Chapter Ten

Tiki Province

Circe

Clan Space

28 August 2823

Star Captain Trish Ebon watched as the teams shuffled in and out of the underground bunker. The Brian Cache had several entrances that had been unearthed since the combat trial that Franklin had won. He had left already, leaving her with the task of cataloging the goods inside of the bunker. With over eighty technicians, laborers and warriors, she had the unenviable task of trying to construct a useful inventory of the goods there.

The Brian Cache had been much larger than the visible hole in the hillside. There was two large rooms filled with BattleMechs and gear, as well as access tunnels to a number of exit points obscured by forest growth decades ago. The top of the cache had been recently cleared, probably by the Falcons seeking entrance. There had been some moisture damage, but it had been minimal. The bunker had been built to store the goods for a long period of time, and had served its function well. General Aleksandr Kerensky had ordered such facilities built when he had demilitarized much of the Star League Defense Force that had come with him during the Exodus.

While the ’Mechs were in fair shape, the same couldn’t be said about the expendables. The missiles and autocannon rounds had corroded so badly that they were unstable and dangerous to handle. Chemicals had spilled from the solid rocket propellants, mixing with water that had seeped into the cache. It made for a deadly mix that had to be deal with carefully. There was evidence that most of the water damage had been the results of the Jade Falcons penetrating the bunker and not setting up proper drainage.

The real prize was the missiles. The Killer Whales were anti-ship missiles, massive weapons each tipped with a nuclear warhead. These were not off-the-rack Killer Whales, they were specialized ship killers. There were six of the weapons still on their storage racks, along with several empty racks. It was apparent that the Jade Falcons had made it that deep into the bunker. The missiles themselves were worthless; age and lack of maintenance had ensured that. The warheads, however, had been carefully stored, and were the real prize. A single weapon could vaporize a ship in space or devastate a ground target. She had teams scour the bunker’s depths, looking for any other weapons of mass destruction or evidence of other goods that the Jade Falcons might have removed—but to no avail.

This was not warrior work.

Trish hated administrative work, and that’s what she saw this assignment as. Archaeology was interesting as a reading topic, but the worlds that the Clans had settled were virgin worlds. The Brian Cache was one of a few sites where such work could be undertaken, and while it was interesting, it was boring after a few hours. The technicians and laborers were everywhere, and despite the security perimeter that she had posted, the forest made her nervous. She also wondered if anything had been removed by the Jade Falcons before her arrival—and if so, what?

Some of the artifacts that were recovered she had to admit, were impressive. A sealed container was filled with uniforms dating back to the Star League era. Units whose names and numbers rang with history to her. The Eighty-second Royal Jump Infantry Division, the All-Americans, that brought back some memories. The Twenty-ninth Royal Dragoons’ red piping on a handful of uniforms sleeves seemed out of place with the more spartan Clan uniforms. These were Star League units though, and each uniform seemed to be a holy relic of a bygone era, as if they had been worn by legends. Insignia of the doomed SLDF, preserved perfectly in sealed containers—all that was left of the League now.

One lot of uniforms from the 331st Division was going to be of interest to her Khan. That unit was now the 331st Battle Cluster of her own Wolverine Clan. Khan McEvedy’s father had commanded the 331st Division. Some of this actually has ties to our people. It made the find even more important.

She felt the pressure of the passing time, despite the finding of the uniforms that was bound to please her Khan. McEvedy had sent an urgent request for the inventory of the cache from Strana Mechty. She was supposed to be in a Grand Council session, which to Trish meant trouble. Another case of the Grand Council sticking their noses where they were not desired. Trish Ebon was glad she was not a Khan, at least not yet. Politics was not her business any more than supervising a dig site was. If McEvedy wished to wage a war of politics with the Grand Council, that was fine…for her. I prefer my battles to be more straight up.

The sooner she got the report to her Khan, the sooner she would be done and hopefully sent somewhere else, preferably where the action was…

Khan McEvedy looked at the inventory from the Brian Cache with a mix of emotions. The mention of the 331st Division stirred memories that she had almost forgotten, memories of her father. He stood in sharp contrast to Nicholas Kerensky in her mind. The ilKhan had assumed the mantle of father to all of the Clans. The memories of her own father were of a kind man, a gentle and caring man. That image did not fit Nicholas, not entirely. Perhaps that is a role he shouldn’t simply assume…

The other elements of the report were bound to cause problems. Now that the inventory was completed, the debate in the Council was destined to start once again, pressing her Wolverines. Nicholas tended to hate long debates, and she was sure that this one would be short. The driving factor was the nuclear warheads. This was something that McEvedy understood her peers’ feelings about, but at the same time she had to hold a hard line with them. They expect nothing less of my Wolverines.

There was something in the report that bothered her. Lisa Buhallin had said that there were seven nuclear warheads in the preliminary inventory of the Brian Cache. Her people had only found six. Oversight by the Jade Falcons? It had to be. Lisa Buhallin was mad at her for crimes she felt Sarah had committed, but the Falcon leader was not insane enough to steal a nuclear weapon. No one would.

The number of BattleMechs, weapons, and other spare parts in this cache was impressive. At the same time, however, it was embarrassing that all of these resources had been in her people’s lands, and she’d had no idea they were there. If we had found them years ago, this incident would have been averted. For the cache to be uncovered now only added to the tension the Wolverines seemed to generate with the other Clans.

No. This incident could not have been averted. There were those that would have ensured it.

She glanced across the great round table at Khan Karrige. If this incident had not happened, there would have been another one. Her enemies would have seen to that. This was simply a confrontation that she could not avoid. There would have been something else, either manufactured or a matter of convenience, that would have given the enemies of her Clan the opportunity to face her down and humiliate the Wolverines. They fear us so much they are blind to the real threat, the threat that men like Jason Karrige represent to all of our people.

She hated what she had to do next, but honor demanded it. “IlKhan. My people have reported on the contents of this Brian Cache that seems to be so troublesome. I present it to you for your review.” She hit the transmit button on her noteputer, sending the data to Nicholas’s pad.

Kerensky stared at it for a long moment as the other Khans fell silent. Everyone watched him, attempted to read his face, tried to outguess his next move. McEvedy did not. She had known Nicholas for years, and had come to learn that it was impossible to read him. He is a creature of his passions and emotions. Volatile, yet at the same time, compassionate.

“This cache is a large find indeed,” Nicholas said, finally shattering the silence. “Two dozen BattleMechs, tactical nuclear weapons, cases of repair parts, including replacement fusion engines and actuators. Possession of it could represent a temporary shift of power among our people. Equitable disposition of such a wealth of material is substantial and important to us all.”

Sarah wanted to speak, but knew that Nicholas hated to be interrupted. She wanted to say that the ’Mechs were in terrible condition, that some of them would never see action, but have to be scrapped for parts. She wanted to point out that some of the replacement parts were damaged from moisture and rot. Nicholas knew that, he had the report, there was no point.

The ilKhan continued. “It would be wrong to simply allow the Wolverines or any one Clan to take possession of such a find. As such, as ilKhan, it is my responsibility to determine the best course of action. Each weapon and each Star of ’Mechs will be possessed by the Clan that offers the best showing in a Trial of Possession.” His ruling made, Nicholas lowered slowly to his seat.

“If I may, ilKhan,” McEvedy said. “I am pleased that some of the artifacts that have been recovered are those of my father’s unit, the Three-thirty-first Division. This fact alone speaks to something of their age and condition though. These BattleMechs are old, and many will never fight. The quality of the other contents are of questionable grade, given their age and condition. The nuclear warheads represent the greatest of the artifacts. I would respectfully submit that these are the only finds in this cache that are worthy of such attention.”

“I disagree,” piped in the Khan of the Fire Mandrills. “Our ilKhan has made a ruling, and we are to respect it. I know my Fire Mandrills would welcome these BattleMechs.” Grumbles of agreement from other Khans joined in the chorus of concurrence.

Khan Karrige cleared his throat and spoke. “If your esteemed colleague of the Wolverines wishes to contest the wise ruling of the ilKhan, she should do so with a Trial of Refusal.”

McEvedy stared intently at the Widowmaker Khan. She had to contest the ruling. There was no other choice. To do any less would invite the other Clans to step up their pressure against her Wolverines. “While I have nothing but respect for the ilKhan, at the same time this bunker has been the property of Clan Wolverine. Your Clans, save the Jade Falcons, had no role at all in the locating or recovery of it. You may wish to come like Eden vultures to peck at the carcass of this cache, but I do not have to stand by and let that happen.

“So with the deepest respect to this Council, the Wolverines would challenge this ruling by the ilKhan.”

Nicholas bowed his head in understanding while the other Khans shifted in their seats. “It shall be done. Who would represent my ruling with this Grand Council in this trial?”

The bidding began in a flurry. Nicholas asked with what forces McEvedy intended to defend the cache. She glanced over at saKhan Robertson and got an approving nod. “The integrity of our Clan is being questioned. Thus Khan Robertson and I shall fight for our honor.” The bidding was fast and furious, with many of the Clans either sitting back or not wanting to take the risk—holding out for a chance to bid for the contents of the cache should the Wolverines lose. After a few minutes, it came down to the Snow Ravens, the Ghost Bears, and the Widowmakers. The Snow Ravens bid aggressively, but eventually it was the Widowmakers that won when Khan Karrige said that he would not fight in the battle, but bid two of his Star Colonels to face the Wolverine Khans. “They are more than a match for the leaders of our wayward Wolverines.”

McEvedy winced slightly. She had wanted Karrige to be in the fight, if only to take him down herself.

“If the Widowmaker Khans lack the courage to stand for this council, we look forward to facing their children in battle,” she countered with a quick grin.

“In keeping with our Rede,” Nicholas said, raising his hands. “This has been well bargained and is done. Tomorrow in the plains of Roth outside of the city, this issue will be settled.”

I hope so… McEvedy prayed. Something told her that it was only the start; like a thunderstorm just breaking.

Driss and her compatriot Arvin moved through the woods toward the small truck, struggling with the heavy case as they had for the last ten kilometers. It was covered with woodland debris and pine needles, but otherwise was still intact. Each time she looked at it, the Cameron Star of the SLDF seemed covered with the same sort of grime that she and Arvin were.

Their Khan had sent them there on a mission that he claimed was important for the survival not just of the Clan, but of all the Clans. That was motivation enough for two young, fresh warriors. They had donned the uniforms of the Wolverines, hating every moment they wore the garb. It was distasteful to pose as an inferior Clan.

Arvin had come up with the means to shuffle in with the technicians so that they would not stand out. They were simply a pair of faces in a crowd of faces. The warrior in charge, a Star Captain named Trish Ebon, had nearly stumbled across them in the cache as they had placed the warhead into the old uniform container. It had been close. If she had arrived a half-minute earlier, their ruse would have been discovered.

Driss hated to admit it, but she found the excitement arousing.

Getting through perimeter security had been easier. The dense forests were so thick that line of sight was lost in a matter of seconds. Trish had been thorough in her pickets, but their purpose had been to keep prying eyes out of the area, not preventing theft. That had been her mistake. Yes, the video surveillance would pick them up and record their images, but unless someone was looking for a theft, they would have no need to check the data cube.

They loaded the crate into the back of the truck, and immediately Arvin began peeling off the dull green jumpsuit of the Wolverines. “I found this mission distasteful,” he said. Following his orders, he stowed the jumpsuit for later.

Driss had already completed the rest of the orders, recoding the launch sequence for a new detonation code that their Khan had provided. “I found it honorable to serve our Clan.”

“Stealing is the act of thieves and bandits.”

“We were promised advancement as a result,” she replied as she removed her jumpsuit. “Surely Khan Karrige can be trusted, query affirmative?”