardens surrounding the carved splendor of Unity Palace. The group passed wondrous topiary creations and splendid examples of horticultural art as they moved through gardens unrivaled in the Inner Sphere.
Once they entered the Palace, with its predominantly teak architecture and woodwork, they found that the interplay of light and shadow among the carved decorations created an impression that was both strong and airy. The Otomoled them through hall after hall until they came to a small shoji-paneled room.
“Colonel Wolf, your party will await you here.” The Tai-iindicated a row of straight-backed chairs, distinctly out of place against the pervasive Japanese decor. “Only you shall enter the audience chamber.”
“Major Blake is to present relevant data,” Wolf objected.
“All data may be entered here.” The man clapped his hands, and one of the guards rolled back a gorgeous gold foil screen to reveal a glittering chrome and plastic computer console. The Tai-ibowed, again stiff and formal, and left them alone.
“This doesn't look good, Colonel,” Kormenski said.
“It's even worse than I thought,” Wolf said gloomily. “They're not going to listen.”
Blake looked up from the computer console. “You don't know that for sure, Colonel.”
Wolf stopped massaging the bridge of his nose and rounded on Blake.
“Don't I? You're supposed to be an intelligence officer, Stan. Look around you. Look at how they're treating us. What other conclusion can there be?”
“Being a stubborn old man won't help,” Kormenski chided, and Blake nodded agreement.
Wolf scowled at his staff officers. “I may be stubborn and I may be old, but I'm not fool enough to waste my strength. Not even a young man can single-handedly reverse entropy.”
Having served under Wolf for years, Blake and Kormenski knew when to back off because the Colonel was simply not receptive to their arguments. After exchanging helpless glances, Blake returned his attention to the console while Kormenski pretended interest in one of the five Fudo statues adorning the room. Wolf stood in silence, his back to them both.
Half an hour later, the Otomo Tai-iand two guards returned to escort Wolf through the great arch into the lesser audience chamber. Before them were two massive teak doors carved with scenes from the history of the Kurita clan, with a guard to either side. The Tai-istopped halfway across the room and indicated a row of chairs. “Please be seated, Colonel Wolf. Warlord Samsonov will join you shortly.”