LE5790 - Illusions Of Victory

by Loren L. Coleman

  "My friends," he lied, "welcome to Paradise. I would like to thank Mr. DeLon for helping me arrange this afternoon's meeting."

  Jerry Stroud was the owner of Skye Tiger Stables and possibly the second-most dangerous man after Drew on Solaris VII. "Why is this meeting being held in Kobe?" he asked, voice carefully guarded. While Stroud often affected an upper-class manner, Drew knew that it concealed a ruthless and predatory nature. "And why today?" he went on. "The SSOA mid-tournament lunch is usually held tomorrow, before the Day Five matches when the playing field has been narrowed to the final eight."

  Drew wasn't about to admit that he'd chosen Kobe because it was inconvenient for the two Silesians present. "Coming from a man whose final contender is predicted to fall in the first sixty seconds against Theodore Gross tonight, I would think you'd appreciate an early meeting so that you might attend."

  Stroud glowered, but didn't take the bait. Drew decided to prod him again. "In answer to your question, we meet today instead of tomorrow because Thomas DeLon has raised the issue of the recent"—he paused— "troubles between the Black Hills and Silesia. Damage to the Boreal Reach arena is a serious concern. The Kobe sector seemed to be more neutral ground. You have no objection to meeting me on equal footing, do you, Jerry?"

  Seated between Drew and Stroud, Nicole Singh smiled and stifled a laugh. Perhaps she was recalling another meeting of a few months back, when Stroud had accused Drew of hiring some local mercenaries to sabotage the Clan OmniMech he'd just managed to purchase. The powerful machine might have won Skye Tiger a prime position and made possible sortie interesting matches against Singh's outcast Diamond Shark warrior and Drew's Clan Smoke Jaguar renegade. There were still many who enjoyed seeing the former Clanners beat on each other. At the time Stroud had commented that Drew wanted the 'Mech destroyed because he was afraid to meet Stroud on equal footing.

  Stroud flushed with anger. "If I ever find proof, you'd better watch out, Hasek."

  Drew pulled himself up proudly. "Hasek-Davion," he snapped, though that sword certainly cut both ways. He had appropriated the Davion name years before, though his only tie was remote, through marriage twice-removed rather than by blood. He'd once hoped it would win him a political boost among those who opposed the ruling Davion line, especially in the Capellan March where the Haseks governed and a Hasek-Davion had once held great power and prominence. So far that path to greater power had been a dead end. People seemed ill-disposed to turn on the current ruling Hasek line.

  Though he kept his new name, Drew had then embraced the more hard-core anti-Davion sentiment, opposing the merger between the Federated Suns and the old Lyran state. Only to find himself once again on the losing side of a wager. And now, this year, here he was one of the strongest Davion supporters. At least, in front of the cameras. The viewing public had a very short memory.

  "Don't waste your time, Jerry. There's no proof to find." That was because Drew had guaranteed that sabotage of the OmniMech could not be linked back to him. Both men knew the showdown was coming, though by unspoken consent they were waiting until a new Champion emerged from the Grand Tournament. At least, Drew appeared to be waiting.

  "Shall we table business matters until after we've eaten?" Drew asked the group in general. Besides Nicole Singh, Stroud, and DeLon, also seated at the table were Tran Ky Bo, another Black Hills stable master, and beyond him Jurgen Gaalf, representing the interests of Montenegro. Only the Liao-affiliated stables were not represented, though by choice rather than exclusion. Jerry Stroud did not look ready to drop the argument, but retreated when no one else offered to back him up.

  The beautifully prepared dishes had been set on ceramic plates arranged around a revolving wheel that comprised the table's center. The Paradise's specialty was tea-smoked riverwader, the Solaran equivalent of duck. The tender meat seemed to dissolve on the tongue, leaving behind a wonderful smoky taste. There were also plates of hot and spicy chicken served over a large bed of rice, shrimp tempura, and yakisoba, in quantities the stable owners could not possibly ever eat.

  The moment they touched their food, a trio of the hana josei returned with green tea, sake, and a dark plum wine, which they poured for everyone. Not a drop was spilled or a cup rattled against saucer. So light was their presence that it was almost as if they did not exist at all, but were simply beautiful apparitions conjured to serve. They reappeared occasionally, sweeping through the room to see that glasses were filled and to whisk away dishes as necessary—one at a time rather than risk unnecessary noise with stacking. Even Drew, who had been waiting for the meal to finish, could not say for certain when the last dish disappeared and suddenly the stable owners were left alone with their drinks and a clear table over which to talk.

  "Time for business," he said, opening the meeting. "I know Thomas is worried about what happened under Boreal Reach last evening, the live fire that damaged the Davion arena. Also the violence in the streets that has continued even to this morning. I think there may have been a few deaths." He knew very well that five residents of the Black Hills and twelve Silesians had been killed in the sporadic rioting. So far. "I believe we should address the issue."

  Jurgen Gaalf nodded. "I agree. We've got to do something about it, but what?"

  At first everyone was silent. After all, Drew had already spoken for DeLon, preempting what might have been an impassioned plea for calm and control—neither of which suited Drew's plans. He folded his pudgy hands on the edge of the table and softened his voice as he spoke. "Or, should we do nothing about it?"

  Gaalf seemed shocked by the very idea, as did Tran Ky Bo. The others kept their poker faces in place. "Is it our business to put down riots?" Drew asked. "Why should the stable owners cut into their own profits because of Solaris City's lunatic fringe?"

  "When our fighters are the nucleus of the trouble, it is our inherent responsibility to hold ourselves accountable," Gaalf stated emphatically.

  Noble sentiments from a stable cloaking itself in virtuous white-knight behavior, but Jurgen Gaalf didn't fool Drew for a minute. The man didn't have to get involved in name-calling and political posturing because everyone else did the work for him. His people could play at being above such petty squabbles, and by saying so publicly— and quite often—actually contributed to the rivalries. If that idea were not so limiting in its options, Drew might have been jealous.

  Tran Ky Bo was already nodding vigorously in support of Gaalf, though he would likely do so on any matter that opposed Drew Hasek-Davion. That one-sided feud was well known, and the owner of Starlight automatically set himself against anything he thought might favor Drew. That was all right with Drew; he saved his efforts for more dangerous game.

  Such as Thomas DeLon, who was far more influential. "The fighters should not be making these matches personal," DeLon said. "There is plenty of profit potential without the theatrics. And without trying to turn our fighters and the fans against each other."

  Someone else would have to answer DeLon, or else Drew would seem isolated, and then like sharks on a bleeding brother the others would all turn on him. And against Blackstar Stables. Fortunately, though, Blackstar wasn't the only outfit that counted on the personality cults of its 'Warriors and the strong rivalries that resulted in impressive ticket sales and lucrative broadcast rights. He would have preferred to see Jerry Stroud step in—had counted on it—but Nicole Singh jumped in next.

  "That's very easy for you to say, Mr. DeLon." Young enough to be DeLon's granddaughter, Nicole felt obliged to address him with utmost respect. "After all, Kobe is again the wealthiest sector in Solaris City ever since the Combine opened its doors to the games. And I believe you own three fighters in the top twenty. Your fortunes are safe." Drew gave Nicole full marks for the way she isolated DeLon as the wealthiest man at the table, a position every one of the others coveted. Vernon Singh knew what he was doing, sending his daughter in his place.

  "My father remembers, as I'm certain many of you do as well, the hard times stable
owners had after the Feeding Frenzy days of the Clan invasion. No one had it easy. The MechWarriors made the difference, giving people champions to rally behind. But champions need their enemies, or they become faceless beings again."

  DeLon shook his head, though lightly. "I still do not like it."

  "We could vote on it. Whether or not to intercede." Gaalf again. Drew tired of his interference. Gaalf didn't want the vote any more than he did, though he tried to make it seem so. But suggesting a vote and actually calling for it were two different things. Again, the Montenegran was letting someone else do all the work to defuse the situation.

  Still, the sides were forming. Drew counted DeLon, Gaalf, and Tran Ky Bo against him. Nicole Singh made an unexpected but welcome ally. It would look good for a Davion and a Steiner-affiliated stable to stand together, while Tran Ky Bo split the Davion ranks. No one could claim that national rivalries had influenced the voting for the worst. Only for the side of better business.

  "It seems," he said, "that Lion City and Blackstar stables agree to disagree. And yes, we could vote, though I should tell you it won't do much good. The vote binds us, not necessarily our fighters. And Michael Searcy is making a press appearance even now." He smiled in feigned good humor. "If he and Vandergriff meet tomorrow, it should be a fight to remember."

  Tran Ky Bo had leaned in when Drew said that such a vote would not apply to the MechWarriors. He scoffed in open amazement. "You can't control your own fighter?"

  Drew's smile turned nasty. "Coming from a man whose contender started a 'fight' under Boreal Reach, I find that an inappropriate question."

  "It was self-defense," Tran Ky Bo retorted, though his voice fell a few degrees in strength.

  "So say you. Regardless, that was the heat of the moment. Michael is entertaining the press because it's good business. And you all know it." He speared Tran with an appraising look, knowing that everyone in the room was aware of the Edward-Payne grudge match Tran had rescheduled for the following night. "Tell me honestly that you haven't profited more in your Davion-Steiner rivalry fights."

  Tran Ky Bo remained mute, but Drew noticed Jerry Stroud watching carefully, critically. Drew may have been facing down his rival for power in the Black Hills, but it was really to Stroud that he was appealing. Stroud, who now held the swing vote in the dispute. Without the open rivalries, Stroud could not make an issue of coming after Blackstar Stables, and Drew Hasek-Davion, in particular. He could challenge, yes, but without expecting the usual boost in publicity. And that hurt the bottom line, made a feud far less profitable. Jerry Stroud was strong, but did not have the deep resources available to Drew Hasek-Davion.

  Drew knew that Stroud might also vote against him just for the sake of being contrary. So instead he turned his attention to Thomas DeLon, who was conducting his own silent poll of the table. Nicole Singh obviously stood with Drew, just as Tran Ky Bo offered Thomas his silent nod of support. Gaalf remained noncommittal, though if forced he would certainly vote with DeLon. That left Stroud, and even now the Lyran shifted in his seat to face Thomas more directly. He would obviously not side with DeLon Stables should Thomas call the vote.

  Knowing better than to push a losing position, Thomas DeLon folded his hand and stood up. "I have made my concerns known. That is all I wanted. Kobe is not yet afflicted by this insanity you play at, so I will not try to force my views upon you. Let us get on with the Grand Tournament. When a Champion has been selected, or confirmed, perhaps we shall visit this subject again."

  There it was. Drew also stood up across the table from Thomas. They both knew the fight was merely delayed, not settled. "Shall we adjourn?" he asked. Thomas nodded to second the motion.

  Everyone else voted with their feet.

  * * *

  Garrett sat waiting in Drew's own sedan, affecting an air of disdain for the world around him, but Drew knew it was all an act. He was careful to keep his amusement in check, knowing the renegade Smoke Jaguar might too easily take offense. He also knew that the only time Garrett wanted to enter Kobe was for the purpose of stomping snakes in Ishiyama.

  The Combine-affiliated sector always set the Clanner on edge. The Star League had driven the Smoke Jaguars from the Inner Sphere in shame, and then followed them back to their homeworld to smash them into extinction. Garrett felt a killing hatred for the Star League and anyone or anything connected to it, but even he realized it was futile to set himself against the whole of the Inner Sphere. Because his Clan had occupied the Draconis Combine and the Combine military had been instrumental in defeating the Jaguars, Garrett focused his rage against anything remotely hinting of House Kurita.

  That had proven most rewarding, financially. For a while.

  "You are amused. Everything went as you planned, quiaff?" he asked Drew.

  Drew would have to be more careful if Garrett could read him so easily. He had survived the rout of his Clan, then made his way to the Game World with a Clan OmniMech. In private he sneered at Solaris VII, but the arenas were his only outlet for wreaking vengeance on those who had annihilated his Clan. His meteoric rise in the standings had been incredible. His quick fall slightly less impressive in Drew's eyes.

  "Yes, Garrett. They have decided not to decide anything. Though I'm sure Thomas DeLon thought he had me for a moment. He'll wait now and hope to use Theodore Gross' fifth Championship as leverage against me." Drew laughed inwardly as Garrett physically recoiled with each contraction, the corner of his eye twitching. Clan warriors had a total aversion to such "lazy" forms of speech. "There's a chance it'll happen, but I'm betting heavily it won't." Twitch-twitch-blink-twitch.

  The driver pulled the sedan out of the Paradise's protected parking onto Pillar of Gold Street, from there turning onto the avenue dedicated to Theodore Kurita. Drew settled back for the ride. Garrett sat ramrod straight, disdaining the luxury of the car's plush interior. "You should have let me kill Gross. Then the problem would not exist."

  So that was the reason behind this requested meeting. Drew sighed, though the argument didn't surprise him. "You didn't get close enough to threaten his position. Once you lost to Srin Odessa, it was all over." Drew didn't add that it was Kasigi Mihabu, the most junior Kurita warrior, who had bumped Garrett from the Top Twenty altogether.

  "So long as I live, it will never be over. There are more Clansmen here now, fighting up through the lesser arenas. When we are ready, you will bring us together under one crest. Our crest. I have your word."

  As easily rescinded as given, Drew thought, but he let the Clanner believe what he wished. Garrett had fought well at first, furious and full of fire. All that changed once word came back that the Smoke Jaguars were dead and their military eradicated. His earlier fire had simply vanished. He still fought well, making few mistakes technically, but the drive was gone. It was as if the cloak of invincibility that had shielding him for so long had been torn away. The first time Drew heard Garrett referred to as the Smoked Jaguar, he knew it was time to concentrate fully on Michael Searcy. Garrett had even failed to win a spot in this year's Grand Tournament.

  "We shall have to see, Garrett. Let me get through this tournament, and then . . . maybe."

  Garrett wasn't giving up so easily. "You will let me fight Searcy for the top position in Blackstar Stables?"

  "No." There was no profit in it. Drew knew he must always give the public what they wanted, or at least what they could be persuaded to want. And either way, Clan Smoke Jaguar was old news.

  "Michael will be Champion, and there is more to that position than winning fights in the arenas." He looked at Garrett for a moment. "You could learn much from young Searcy."

  Garrett glowered fiercely. To imply that a Clan true-born could learn warfare from an Inner Sphere freebirth was an insult. Like every Clan warrior, Garrett was the result of genetic engineering. "Combat is the ultimate teacher," he said, voice almost a growl.

  "There I might be able to do something," Drew said. It was time to turn Garrett back toward his enemy. "Our
recent schedule changes have opened up a slot on Day Five. A match in Ishiyama and against a junior DeLon 'Warrior." He saw the hungry gleam in Garrett's eyes. "If I slate you for that match, can I count on a solid victory over our enemies?"

  "Aff!" Garrett said.

  "Can you kill him?"

  The Clanner's eyes narrowed into unreadable slits. "What do you put against his life?"

  Though taken aback for a brief moment, Drew silently commended Garrett. Before, he would have accepted that order as a gain in itself. Now he was ready to set a price on such actions. Perhaps the Jaguar renegade was not finished in the games after all. He studied Garrett's face carefully. "You fighting Michael Searcy. The idea is . . . interesting."

  The predatory grin Garrett gave him was all Drew needed to see that the man was hooked. It always paid to know what a person most wanted. Of course, what Drew Hasek-Davion most wanted right now was a diversion to occupy Thomas DeLon while Drew turned the rest of Blackstar Stables against the Skye Tigers. Jerry Stroud's time was coming, and Drew didn't intend to wait for the fight to come to him. He would go on the offensive today, with a series of grudge matches and clandestine operations. And so what if Garrett was now setting his sights on Searcy? Michael could look after himself, and it wasn't as if Drew had promised to arrange the match in an arena.

  Besides, there was the very real possibility that Michael might someday outlive his usefulness. Careful planning always demanded that contingency plans be set in place.