Double-Blind

by Loren L. Coleman

  Marcus nodded, trying to ignore the cold stares of the four Death Commando guards. "The field salvage first of all. More than half of the Angels' BattleMechs are still out there. And over a company's worth of raider machines."

  "Yes." Sun-Tzu trailed the flat of the nail of his little finger along his jaw. "But it was our arrival that sent them into retreat. I would be delinquent in my responsibilities as leader of this force if I did not insist on something."

  And you have the upper hand with nearly a full battalion at your disposal. So now we're back to the Astrokaszy rules of bargaining? "Of course," Marcus said aloud. "I would not offend you by suggesting otherwise." Just once in the near future, I'd like to be able to come right out and say what I think without worrying about whose toes I'm stepping on. But the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation isn’t the person to start with.

  "Good. Then you will first split the salvage with the Astrokaszy natives as you see fit. Afterward, I will accept ten percent of the salvage from both parties, according to what each claims." Sun-Tzu paused. "I will not expect you to count the three 'Mechs captured intact in these figures."

  Ten percent? That's it? "The Chancellor is most fair." And that made Marcus uneasy. "And the supply depot in the City of Shervanis? Our contract specified a one-tenth share in captured stockpiles." Though, technically, you could keep us from that by attacking the city yourself.

  Sun-Tzu smiled thinly, as if amused by some private joke. "Let us return to that. From Danai I understand that you will be forced to remain here some time still. You have two DropShips to repair? I will leave behind one lance of BattleMechs, no more. They will augment your forces until I return."

  "You're going on to Campoleone?" Marcus asked carefully. Leading Magistracy troops across the Free Worlds League border, even under the flag of the Capellan Confederation, could be interpreted as an act of aggression. He had no desire to anger Sun-Tzu by pressing for details, but the Hegemony raiders were a matter that affected the Angels as well. "My Angels would be interested in accompanying you, if it meant another go at the raiders."

  "The raiders are not heading for Campoleone," Naomi informed Marcus in a carefully neutral tone. She glanced at the Chancellor.

  "I vowed to see that raider commander destroyed," Marcus said. "There's a chance he's heading—"

  "He's not going either to Campoleone or back into the Hegemony," Sun-Tzu interrupted. "He was allowed to withdraw only because of an agreement we struck at the time of his boarding the Overlord. You will not see him again."

  Marcus did not insist further. He could hear the note of finality in the Chancellor's voice. He wondered, of course. All prisoners from the battle had been claimed by Sun-Tzu in the name of the Magistracy of Canopus, and now came news of private negotiations and a proposed action against Campoleone. Politics, he thought. The Angels don't need them. "And the other point? The warehouse in the city of Shervanis?"

  Sun-Tzu shrugged, the hard set of his features softening and a thin smile playing at one corner of his mouth. "Technically, the warehouse has already been captured."

  "What?"

  The Chancellor's voice was cold and serious, belying his look of amusement. "While you spent yourselves in the desert, Caliph Rashier attacked the city of Shervanis. Apparently he defeated the BattleMech force left to guard it, and a traitor within the palace murdered the caliph. Rashier now owns the city."

  Marcus could feel the rage building inside him, but he held it in check while his mind worked feverishly. Rashier betrayed us? Then Marcus remembered a talk he'd had with the caliph about using a diverting force to lure away some enemy forces.

  Sun-Tzu continued. "I have no reason to attack Rashier. And it would be bad politics for the Magistracy to turn on a leader who'd just defeated an enemy of their realm."

  Rashier left us to be torn to bits. Would he have then made a deal with the returning raiders? Probably. So it would only be good Astrokaszy custom to pay him back for his treachery. He considered Sun-Tzu's words carefully, and then understood the amused expression. Apparently he and Marcus were thinking along the same lines.

  "That's all right, Chancellor Liao. I think we can work out some kind of understanding." Marcus smiled. He may not have a legitimate reason to order an attack, but the Angels do. "How much would it cost me to hire your battalion for some easy work? Say about nine-tenths of the raider supply stockpile?"

  Naomi Centrella hid her feelings behind a mask of neutrality, but Sun-Tzu returned Marcus' smile. "I think something can be arranged, Commander," was all he said.

  43

  Freedom City (formerly City of Shervanis)

  Rashier Caliphate

  Astrokaszy

  The Periphery

  13 July 3058

  Marcus noticed that not one guard would meet his gaze. They searched him at the door, another fact not lost on him, and then passed him into the warehouse. The sound of nails being ripped from wood and the drone of moving equipment greeted him as he walked across the spacious but busy floor. Caliph Rashier and a few others stood near the center of the large building as workers broke open crate after crate of military supplies, cataloguing them and displaying the contents to the delighted caliph.

  "Commander," Rashier greeted him as if the two were old friends. On a leash he held two huge spotted cats that resembled Terran leopards—the former pets of Caliph Shervanis. Nihail Sallahan hovered off to one side, yes watchful, and Arch Vizier Ji-Drohmien stood nearby with a basket of fresh meat from which he occasionally drew bits to throw to the large cats. Rashier gestured about him. "See what we have wrought? An end to the devil Shervanis and the discovery of a treasure trove of arms and equipment."

  Marcus smiled in apparent good humor. "I must have missed this part of the mission briefing." Did doubt flicker for a moment in Rashier's eyes?

  "Yes, well. Ji-Drohmien sent us word that only a medium lance would be guarding the city. I had no choice but to strike, or lose a great opportunity. Sorry there was no way to contact you, but everything worked out."

  Marcus sought out the eyes of Nihail, whose dark eyes met his impassively for a moment before he let his gaze drop to the floor. Marcus had no doubt that the man had intentionally broke eye contact. So he used you as well.

  "And of course we will help you repair both of your DropShips. I would even like to reward you from out of this stockpile. Good equipment for your Angels."

  "The caliph is too kind."

  Rashier grinned expansively. "And why not? You held up your end of the bargain. You saw our display?"

  Marcus had indeed. Lining the road up to the city's main gate was a line of severed heads set on poles and still dripping gore onto the sand. The stench of the fresh killing was near intolerable, and Marcus knew from his first visit within the city walls that it would soon give way to the more pleasant odor of sun-rotted flesh. He'd counted the heads, already knowing but wanting to make sure. One hundred and four; just what I promised you, Rashier. And the head of Malachye Shervanis on the very last pole.

  "Ji-Drohmien arranged it," the caliph continued. "Thought it would ease your mind about any further obligation to me."

  Glancing at Shervanis' arch vizier, Marcus suddenly knew where the flesh meat had come from and felt a little sick to his stomach over the whole affair. You mean you wanted to remind me of what I owed you. But it doesn’t work, Rashier. Marcus felt the vibration of heavy footsteps in the soles of his feet and knew that the time had come.

  You're about to learn the full price of treachery.

  Shouts coming from the warehouse main doors drew the attention of everyone but Marcus. Then a few scattered shots rang out as some of Rashier's guards fired on the approaching BattleMech out of reflex. The large and powerful fists of a Grasshopper came crashing through the ceiling, collapsing the entrance over Rashier's guards and tearing out a hole in the roof and wall big enough that almost all of the twelve-meter-tall machine could be seen by those inside. Workers bolted and ran for the rear doors
as its right arm came up and leveled its medium laser at a nearby crate marked clearly as explosive ammunition.

  "What? What is the meaning of this?" Rashier stammered.

  "Divine retribution," Marcus said coldly, folding his arms across his chest. "The Angels have come for you."

  Hot fury burned in the caliph's eyes. "Kill him," he commanded Nihail, stabbing a finger at Marcus. "No, wait. Take him alive. They will bargain for their precious commander."

  "No, they won't, Rashier. Sun-Tzu Liao is in charge of the Angels in my absence. I think he would rather see this city razed to the ground."

  The mention of Sun-Tzu spiked fear in the other man's eyes, though it was quickly replaced with hatred. "Then you are a dead man as well." He turned to Nihail. "Kill him now."

  So here's where I find out if I ever read you correctly, Marcus thought, and again matched gazes with Nihail. Those dark unfathomable eyes stared back unblinking. I'm ready to die for my people, Marcus told him silently. Are you still ready to give your life for this man?

  Nihail's speed was impressive. Reaching quickly inside his robes, he pulled out his two scimitars in one hand and an old needler in the other. Then he tossed the needler to Marcus, took his swords into two hands, and in the next moment he had Ji-Drohmien by the throat, with one of the swords threatening to slice him from ear to ear if he made a wrong move.

  Catching the weapon, Marcus nodded to Nihail. "Welcome to the unit." He leveled the gun at Rashier. "You broke faith with the Angels, and it has cost you everything, Rashier. Even the loyalty of your own people."

  To the caliph's credit, he was determined to meet any end with whatever dignity he could. "Kill me, Commander. Shoot me in cold blood." He glowered. "My people will avenge me."

  "Don't be too sure. A company of Canopian 'Mechs under Naomi Centrella have secured this city by now. Probably without a fight. All military equipment will be confiscated by the Magistracy forces. Danai Centrella is moving against your city to the south, under orders to strip it of any defensive ability. And the transmissions have already gone out to the neighboring caliphates and all desert warrior tribes that both cities will be left standing defenseless. They will pick your bones clean, in good Astrokaszy fashion.

  "But kill you?" Marcus said. "No, Rashier. The Desert Wind tribe has volunteered to take you and Ji-Drohmien into their fold. You will become true warriors, or die in the attempt. So I leave your life to Astrokaszy and the desert.

  "You earned it."

  44

  Word of Blake HPG Station

  Ausapolis, Campoleone Rim Commonality

  Free Worlds League

  2 August 3058

  The atmosphere in the HPG station main control room was tense, uneasy. Alpha Adepts hurried about the room or sat at consoles, some concentrating on the normal operations of the station, but most helping to coordinate with military forces. The white jumpsuits of these Word of Blake communication technicians were disheveled from a long night at their posts, and most had cast off their white and gold shoulder wraps in favor of comfort.

  Precentor Demona Aziz commanded the center of the room, hood of her pristine white robes thrown back to reveal her face and dark wiry hair. She paced around the huge Word of Blake insignia emblazoned on the tile floor, walking just outside the outermost ring, careful not to step on the broadsword that pointed in the direction of the hyperpulse generator. Now she stopped as one of the technicians approached her with an update.

  "What do you mean, they just took off again?" Her eyes were wide with anger and more than a little fear. This is their third aborted attempt at landing. What game is Liao playing at?

  The adept would not meet her stare. "I only know what was reported, Precentor. The Canopian Overlord landed. This time they began to deploy BattleMechs, enough for our aerospace assets to identify at least two companies bearing the Magistracy of Canopus insignia. When our own ships landed within five kilometers, the Overlord loaded up and took off again under maximum thrust."

  Keeping my people up all night chasing you, Sun-Tzu? Well, my troops have remained rested aboard their Drop-Ship and I could bring fresh adepts into the control room, so go ahead and make your grand play. What I field here are vintage Star League-era machines as well as some of Word of Blake's newest designs. "Recall DropShips and order our fighters to stand down," she ordered. Then, "What is the word from jump point sensors?"

  "No other JumpShips beside the Canopian vessel," a technician on a far console answered back.

  In his last message out of Astrokaszy before ordering the HPG station destroyed, Cameron St. Jamais had informed her of the inopportune arrival of Magistracy Armed Forces, most certainly led by Sun-Tzu Liao. But he should have reached his JumpShip days before Sun-Tzu left the planet. Cameron, where are you?

  Demona continued her pacing like some caged animal. The Astrokaszy operation had folded, and while the planted evidence should cover Word of Blake's tracks well enough, there would be no fooling Sun-Tzu Liao about where to lay the blame. She had never believed the Liao would bring foreign troops into Marik space, in itself a hostile act. But then she would not have thought her plans could be so totally ruined by some small mercenary unit and the machinations of the Inner Sphere's weakest leader.

  No, not weak. She realized that she'd underestimated him, a grave error. She wished for St. Jamais' presence, that she could order him to assassinate Sun-Tzu Liao to completely obliterate her mistake. Another part of her burned with cold fury that he'd already attempted and failed at that thing—and against her orders. Still another part longed for even his briefest touch.

  Mostly, I want him here to take the blame.

  Her most able lieutenant had failed her, and now he wasn't even present to act the part of a martyr to the cause. My own personal double-blind missing. How selfish of him. She laughed softly, a sound more of frustration than humor.

  And then, as if in response to her laughter, came the distinct sound of gunfire and several small explosions. She barely had time to spin around before the two doors leading into the main control room slid open, and four small olive green objects came streaking through. There was the sound of metal objects bouncing across the tiled floor and then an eruption of thunder-claps that buffeted her senses and knocked her unconscious.

  * * *

  Naomi Centrella walked beside Sun-Tzu Liao. His stride was direct and full of purpose, and she couldn't help but admire the Chancellor's poise as they followed a pair of Death Commandos down the hall and into the main control room of the Campoleone HPG station.

  The room had been cleared of all Word of Blake personnel except one. Precentor Demona Aziz stood in the center of the room, having been revived from the effects of the stun grenade and properly searched. She kept her back straight and head high and regal, but Naomi—with the benefit of years studying people at court—recognized the haunted look of a cornered animal in her eyes and drawn face.

  "Chancellor Liao," Aziz said, her voice not so much as a tremor off of a properly respectful tone. "I hope you appreciate the delicacy of your position."

  Sun-Tzu and Naomi stood at the lower tip of the broadsword in the Word of Blake insignia, separated from the precentor by few mere footsteps. He crossed his arms over his chest and regarded her stoically. "What position is that?"

  "You have brought foreign troops into the Free Worlds League and there attacked a Word of Blake hyperpulse generator station. The Captain-General will not be pleased."

  "He will have no cause to complain. My troops never touched Campoleone until I received permission to land from the planetary governor, who was more than happy to sell you out. He didn't like the way his future looked, tied to your falling star, until I agreed to keep his name out of any official reports."

  Naomi studied Sun-Tzu, noting the absence of dissimulation or verbal fencing. He went straight to the heart of the matter, his presence commanding in the knowledge of who was truly in control of the situation. In every new set of circumstances she'd been sho
wn another new face, and always what Sun-Tzu wanted her to see. But not this time. There would be no false fronts put up here except by Precentor Aziz. And if Danai were present she would no longer consider Sun-Tzu someone to be casually dismissed. Naomi had no doubt that was the reason Danai was in command of the diversionary force that had drawn off the bulk of the station's defenders.

  But if that is so, then why am I here? Naomi felt as if cold hands brushed the nape of her neck and she shivered. It was a question she no longer felt impartial enough to answer.

  Precentor Aziz nodded, as a gamesman acknowledging a good move by an opponent. "Governor Searcy always was a weak man. That might win you some clemency for bringing MAF troops here, but not against attacking us unprovoked. You can prove nothing."

  Sun-Tzu shrugged. "That doesn't matter anymore. The Marian Hegemony has lost its supplier, and without you their stockpile of new technology will steadily decrease. Canopus, on the other hand, is learning the fundamentals behind recent technological gains and will soon be able to hold its own." A thin smile eased over the Chancellor's mouth, but did not reach his eyes. "Thomas can be handled."

  Doubt clouded the eyes of Demona Aziz for a brief moment, but she did not drop her calculated geniality. "You know, I do believe that you can handle Thomas Marik. Certainly you have proved yourself more resourceful than I would ever have thought."

  "My thanks for your vote of confidence." Sun-Tzu's voice was ice.

  "But we can now help each other," the precentor said quickly. "The Toyama can provide you with more leverage in the affairs of House Marik, and with your direct support I could challenge Blane for leadership of the Word of Blake. I would make concessions to you, of course, for the Toyama's earlier poor judgment."

  Cocking his head to one side, as if considering the offer, Sun-Tzu asked, "But what of Astrokaszy? The news will spread."