Masters of War

by Michael A. Stackpole

  Most importantly, the Jade Falcons were unlikely to accept being blasted through. Their internal struggle might make them appear to be weak, but both sides would certainly unite to oppose the Wolves. The Jade Falcons had fought tooth and talon when the Exiles first made their escape, and there was no reason to assume the Falcons would do less this time.

  Even if it is the shortest distance between two points, one should never willingly wander into a minefield.

  Donovan rose next to present his plan. At the touch of a button on his datapad, the Inner Sphere map shifted. Individual data windows concerning worlds bordered the whole map, shifting to the center and growing larger as he spoke about each world in turn. Given his nature and the number of the worlds, Alaric guessed the presentation would take only slightly less time than the exodus itself.

  “As you can see, the pressing needs for speed and secrecy are the driving factors in my plan as well. I have mapped out several routes to our destinations that I consider optimal. By creating a relay system of JumpShips, we can move our assets very quickly across Commonwealth space and have our troops positioned to counter any Marik strikes. As you will note, I have graphed the speed with which news tends to radiate out from worlds, and I have broken those worlds down into classes. We will be moving through the third class of worlds, the ones that rarely contribute information of value or timeliness to discussions within the Lyran Commonwealth, significantly delaying news of our passage. Secondarily, I have grouped the worlds into networks that map data transmission, and have adjusted our travel routes accordingly.

  “This then brings me to a discussion of the merits of our various units and the optimal configurations for their transport priority based on performance estimates, working relationships between personnel, compatibility of equipment on an intraunit basis, interunit basis, and resupply capability of the various worlds where we will be stationed. In all cases I was able to find matchups that provided a minimum eighty percent combat-effective compatibility rating. The one world pushing that envelope on the downside is within striking distance of a highly compatible Marik world, so we might just hit it and take it preemptively.”

  Donovan then proceeded to take the assembly through his plan, stage by stage, pouring a mind-numbing amount of detail onto the holographic display. He truly had covered everything, and even provided statistical variations to account for transport failures and other unforeseen circumstances—though the success of his plan counted on fewer rather than more disasters.

  One small detail had escaped him. Bjorn’s plan had involved an attack on the Jade Falcons. It was predicated on being able to repeat the success of the first exodus, led by Khan Phelan Ward. Donovan, instead of repeating history, chose to let speed maintain secrecy. If people were able to move on his timetables, the window for discovery and reaction would be tiny.

  The problem was, success depended on a lack of discovery. A chance raid by a Falcon or Ghost Bear force could reveal everything. That, after all, was the problem with deception: If it didn’t work, it was absolutely worthless. Magicians had known that for ages. If you plan to deceive, you must first misdirect. Donovan’s plan provided no misdirection, no way to control the minds of the enemy.

  Without controlling their minds, you allow them to think independently. That gives them the chance to think of a way to oppose your plans.

  Finally Donovan concluded his presentation. Khan Ward rose. “Thank you, Star Colonel Donovan. You have given us a great deal to consider. Though it is a little early, I suggest we break now for lunch, and resume the briefings in the afternoon. Does that meet with your approval, Star Colonel Wolf?”

  Alaric stood slowly. “Actually, sir, I would prefer to give my presentation now. I am aware of the hour and will be able to give my presentation without delaying lunch.”

  Donovan shook his head and tapped the datapad. Bjorn just smiled. The khan’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “Proceed, Star Colonel.”

  “As has been noted, speed and secrecy are paramount to this operation. If we cannot move quickly enough, we risk exposure and being preemptively cut off from our objective. The problems we face are simple. Delays will happen. Secrets will be revealed. We have no control over either factor, no matter the depth of our planning. The key to success, then, lies in managing the reaction of others when they learn of our plans, and channeling their reactions into events that are to our benefit.”

  Alaric tapped his own datapad and the Inner Sphere map appeared. “The most logical routes into the Lyran Commonwealth are obvious and certainly should be used. These will be the routes along which our support personnel will move as quickly as possible. Full employment of our assets in this capacity should allow our noncombatants to reach the designated homeworlds by April of next year, provided we begin moving by the middle of January. This schedule would involve completely stripping these worlds and destroying anything of use to the Ghost Bears or Jade Falcons. This exodus, logistical nightmare that it is, can be accomplished and shall be.

  “It is important to remember, however, that we are Wolves. We are warriors first and foremost, not meant to slink through stars silently or retrace steps taken by our ancestors. Ours is the right and duty to blaze new trails. Not only do we know this, but our enemies know this. They know it is the fabric of who we are, and it is playing to their knowledge of who we are that will win the day for us.”

  He hit a button on the datapad, and the map tightened to show a slice of the Inner Sphere running from the Wolf occupation zone down through the former Republic Prefecture IX. “I propose that we initiate a push into the former Republic and drive toward Terra. We pour down through Prefecture Nine and hit Jade Falcon worlds on the way. We push all the way to the edge of The Republic’s core. And I propose we tell everyone exactly what we are doing.”

  Murmurs sounded, and Donovan’s chuckle rose above them all, but Alaric ignored them. “I propose we tell the Falcons and the Ghost Bears that we are driving for Terra, that we will shatter The Republic’s fortress and accomplish what we started out to do nearly a century ago. We are tired of waiting, of having our martial spirit questioned. We are going to prove the might of the Clans once and for all.

  “Imagine what our enemies will think. You know they will all believe it. They will marshal forces to get there before us, but entangled as they are in their own affairs, they will be hard pressed to do it. Because we say we are stripping everything for this drive, risking it all, the Falcons and Ghost Bears will also have to flood our occupation zone to fill the void. The Marik pretenders and every other House in the Inner Sphere will have to make preparations for the event of our success, calculating what it will mean to them.”

  Alaric smiled slowly. “We will not need to hide what we are doing. We will be in charge of our enemies’ perception. They will see what we want them to see. They will react against what they believe we are doing. They will be in no position to stop us. By the time they learn our true plans, if they ever do, it will be too late.

  “It will be too late because we are Wolves. We are warriors. They fear us. All of them, and with good reason. Our courage and audacity will leave them gasping and reacting, not planning and anticipating. They will allow us our victory simply because they cannot conceive of a way to stop us.”

  Khan Ward leaned forward in his chair. “This is interesting, Star Colonel Alaric. I only have one problem with it.”

  “Sir?”

  The khan raised an eyebrow. “If we tell our enemies that we are driving for Terra, we will be lying to them. Is this not beneath us?”

  “We would not be lying, sir.” Alaric lifted his chin. “I set a challenge, sir. I bid for the right to take Terra.”

  The khan frowned. “Our enemies would see through so thin a deception.”

  “It is no deception. If we make it to Nusakan, we can make it to Terra.”

  “And I would bid against you, saying the ability to reach Nusakan is insufficient evidence of success in taking Terra.”

&n
bsp; “Yes, sir.”

  “It is a bold plan, and one not without merit. If I accepted your plan and your challenge, you know you would have rivals in its execution.” The khan glanced at Bjorn and Donovan. “They may not possess your audacity, Alaric, but they are not to be discounted. Neither are the troops you would face.”

  “I am aware of that, sir.” But they are mere mortals. “I have the utmost respect for them and our enemies. I simply believe that they leave themselves open to manipulation that benefits our cause.”

  Seth Ward smiled slowly. “Oh, I have no doubt they will believe we are headed to Terra. And I am equally certain they will slip into the vacuum we leave behind. With luck, the Falcons and Ghost Bears will even clash over worlds and do each other great harm.

  “My only real question is this. Will we do ourselves even greater harm following your plan? Have you an answer for me on that, Star Colonel?”

  “We are Wolves, my Khan. We are the masters of war. It is our element. No true harm can come to us when we are engaged in it.”

  9

  Overton Conference Center

  Overton, Baxter

  Former Prefecture IX, Republic of the Sphere

  3 January 3137

  Verena stood at the back of the presentation hall, happily anonymous in the darkness. Delegations from all over Prefecture IX had come to Baxter to plan for the defense against the Wolves. Mercenary leaders and commanders of planetary garrisons all expressed disbelief at the Wolves’ audacity at announcing their plans. Though the warriors had come to plan, many clearly thought they were wasting their time.

  Verena knew they weren’t, but that was not for her to say. Colonel Bradone represented the Badgers while she and the other Badgers acted as hosts for visiting dignitaries. The hosting duties mostly fell to the battalion’s other companies. The Demons, though they had improved in the last two weeks, were hardly presentable. Fortunately, they were still combat-worthy, which would be the most telling thing in the new year.

  General Artor Bingham of the Skondia Lancers mounted the steps to the stage and took his place behind the podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve all had the briefing materials and a chance to study them on your way here. We are in a unique and, I am sad to say, challenging position. You were all hired to hold off marauders, and well suited to that task. Now we face a hammer, and the blow will fall on you.”

  Not a hammer, a stake driven by a hammer—a hammer hefted by a ’Mech.

  Bingham kept his voice warm and remained composed, his shock of white hair granting him an air of dignity. “Many of you are serving on your homeworlds with local garrisons. We also have many mercenary units here, some storied, some new. For all of us the fight to come will be difficult and we can really expect no succor. The Republic remains silent in the face of our requests for help. Likewise the Lyran Commonwealth and the other prefectures. They all appear to be shoring up their borders to prevent the invasion from spreading, but they see no benefit in helping stop the invaders here. As one of them put it, ‘Stopping a flood is impossible, but channeling it is altogether doable.’

  “So far, the most cogent suggestion I’ve heard is to evacuate everyone and let the Wolves race through to Terra. There are moments—moments in which I feel we are being abandoned—when this sounds like a good idea. If I believed they’d pass through us on their way to Terra—taking nothing, harming nothing—I’d give them the coordinates of pirate points and lend them JumpShips. I resist taking that path because I have no desire to give Skondia over to invaders. I would avoid fighting the Wolves, but I don’t think that is possible, so we need to organize our defenses as best we can.”

  A woman rose, but Verena couldn’t make out who she was. “Do you think opposition is practical, General? Your briefing material indicates that the Wolves are coming with every piece of military equipment they have. It’s a complete mobilization of their armed forces. It’s not raids we’re facing, or their contests for the possession of a world, it’s a tidal wave of men and machines.”

  Somehow the woman managed to keep panic out of her voice, but only just. Being raised in the Clan culture gave Verena a very clear window on how things would go. The Wolves would arrive in a system, request information on the defenses, and challenge the defenders for possession of the planet. The Wolf warriors would bid among themselves to see who could take the world with the most efficient mix of troops, so they would try to match their foes as closely as possible. An easy victory conferred no honor on a Clan commander unless his tactical planning turned it into a rout.

  General Bingham nodded. “That’s a very good question. How can we be expected to stop a Clan onslaught? We have one simple advantage—they have limited supplies. By plunging headlong into their assault, they distance themselves from factories and resupply. We need to disperse our troops, force the Wolves to move and expend supplies. We need to draw out the battles, shift and move. We must establish hidden caches of supplies so we can continue fighting. We have to slow them down, bog them down, so they will quit.”

  Another woman stood, and though Verena only saw her in silhouette, the simple movement of rising to her feet identified her. Verena knew her before she spoke, and as her words filled the hall, Verena’s cheeks began to burn.

  “Anastasia Kerensky of the Wolf Hunters. Your suggestion has a problem, General. You have correctly analyzed the weakness in the Wolf plan, but you have failed to see the other side of it. The delaying tactic to run them out of supplies worked very well for Precentor Martial Focht in the battle of Tukayyid, but that was because he bargained hard and forced the Clans into a compromising position. The Clans were constrained to bargain hard because they were being compared to other Clans, and were positioning themselves for ascendancy in Clan politics.

  “Here, however, we have a more desperate situation. Because they cannot easily resupply themselves from an industrial base, they need to take an industrial base. This means they cannot afford to lose any worlds. While individual Wolf commanders will bid hard against each other for the honor of taking a world, they will not be so foolish as to underbid the forces needed to take it.”

  Verena shook her head. There was no faulting Anastasia’s logic. The Wolves were trapped into taking every world they attacked. They had put themselves in a position of following Sun-tzu’s ancient dictum to identify your target, hit it, and get out. Do not wage war without material gain, and do not wage it for a long time.

  “Thank you, Colonel Kerensky. You have succinctly articulated the key difficulty we are facing. My advisers and I have come up with a strategy that we hope will answer this. We are initiating a doctrine of segmentation. The idea is that when challenged to defend a planet, we specify which zones we will defend, and with what troops. If we defeat the Wolves in one district, we will be safe there. They will challenge us elsewhere, but the process will protract the war.”

  Various leaders murmured appreciation for that plan, but Anastasia shook her head. “That might work, General, but segmentation stands outside Clan tradition. If they came in and challenged you for the possession of a continent, you could put your plan into effect. When they challenge for a planet, however, they are under no obligation to reduce their bid. In fact, most would assume your ploy to be one prompted by cowardice, steeped in deception.”

  The older man’s head came up, but he did not voice any anger. “Do you have a suggestion that will help us?”

  The Wolf Hunters’ leader nodded solemnly. “Your core assertions are correct. The Wolves are going to need to hit and hold worlds to resupply themselves. If we look at Prefecture Nine, we can identify worlds by the supplies they offer. Some are meager pickings, some are rather abundant. Skondia, for example, is a treasure trove, Baxter less so. Corridan Four is so poor I would bypass it, if I were them.”

  “You would suggest then, Colonel, that we heavily defend the rich worlds and let the others go?” General Bingham frowned. “It strikes me that even our most heavily defended worlds would fall prey t
o a well-bid onslaught.”

  “Without a doubt, sir, but you are making a couple of assumptions that are utterly unwarranted. First off, your plan to disperse supplies is a very good one. It will allow our troops time to move and strike. It will not give the Wolves the swift victories they need. It will tie them down, and even frustrate them. That is the first step in how we defeat them.”

  “And the second step?”

  Anastasia looked around and Verena could feel control of the briefing shift. Here she was, leader of a new mercenary unit no larger than the Badgers, and yet men and women were listening to her as if she were Devlin Stone himself. Part of it was that the situation was so dire they’d gravitate toward anyone who said she had a viable solution. Over and above that, however, Anastasia possessed a presence, a confidence that made people believe her even before she revealed the depth of her planning.

  “The second step is simple. Look at who we have here. We have planetary garrisons that will be defending their worlds. We have corporate militias that will defend property. We have mercenaries who will prosecute their assignments. Right now we anticipate that we will all hold firm on our worlds—and if we do that, we will all be pounded into ferroceramic splinters.

  “But do not look at us as separate units, look at us as a collection. If we truly defend Prefecture Nine, we can stop the Wolves. We delay them as much as we are able when they fight to possess the world. Then, once they have it, we challenge them for possession. We force them to defend. We force them to eat up more time and waste more resources, preventing them from taking whatever supplies we leave behind. They may take worlds, but they will not benefit from them.”