Hanse Davion looked up from his desk as Quintus Allard entered his office. Seeing the confident smile on his intelligence minister’s face, he took heart in it. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen you wear a grin since this war began.” The Prince came from behind his desk and waved Quintus to a brown leather chair as he seated himself on the padded arm of another.
The white-haired spymaster dropped into the chair and looked up at the Prince. “I think this is the first time operations have gone as well as we could have hoped.”
Hanse smiled. After Misha’s arrival yesterday, and the news of the assassination attempt on the Archon, good news is something I could use. “Well, don’t keep it to yourself.”
Quintus nodded, then looked at his compad. “First of all, Alexi Malenkov managed to get a short message out through Liao operatives to one of our people on Solaris. Though the message took seven weeks to arrive here, the DropShip that brought Ms. Auburn also brought word that the holodisk we recovered from Bethel actually did come from Candace Liao. Malenkov confirmed that Justin left it behind—or he assumes that because the dead Maskirovka agent worked for Romano Liao.”
Hanse rubbed his chin, considering this news. Internecine battling can do little to help the Liao war effort. “Do you think Romano knows her sister has sent us what could be considered a friendly communication? Her agent could have been an attempt to steal it away and use it against Candace.”
Quintus shook his head. “As we know from Romano’s past actions, she never worries about needing proof of guilt before she acts. You will recall the terrorist attack on Kittery that she sponsored, and the attempt her assassin made on my life at your wedding. We even believe that Elizabeth Liao’s absence of late may mean that she has run afoul on Romano. That one is very like her father—too much so for my peace of mind. She’s as unstable and explosive as nitroglycerine.”
“I understand that, Quintus, but I wonder if she’s strong enough to oust Candace from her position as Heir Apparent?” The Prince slid from the chair’s arm onto the seat. “Was the agent at Bethel there to kill Justin because of something he did to Romano, or was Romano trying to kick away Candace’s support structure?”
Allard shrugged heavily. “I am not certain because I don’t think Romano views problems that way. She strikes out at people without considering the consequences. It is similar to Maximilian Liao’s attempt to substitute a double to take your place. If not for Ardan Sortek, he would have succeeded. But if he had guessed what his failure would mean, Liao would never have tried in the first place.”
Remembering that plot and all the horror it had cost him and Ardan, Hanse felt an old but persistent fury. Liao’s plan was all but perfect. Had Maximilian’s inside people been able to discredit or dishonor Ardan, the Federated Suns would have been his in one subtle move. Fortunately, Ardan was able to prove I was the real Hanse Davion. The Prince forced himself to smile briefly. “I wonder, Quintus…is Max capable of imagining himself a failure? It’s hard to believe he would have backed away from so perfect a plan to eliminate me, no matter what the risks.”
“You may be right, my Prince, but not every Liao family member is so irrational. His son, Tormana, has taken well to life here as a prisoner of war on New Avalon, and Candace’s warm message to you suggests that she sees the phosphors glowing on a monitor.” Quintus tapped a button on his compad. “In fact, Data Intel suggests that Candace has allowed St. Ives province to be denuded of JumpShips so we won’t strike at it. She’s gambling that an unspoken, unilateral agreement not to attack the Federated Suns will earn equal consideration on your part.”
Hanse closed his eyes in thought. If we need not fear a strike from the St. Ives Commonality, I can move the troops stationed on Kittery to help with the main body of the invasion. When he opened his eyes, the Prince smiled like a fox watching a hen house. “Yes, I think her gesture has earned such consideration. Let us move the Kittery forces up to help with the sixth wave of the invasion. Will they make it in time?”
Quintus nodded. “They will. The betting on Solaris still favors a strike after the start of September. If we go off in mid-August, we’ll steal a march on anyone expecting us to hit later.”
The Prince stretched. “Anything else?”
Quintus nodded. “We got the first report on Ridzik’s strikes into the Free Worlds League. His troops struck deep into Marik territory and knocked the Leaguers back pretty hard. I think they’ll counterstrike at Talitha, but Ridzik will see that attack coming and parry it. The Lyran Commonwealth came down on the coreward worlds behind Ridzik’s lines and mopped up easily.”
The Prince interlaced his fingers nervously. “Will there be trouble on any of the worlds where Melissa will be traveling?”
Quintus hesitated, and Hanse instantly realized he was about to rehash an old argument. “No, Highness, I do not expect trouble at the worlds in the occupied territory or in the Tikonov Free Republic. Still, I do not think it wise to return your wife to the Lyran Commonwealth on a command circuit that uses inhabited worlds in enemy territory.”
The Prince’s expression darkened. “What would you have me do, Quintus? I refuse to send her back through uninhabited solar systems. If a single JumpShip has a helium failure, she’ll be stuck there—and with this damned interdiction, I’d never know about it. No. She must go through inhabited worlds so repairs could take place in case of an accident.”
Quintus rubbed his fingertips against his temples. “Highness, I understand your concern about helium failures, and I respect that concern. What I fear—treachery on Ridzik’s part could be avoided by sending Melissa back through the Terran Corridor.”
Hanse shook his head sharply. “And risk another Kurita incursion? Last January, they almost cut us off on that frontier. We know all their strength is not committed to the battle with Wolf’s Dragoons in the Galedon District, nor is it involved in driving back Lyran troops. Need I remind you that Melissa and her JumpShip were abducted from Fomalhaut two years ago?”
The Prince glared defiantly at the spymaster. “Ardan will order Ridzik to clear his troops from the systems through which Melissa will travel, and we’ll be done with the problem. Kurita will not strike into Tikonov, and Liao cannot strike there.”
Quintus stood abruptly. “Listen to yourself, Highness! If it were anyone else, you’d be thinking more rationally. Nothing happened to Misha Auburn on her journey here through the Terran Corridor. That way is safe—safer, to my mind, than the path you have selected.”
Hanse drew in a deep breath and forced his anger to dissipate. How do I explain my sense of doom whenever he mentions Melissa traveling through the Terran Corridor? I know his objections are valid, and I should heed his advice, but I can’t. I know, somehow, that if Melissa travels through the Corridor, I will never see her alive again.
Hanse exhaled slowly. “Quintus, old friend, please try to understand. I know what you are saying, and I hear the wisdom of your words.” Hanse opened and closed his hands as if unable to grasp what he really wanted to say. “Trust me. Do what I have asked. The decision is made, and to change it now would invite disaster.”
The plea in the Prince’s voice touched something within his minister. Quintus capitulated with a weary nod. “The orders went out for Ardan to relay to Ridzik yesterday, so it would be difficult to change things now.” He gave the Prince a reassuring smile. “I do trust you and your judgment, sire. But I must make sure, for the sake of the nation, that you do as well.”
The Prince stood and offered Quintus his hand. Gripping the older man’s hand tightly, he pumped his arm firmly. “I doubt I will ever be able to repay you for the sacrifices and services performed by the Allard family, but I want you to know they do not go unappreciated. You give me a luxury only the leader of a great state can truly cherish—someone whom I can trust implicitly.”
Quintus lifted his head high. “And you, Highness, have given the same gift to me.” Quintus broke his grip with the Prince. “By the way, on a
totally different subject, your decision to funnel the liquor and foodstuffs that arrived from the Lyran Commonwealth into a random distribution network has done wonders for morale here on New Avalon. People are already referring to it as the Lyran Lottery, and voter registration has climbed sharply over the last two days so more people will be eligible for the drawings.”
The Prince clapped his hands. “Excellent! I’d hoped for good results from that move. Two things I do not want on New Avalon are charges of elitism among the nobility, and a thriving black market in consumer goods. That’s why I was so glad to hear of your daughter and Morgan organizing an impromptu party for the folks at the hospital.”
Quintus smiled proudly. “Riva was pleased that all the media attention for the party has resulted in an upturn in volunteers at the hospital. I guess it takes some exposure to let people know others have suffered far worse in the war than they have.” Quintus ran his fingers through his white hair. “The newsvid coverage of the event made many people realize how many wounded warriors at the NAIS are far from their homes and that their loneliness is sometimes worse than their wounds.”
Hanse tapped his left index finger against his chin as he thought. “Good point. I think we should encourage more contact between the citizenry and the warriors at the NAIS Medical Center. We need to show that the people on New Avalon are concerned for the sons and daughters of people from the frontiers.” He fixed Quintus with his gaze. “Even though Michael is gone, those who backed him still might be encouraged to stir up trouble now that the war has become more difficult and costly.”
The Minister of Intelligence, Information, and Operations bowed his head. “Consider it done, sire. We’ve struck the head from the snake. Now we’ll make sure its thrashing does no harm.”
Chapter 26
NEW AVALON
CRUCIS MARCH
FEDERATED SUNS
20 JULY 3029
Blue-white moonlight fell across Melissa’s face as she slept. Standing in the shadowed doorway to their bedroom, Hanse watched the slow, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest and smiled. Sleep well, Melissa, for tomorrow a DropShip will carry you away from me again.
With that thought, a sadness bubbled up inside of him. He recognized it instantly and grappled with it like a physical foe that he could break and conquer. The emotion evaded the logical traps he set for it, then spread like a fog throughout his body, bringing with it fatigue.
Hanse stepped into the room, and turning away from the bed, slowly unbuttoned his uniform jacket. He was sad that she had to leave, yet felt guilty over the deception that had kept her here—a virtual prisoner on a world he hoped she would come to know and love as he did.
“Hanse, what’s wrong?” she whispered.
He composed his face in a smile and turned slowly to face her. “Nothing, dearest.”
Sitting up in bed, with the moonlight glinting in gold highlights from her hair and electric blue from her silken nightgown, Melissa looked like a goddess. She draped her arms casually around her knees, but the look in her gray eyes pierced his soul. “Please, tell me. I know it’s no catastrophe because you’re here, and not in your ‘den’ dealing with it. That means it’s something inside you…something you cannot share with your advisors.” She held out a hand to him. “That means it is something you must share with me.”
Hanse walked around the end of the bed and sat on its edge facing her. He took her hands in his, then swallowed hard. “I’m sorry for how you’ve been treated here, and I’m incredibly reluctant to see you go.”
Melissa gave his fingers a squeeze. “What are you talking about, Hanse? I’m very happy here…”
The Prince touched the fingertips of his right hand to her lips. “Don’t say that to make me happy, because I know it’s not true.” He stood up and looked out through the gauzy curtain over the window. “I saw your face light up when Misha stepped off the Caracol. In that instant, you were the happiest you’ve been since we married.”
Her denial came quickly, but lacked just enough emphasis to convince the Prince it was the complete truth. “That’s not true, Hanse.”
The Prince smiled, clasping his hands behind his back. “Ah, but it is, Melissa. You’re a social creature. I’ve watched you charm all those who have met you, and I’ve watched you deftly deflect Morgan Hasek-Davion’s thoughts away from his desire for a command time and time again.” He turned toward her. “I’ve kept you in a gilded cage and denied you the freedom to be yourself. We did not even travel here together, you and I, from the wedding. Had I the chance to do it again, it would be different.”
Melissa stared toward the darkness at the end of the bed. “Who is to say I would want it any different?”
Hanse frowned sharply. “What?”
Melissa glanced at the place where he had been sitting and waited until he seated himself again before continuing. “Yes, my husband, I cannot deny the times when I wished we could have traveled together to New Avalon, or that I ache to appear at your side at some important function here in Avalon City, but the lack of all that does not really make me unhappy.”
She gathered up his hands in hers. “Being here, being with you is important to me. The elaborate dramas we’ve had to create so that we could be together reflect the depth of our feelings for one another. Were I nothing more than the means to securing an alliance, I would still be in the Commonwealth now—possibly shot dead in Jeana’s place—and a mistress would be here with you instead.”
The Prince slowly shook his head. “At least a mistress would have free passage within my palace and my world. You’ve only been permitted visits by people who can meet the highly restrictive requirements of security.”
“Hanse, I cannot say that it hasn’t been difficult, but you grossly overestimate the problem.” When she smiled, joy woke somewhere in Hanse’s heavy heart. “The people I’ve been allowed to meet have given me an insight into you and the realm I’m now part of. Riva Allard, for example, is a brilliant young woman full of life and the desire to make things better. Though I don’t understand half the things she talks about in connection with the New Avalon Institute of Science and her doctoral work there, I do sense her buoyant optimism. The conformity demanded of those in the Draconis Combine, or the rampant paranoia of the Capellan Confederation would probably have broken her spirit by now. Even in my own Lyran Commonwealth, her work would be scrapped if her studies did not show a profit potential.”
Melissa laughed lightly. “And it meant a great deal to me that you brought your old friend Kincaid Fessul here to meet me. I felt as though his approval of me meant more to you than all the advisors who ever said our marriage was the politically brilliant move. I was so nervous, then he cracked a grin and we started talking as if we’d known each other forever.”
Hanse nodded as a smile spread across his face. “Kin may be only a fisherman, but he’s uncommonly wise. I was overjoyed when you two hit it off so famously.”
Melissa drew Hanse’s right hand forward and kissed its palm. “Through him, through Riva and Morgan and Kym, I have seen your realm. I see why they love you—and why they are willing to serve you despite personal disappointments. Morgan Hasek-Davion may want a ’Mech command in the field with every cell in his body, but he’d never dream of disobeying your orders that keep him here. That sort of loyalty can only be earned, never bought or coerced or compelled. Your ability to inspire it is your greatest gift and the secret heart of the Federated Suns.”
Hanse felt a tightening in his throat as her words touched him deeply. He caressed the shadowed side of her face with his right hand. “Thank you for speaking these things, but I don’t know if I’m worthy of such words.”
“Hush.” Her command came softly, but with a strength that demanded immediate compliance. “You doubt your worthiness because of what you have been forced to do. You knew that forbidding General Hartstone to land his Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers before the mercenary regiments joined in the Sarna attack would goad him into an act of sel
f-destruction, and I watched you agonize over that decision for a week. Even though you knew he was fanatically loyal to Duke Michael’s memory and that removing him from command could have ignited a revolt in the Capellan March, you still fought within yourself over the problem. You knew the handful of MechWarriors who did not share Hartstone’s politics would suffer right along with the majority who did, and that almost stayed your hand.”
Her gray eyes reflected the silver moonlight as her voice dropped to a whisper. “What you don’t acknowledge, my love, is that yours was not a decision that condemned those people to death. They would have died in any event—fighting in the Confederation, or leading a rebellion against you. You sought a way to save those who did not deserve death, and the very act of searching proves your sincerity and integrity.”
Hanse chewed on his lower lip, then nodded wearily. “Perhaps you are correct, but I cannot allow myself to accept your assessment fully, nor be completely comfortable with the troublesome decisions I make. If I did, I might stop searching beyond the easy answers.”
Melissa smiled at him. “Have no fear, my husband. In the most unlikely event you were to become complacent, I will always be there to remind you of who and what you truly are.” She chuckled warmly. “And if I cannot manage it, I am certain Kincaid Fessul will be more than equal to the task.”
Hanse joined her in laughter, then a wave of guilt overcame the happy sense of well-being. Letting her laughter die, Melissa noticed the change immediately and looked at the Prince with new concern.
Hanse slid forward on the edge of the bed and hugged his wife close. “Melissa, you are far more than I ever imagined, and you mean more to me than you can ever know.” Hands on her shoulders, he held her at arm’s length to look at her. “I do have one regret, Melissa Arthur Steiner. In all the preparations and negotiations, in all the ceremony and politics, in the holodisk messages and your visit, I never actually asked you to marry me.”
Warrior: Coupé (The Warrior Trilogy, Book Three): BattleTech Legends, #59 Page 20
