Warrior: riposte

by Michael A. Stackpole

  Liao frowned and made to wave away Shang's explanation, but Romano straightened up and smiled at the Maskirovka analyst. "Please, explain what you mean," She turned and smiled sweetly at her father. With a nod and a sigh, he gave Shang leave to comply with her request.

  "Thank you, Lady Romano." Shang cleared his throat and gestured with his right hand. "You might recall the reports we had that a Lyran ship had been hijacked into the Draconis Combine roughly four months ago."

  The Chancellor nodded. "Yes, I seem to remember something about rescue by a mercenary unit." He looked up at Justin and frowned. "That unit in which you have a brother, wasn't it? The Hell Dogs or something . . ."

  Justin nodded. "The Kell Hounds, Enlightened One."

  Shang continued. "We received initial reports that a highly placed member of the Lyran court had been traveling in secret to the Federated Suns on that ship. Our sources reported the purpose of the trip as medical treatment at the New Avalon Institute of Science. Since then, we have determined that no such treatment ever took place, and we have confirmed schedules and firm reports of sightings for all the important members of the Lyran court. Obviously, the purpose of the visit was to seal an agreement— prompted by the success of the 3024 accords you signed with Marik and Kurita on Terra—that arranged for the marriage."

  Liao leaned back in his throne and steepled his fingers. "Why did you not have this information before?"

  Shang hesitated, and Justin stepped forward. "If I might, Highness, I would suggest that we did not have this information sooner because of the bureaucracy and the way it has become entrenched. Getting the reports we needed to confirm these suspicions took months . . ."

  Liao shot forward. "Who denied you this vital data? Give me his name and he will be dealt with shortly. I will not have incompetents around me."

  Candace glanced at Justin, then moved forward, eclipsing her sister. "Father, I do not believe Citizen Xiang is singling out one person as the cause of this problem." She turned toward Justin and nodded at him. "Please, Citizen, continue."

  "As your daughter has suggested, it is not the fault of any one person, Universal Paragon. Consider that, for the longest time, the Maskirovka was concerned with the Free Worlds League. This is a valid concern, and the civil war we prompted there certainly sapped much of House Marik's vitality. Because of this attention, the Maskirovka's Marik section has grown, and much of the information from the Lyran sector now filters through it. The longer the chain, the slower the transmission and the more likely the distortion of the message."

  Tsen Shang nodded cautiously. "Citizen Xiang and I have also noticed a reliance in our sector on the troop information and other intelligence coming from Michael Hasek-Davion."

  "What is wrong with that?" the Chancellor roared. "It is from him that we have finally learned of this marriage."

  Shang held his hands forward. "Nothing is wrong with using his information, Highness, but our other operations seem to be secondary to this one source. The information still comes in, but our analysts are so busy sorting through the Duke's data that they cannot clear as much of the other data as they should."

  Liao narrowed his eyes and turned to Chandra Ling. "What are you doing about this?"

  Ling smiled serenely. "In my discussions with Shang and Xiang, they have suggested creating a 'crisis team.' It would be an elite group of analysts concerned solely with solving special problems or investigating odd situations. They would operate at a level just below my office, and could command information from all the sectors, bypassing the normal bureaucratic channels."

  Liao nodded curtly. "Very well." He pointed at the two analysts. "You will assemble the staff you need and will move into the Palace. I want you here and on call at all times. You will never be more than twelve hours distant from me, unless I order you away on some mission."

  Shang's jaw dropped open. Justin shared a timid glance with him, then looked up at the Chancellor. "Excellency, I believe the Director might have more suitable candidates in mind for this crisis team."

  Liao rocked back in his throne. "How could she disagree that the two of you are the correct choices? You are new enough in the Sian organization not to have become trapped in the bureaucracy. It is your plan, and so you will execute it. I am certain the Director sees this as the only logical choice."

  Liao glanced down at the Maskirovka Director long enough to see her weary nod of agreement, then he stared off above the heads of both analysts. "Now, what shall we do about this treacherous new turn of events that Hanse Davion has engineered for us?"

  Before they could answer, Liao had shot to his feet, anger darkening his expression. Justin turned just enough to see the chamber's main door opening and the helpless minister cringe beneath Liao's verbal assault. "What are you doing?" the Chancellor screamed. "I gave orders I was not to be disturbed!"

  "May I die a thousand deaths if this is not important, O He-Whom-The-Universe-Envies." The pale minister looked back toward the outer chamber. "It is Lord Victor Robertson, the Federated Suns' Ambassador. He says he comes concerning a matter of great urgency!"

  "Indeed!" Maximilian Liao settled back down on his throne like a cat basking on a sun-warmed window sill. "Send him in. It has been too long since I have eaten a Davion envoy alive. This I shall enjoy."

  3

  Sian

  Sian Commonality Capellan Confederation

  15 October 3027

  A large, robust man with a thick shock of black hair, Lord Victor Robertson ate up the distance between the door and Liao's throne with the enthusiasm of a child dashing for presents. A large, most undiplomatic smile displayed his true feelings, though it faded slightly when he noticed Justin standing beside Tsen Shang. He shot Justin a dagger glance of pure hatred, then faced Liao and bowed respectfully.

  "I am grateful to you for taking the time to see me." Robertson's tenor voice expressed deep sincerity, yet rang with a counter-current that Justin recognized instantly.

  Victor, you cannot fool me. I remember the time you spent as my father's aide when he served in the Embassy here. You have something up your sleeve. But what is it? Justin lifted his head and caught Candace watching him. She turned away smoothly. Smoothly, but not naturally enough to prevent suspicion. What does she have up her sleeve?

  Maximilian Liao bowed his head, then smiled in his most predatory fashion. "I will always have time for an envoy from the Fox." Liao swept his right hand toward his daughters. "You remember, of course, my daughters Candace and Romano."

  Robertson bowed to them—though not as deeply as he had to their father—and smiled. "A pleasure, as always. It must give you great joy to have most of your children here for the coming celebration."

  Liao ignored the veiled reference to his disinherited son Tormana, and nodded at the mistress of the Maskirovka. "And you have met Chandra Ling?"

  Again Robertson bowed and smiled effortlessly. "Madame Ling and I met two years ago, or has it been even longer than that?" When Ling made no reply, the Davion Ambassador shrugged almost imperceptibly. "It is good to see you, Madame Ling."

  Liao let his smile grow as he directed Robertson's attention toward the two Maskirovka analysts. "Lest you think me impolite, allow me to present Tsen Shang and Justin Xiang. They are Maskirovka specialists in dealing with the Federated Suns."

  Robertson reinforced his automatic smile and nodded to Shang. "If I may be of service . . ."

  The Ambassador started to turn back toward the throne, but Liao did not let him escape so easily. "Oh, it occurs to me that you might already know Justin Xiang. I believe you knew him as Justin Allard."

  Robertson stiffened. "If it pleases you, Chancellor, I would prefer not to renew my acquaintance with this quisling."

  Liao stood. "It pleases me, Lord Victor, for you to be polite to my citizens."

  Justin stepped forward and offered the Ambassador his right hand. "Hello, Victor."

  Robertson ignored Justin's gesture. "Xiang! You should have died on Solar
is VII. It would have saved everyone so much trouble."

  Justin smiled slyly. "Lost some money on that last fight, did you, Victor?"

  Robertson turned back toward Liao. "Chancellor, I have come on important business for my Prince."

  Liao shook his head slightly, then wearily settled back against his throne. "This, Ambassador, I cannot understand. In the Federated Suns, you place so much importance upon mission and duty. Here, in my realm, we value friendship and people even higher. I would have thought you pleased to see an old friend again."

  Robertson started to reply, but Justin cut him off. "The Ambassador was not, Celestial Worship, a friend per se. He worked for my father and spent much of his time pushing my stroller through the Teng Gardens and the Chou Zoological Park."

  Liao stiffened. "Forgive me then, Citizen Xiang, for forcing remembrances of this servant upon you."

  The Chancellor plunges the knife in, and I get to twist it. "No matter, Highness, I recall him fondly. He served well."

  Robertson's face flushed scarlet, but he managed to retain his composure. "If you will permit me, Chancellor, I serve still better now than I ever did before. I have a message here for you from my Prince. Hanse Davion, I am told, personally wrote and sealed the letter. It has come by JumpShip all the way from New Aval on with instructions that I deliver it into your hands." Robertson drew a small tan envelope from the breast of his suit, and extended it toward the throne.

  Liao slitted his eyes. "Citizen Xiang, bring the envelope to me."

  Robertson half turned to shield the note with his body, but Justin plucked it from his hands effortlessly. Never did have a MechWarrior's reflexes, did you, Victor? Sharing a smile with Maximilian Liao, Justin mounted the steps to the throne, but his head did not rise above the level of the Chancellor's own pate.

  Liao took the proffered missive, but stopped Justin's retreat with a single word. "Wait." He slid a finger beneath the seal and broke open the envelope. Pulling the folded note from the envelope, he glanced at the writing on it and smiled. "As I suspected, the Prince wrote it in his native tongue. If you will, Citizen Xiang, read it."

  Justin accepted the note and hesitated. Davion's own handwriting, that's certain. One word caught his eye and the shock registered throughout his body. No! I cannot believe it! Justin glanced up at Robertson and his heart sank. You know, don't you, you bastard, and all your training can't keep the mirth from your eyes.

  Liao leaned forward and rested a hand on Justin's shoulder. "I meant for you to read it aloud, Citizen."

  Justin nodded. "Forgive me, Universal Wisdom, but I am not sure..."

  The hand tightened on his shoulder, and Liao's voice grew colder. "But I am, Citizen, read it... ALOUD."

  Justin swallowed hard. "My dear Chancellor, I know this is unorthodox, and official documents and invitations will follow soon, but I wanted you to hear it from me first. On August 20 of next year, I shall wed Melissa Steiner, and the day would not be complete without your presence."

  4

  New Avalon

  Cruris March, Federated Suns

  21 October 3027

  The image of Lord Victor Robertson smiled out from the holovid screen. "And so, my Prince, Justin Xiang read your note aloud, as he had been so commanded. You would have loved the look of dread that turned his face pale. Trapped between you and Maximilian Liao, he suddenly came to the realization that you could reach him even in the heart of the Capellan capital."

  The Ambassador let his unbridled pleasure at the tale he was about to relate show on his face. "When Liao heard the words Xiang was reading, he snatched the paper from him and read it over to himself. Then he ripped the note into a cloud of scraps, and stared down at me." Robertson hunched his shoulders and thrust an imperious finger at the audience. In a fair imitation of Liao's hoarse and angry hiss, the Ambassador continued. "Leave here immediately, you jackanapes. Tell your master that this is an outrage!"

  The Ambassador bowed his head. "I regret to report, my Prince, that I was not able to carry away a formal reply to your message."

  Hanse Davion hit the pause button on the remote control and froze his Ambassador's image on the screen. He turned and smiled easily at the other two men in the room. His light blue eyes flashed with pure pleasure. "The Ambassador did well."

  "Indeed." Quintus Allard, the acting Minister of Intelligence, Information, and Operations nodded his white-maned head toward the leader of the Federated Suns. "Not only does he accurately portray Chancellor Liao in a rage, but his report of the people assembled 'by chance' in the throne room indicates that something was up."

  The third man in the room wore the blue and gold uniform of a Colonel in Davion's House Guards. "You don't suppose Hanse's note to Michael was being discussed in that room, do you?"

  Hanse Davion stared at his best friend. "Once again, Ardan Sortek, your ability to locate a needle within a haystack amazes me."

  Ardan shrugged. "As much as I hate politics, Hanse, you know I despise traitors more." Ardan turned his attention from the red-haired Prince to Quintus Allard. "Michael got his note on the tenth. Could the news have been transmitted that quickly to Sian?"

  Quintus nodded. "For a huge fee, ComStar can transmit anything across space very quickly. I would guess that the information in that note to Michael would have been considered important enough to be sent by the quickest possible means. Even though we all agree that Michael must be working with Liao, proof of their collusion is not conclusive, and some facts might even contraindicate the idea of their partnership."

  Hanse stood and walked from the overstuffed chair back to his ancient wooden desk. "Break it down simply, Quintus. What do we have that suggests Michael was the one who transmitted the information?"

  The Minister smiled. "Within two hours of receiving your message, Michael demanded an audience with the Capellan Ambassador, Serge Korigyn. The meeting was short, and by some reports, very heated. Aides believed, at one point, that the two would come to blows."

  Hanse nodded. "Nothing in the meeting has been taken as an information transfer?"

  Quintus shook his head. "We only have a written transcript of the meeting. As you know, we have still been unable to get recording devices in: Michael is paranoid about them and has the place swept constantly. My cypher section has poured over the words and they cannot discover the trace of any code in them. We've even tried correlating the speech patterns with other speeches or conversations we have on file for either man. The meeting dialog came across as natural and unrehearsed."

  Ardan frowned. "I had really hoped that this trap of yours would work, Hanse. We knew the information would be irresistible to Michael—and vital to Liao."

  Quintus held up a hand to calm Ardan. "Michael's not out of the woods yet, Colonel. He summoned Korigyn from a hunting lodge, and the Ambassador appeared in full regalia—everything from rubber waders and a warm jacket to a bird dog. At one point, when the Duke and the Ambassador stood nose to nose arguing, the dog began to howl."

  Hanse lifted an eyebrow. "The dog was trying to protect its master?"

  Quintus laughed. "Reports from the field agents we slip into the Capellan Embassy from time to time report that this dog has no territorial instincts at all. In fact, the agents say that for a scratch behind the ears and some treats, the dog will stand guard while they're placing bugs around the compound. No, it was not protecting its master. I think something hurt it."

  Ardan stood and crossed to the small bar in the corner to Hanse's right. "What do you mean, hurt it?" He opened a refrigerator and withdrew a bottle of soda water. "Nobody in the room hit the animal, did they?"

  Quintus shook his head, both to answer the question and to refuse the refreshment Ardan offered him. "You may recall that some of our people hypothesize that Michael was using a sonic transfer device to shoot encoded data over to a Capellan agent? Because we can't record in the office, I never had any proof. I'm willing to bet, though, that a sound at a frequency too high for a Human to hea
r would probably sound like a piercing shriek to the dog. It's flimsy, but we'll work on it."

  Ardan smiled. "What will you do, bug the dog?"

  Quintus nodded. "Orders to that effect went out last night."

  Hanse frowned. "Something you said earlier bothers me. That there was evidence to contradict collusion between Michael and Max Liao. Explain, because if this is true, we're working a strategy on a very shaky foundation."

  The Minister nodded slowly. "Don't take what I said as a denial of Michael's treason. Never doubt it. Michael is selling us out. Liao's troop movements are perfectly consistent with the figures and strengths we send Michael. There is even some movement on the Draconis border that suggests Liao is leaking information to Takashi Kurita. Fortunately, the information we've been passing Michael could be considered, at best, flawed. In fact, because of Liao's reliance upon Michael, some indications show Capellan field operations to be withering in our area."

  Hanse pursed his lips. "So, what is it that makes you think Michael and Max are not working fist in glove?"

  Quintus laughed. "Well, just as we are sending Michael false information, it appears he is doing the same to Max Liao. Michael faithfully and accurately passes along information on Federated Suns troops and operations, but he has been altering the reports of his own troop strengths. We know this by the way Liao has been posting troops facing Michael's forces. The Liao garrisons are 10 to 20 percent understrength for the troops they are facing."

  "Why, that little weasel!" Ardan shook his head. "Can't trust him at all. Is he loyal to anything?"

  Hanse nodded slowly. "Michael is loyal to House Hasek. His father, Duke George Hasek, worked hard to improve the family fortunes, and Michael grew up believing in the 'Hasek Destiny.' He married my half-sister Marie to ensure a place in the line of succession, and until I marry and my wife bears me a child, Michael's son Morgan is, technically, my heir."