Текст книги "Coupe"

Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine

1 August 3029

Chu-iJinjiro Thorsen pressed his thick glasses back onto his nose, but otherwise dared not stir in the corner of the briefing room. Why didTai-sa Sanada bring me to this meeting? This is not the place for my sort.He knew his lighter skin and blue eyes marked him as a half-caste from the Rasalhague District, giving the great and powerful people in the room yet one more reason to look down upon him.

Jinjiro looked over at those seated at the table. Generals and Warlords all. While at the Sun Zhang Academy, I and my fellows dreamed of taking their places one day. Never, ever, did I imagine actually meeting them. Especially not the Coordinator's son.

Theodore Kurita stood tall and slender at the head of the table. The other officers were well-groomed and dressed in freshly laundered and pressed uniforms, but Theodore wore his black hair long and unkempt, as if the war had given him no time to mind his personal appearance. Neither did his black jumpsuit bear medals or insignia denoting unit or rank. It had only been zipped halfway up the front, giving those assembled a view of his cooling vest and the shoulder padding for his neurohelmet. A heavy pistol hung from his right hip.

Jinjiro smiled to herself. How ironic that theTai-sa only told me at the last minute of the request for my presence at the meeting. I had no time to change after morning exercises.Jinjiro resisted the temptation to lower the zipper on his jumpsuit to the same height as Theodore's.

Theodore punched some orders into the keyboard at his position. A holographic map of the Lyran/Combine border burned to life above the center of the table. It slowly rotated so each person in the room could see it plainly, then locked in place facing Theodore.

Jinjiro studied the map intently, though he knew each world, each battle, each defeat by heart. We have lost greatly in the Rasalhague District—even my homeworld of Gunzburg is now behind enemy lines. Steiner's initial thrust into the Dieron District destroyed Theodore's Eleventh Legion of Vega.Through the glowing map, Jinjiro's gaze focused on the nearly healed scar running from the center of Theodore's forehead to the outside edge of his left eyebrow. He barely escaped with his life, but managed to rally forces enough to blunt the Steiner advance. All that he has accomplished—and yet with so little support from Luthien—is incredible.

Theodore leaned forward heavily on the table. "It is clear, gentlemen, that the Dieron Military District's defenses have succeeded in stopping the Steiner offensive and have even won back most of the worlds we have lost."

Jinjiro felt pride flutter in his heart as Theodore praised efforts of which he'd been a part, but that hopefulness died instantly as Theodore's look and voice became filled with anger. "Warriors are not defenders. We are meant to attack the enemy on his territory, not wait to dispute his right to our worlds."

Tai-ShoPalmer Conti cleared his voice. "I hear and understand what you say, but we have been given little in the way of offensive assignments, Highness."

Theodore's cold smile snapped up Conti's look of smug self-confidence. "And you've made damned little of those opportunities, haven't you? Yes, you hit the Davion world of Northwind at the beginning of the year and destroyed the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry, but you no longer hold that world, do you?"

The dark-haired Tai-shostiffened. "There was no way we could anticipate the arrival of Davion reinforcements."

Theodore looked at the other officers at the table. "I seem to recall your Fifth Sword of Light had no trouble dealing with the first wave of Davion reinforcements. You broke Team Banzai easily enough." His eyes narrowed. "But then you had help from the Genyosha,didn't you?"

Conti's brown eyes flashed with anger. "Their aid was nothing. It was insignificant. And they left before the second wave of Davion forces arrived. That second wave brought four regiments of the Northwind Highlanders down upon us. We were lucky to withdraw in good order and save some of our strength."

Theodore Kurita laughed heartily, and Jinjiro saw Conti recoil from the ridicule as if physically assaulted by the sounds. "Palmer, tell me no stories about the battle prowess of old Liao units. It does you no credit. Yes, you saved the Fifth Sword, sparing my father undue embarrassment, but you sacrificed a battalion of the Thirty-sixth Dieron Regulars to do it." Kurita glanced at the dark-skinned officer across from Conti. "I'm sure Tai-ShoHadji Rajpuman welcomed the opportunity to cover your retreat. Had you been less concerned about preserving your honor, you would have seen the way to preserve his forces as well."

Palmer Conti stiffened, a beet-red flush creeping up beyond the collar of his dress jacket. "There was no other way, Kurita– sama.I did what I had to do to salvage a flawed bit of strategy. We were attacking at the behest of Maximilian Liao," he said scornfully. "A questionable thing to do."

Theodore shook his head, and Jinjiro saw anger and pity wash over the Prince's face. "There are times, Palmer, when I wonder how you have risen to the position you now hold. Then I remember most clearly. Had you chosen to pull back to the Granite Fang mountain range instead of retreating, you could have covered for the Regulars. No unit, not even a Liao unit, would have been foolish enough to pursue a Sword of Light regiment through that twisted maze of canyons."

Theodore narrowed his eyes. "In fact, using that strategy, you could have launched out from the Condor Pass on the north side of Kuroiyama and hit the Highlanders hard."

Jinjiro saw Conti's eyes glaze over as he considered Theodore's suggestion. The flash of pain over his face told Jinjiro that Conti had seen the wisdom of the strategy. Instantly, the Tai-shoregained his composure, and Jinjiro knew that Conti would deny that the plan could have worked. That marks Conti as more concerned for himself and his future than for the well-being of the Dragon. The brilliance of a Theodore Kurita is lost on such officers, to our detriment.Jinjiro felt bile rise in his throat and glanced at his own commander. It is a pity that there are so many Contis in the Dragon's service.

Conti opened his mouth to say something, but Theodore cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand. He looked up at Jinjiro Thorsen. "Many of you are probably wondering why I have included a Chu-iat a meeting of such important military leaders."

The Coordinator's son paused long enough for that question to impress itself on those who had not even deigned to notice the inferior officer seated against the wall. Jinjiro blushed as two Generals studied him critically, and his Tai-saglowered at him. Jinjiro swallowed hard. What have I done? I must have been a murdering Lyran pirate in a past life .. .

Theodore waved Jinjiro to his feet. "Look at him, gentlemen. He comes to this meeting dressed for combat. He has not forgotten what war is about. This man is prepared to fight, whenever, wherever we demand it." Kurita shrugged almost helplessly. "However, looks can be deceiving."

Jinjiro's heart sank as Theodore's gaze settled on the weak-chinned profile of Tai-saSanada. I am here because Sanada reported my insubordination. They will make an example of me. I am doomed.Jinjiro fought to hide his fear as Theodore un-snapped his holster.

"In combat on La Blon, Chu-iJinjiro Thorsen ordered his medium lance to advance into a city apparently abandoned by the Lyran forces. This contradicted an order given by Tai-saSanada here. Sanada, who was bringing up his command lance, planned to take the city himself." Theodore smiled pleasantly. "He intended to claim it for his battalion."

Theodore drew the pistol and charged it. "Jinjiro, it is reported, had a 'feeling' that something was wrong and entered the city. He claims he just wanted to scout it, and planned to be back out by the time Tai-saSanada arrived. Unfortunately for him, Lyran commandos ambushed his command with SRMs and inferno rockets. Though his lance's 'Mechs were covered with fire from the infernos, they managed to evacuate the city, and infantry was brought up to clear the resistance."

Theodore brought the pistol up and Jinjiro found himself staring down its barrel. "For this act of insubordination, Tai-saSanada has ordered a court-martial and reduction in rank for this officer."

Jinjiro breathed in deeply and found a well of calm deep inside himself. When I became a warrior, I accepted that death in service to the Coordinator would be my lot in life. If it is to come this way, it is not to be fought.Jinjiro glanced at Sanada, seated at the end of the table, and smiled. Insubordinate or not, I saved your life, you old fool. No one else will ever do that for you.

Theodore turned and shot Tai-saSanada through the head. Jinjiro jumped with surprise, but unlike the others in the room, he did not stare at the fallen body. Instead, he watched the silvery cartridge from the pistol dance and spin across the black table-top. As his head came up, his eyes met Theodore Kurita's hooded gaze. He knows. He knows I was prepared to die to satisfy the vanity of an officer. What he almost took away, I now pledge to his service.

Theodore let the echoes of the gunshot fade completely before he spoke. "Tai-saSanada was a fool. His objective—to win personal glory by taking that city—was at odds with the army's objective of total victory. Of what use are battle victories when we lose the war? None, of course, but it is only individuals like Chu-iThorsen here who understand this."

Kurita looked toward the holographic map. "My father has lost sight of this objective. He is obsessed with avenging the loss of honor he suffered in dealing with Wolf's Dragoons. His few competent staff officers are tripping over themselves to recoup our losses in the Rasalhague District. No one bothers with the Dieron Military District because there we have lost the least amount of territory to our enemies."

Palmer Conti leaned forward and studied the map. "It is as you say. You call us here to a meeting that will get us killed if your father ever hears of it, so you must have something in mind. What do you propose to do?"

Theodore smiled easily. Pressing a button, he illuminated a world behind the Lyran lines. "Dromini VI, gentlemen, is an agricultural world of little military import. The largely Buddhist population has given the occupying force little or no trouble, and so the LCAF has only a militia unit garrisoning the world.

"Their sense of security is false. I already have a Nekekamistrike team on the world, and they will slaughter the militia in three days. I also have the coordinates of a pirate jump point out beyond the sixth planet that will allow us transit to and from that world quickly. Because the Nekekamihave already broken the militia's security, no one will know this peaceful world has become an armed camp."

Hitting another button flashed a red circle to life around Dromini VI. The circle captured seven worlds in the Isle of Skye and five occupied worlds in its radius. "These worlds are one jump out from Dromini. Once our JumpShips recharge, we can strike into the heart of the Isle of Skye."

Jinjiro studied the map closely. So simple a plan, yet so devastating. It will put us in position to strike beyond Lyran hard points, forcing them to withdraw troops so they can protect all their holdings, not just key worlds. In this way, they will equalize their forces and make it easier for us to concentrate our own forces to defeat them. It turns the war into a guessing game we can win.

Conti pointed at the Lyran world of Lyons. "I assume you want to hit these worlds to force the Isle of Skye to pull out of the Commonwealth and declare itself neutral. The Third Dieron Regulars tried that and died on Lyons."

Theodore nodded slightly at the Fifth Sword's commander. "You are correct that I want to force the Isle of Skye out of the Commonwealth. Duke Lestrade graciously denuded his holding of troops, inviting us in so we could supply him the excuse he needed to withdraw, but that plan died with the Third Dieron Regulars. Still, the Isle of Skye is definitely understaffed and I mean to force the Isle of Skye out of the Commonwealth because I own it! Seven worlds, gentlemen, there for the taking. Then we leap deeper and deeper into the Commonwealth, cutting the invaders off from their own lines of supply."

Jinjiro swallowed hard. He means to do more than force the Lyrans back across their side of the border. He wants to take worlds from them to increase the Dragon's realm. This will be such a severe blow to House Steiner that they will be forced out of the war, giving us the chance to fall upon House Davion with a vengeance.

Tai-shoRajpuman looked up at Theodore. "What of the mercenaries that destroyed the Third Dieron Regulars on Lyons?"

The Coordinator's son smiled, then hit a button on the table. Off to his right, facing Palmer Conti, a wall panel slid silently into the ceiling. Theodore turned to the gray-haired officer standing in the doorway. "What of the Kell Hounds?"

Yorinaga Kurita did not smile. "They are of no concern. By the time your attacks take place, the Kell Hounds will be nothing more than a memory."

Theodore nodded solemnly. "The Genyoshawill meet and battle the Kell Hounds on Nusakan in October. .."

Conti snorted derisively, "That means we'll be fighting them in November."

Yorinaga regarded Conti with a fierce stare that sent shivers up and down Jinjiro's spine. "That Tai-showould be wise to remember that the Genyoshakept Team Banzai's Blue Blazer battalion from overrunning his command post on Northwind."

Conti regarded Yorinaga like a cobra watching a mongoose. "True, but you lost your base to a raid by Morgan Kell..."

Pounding his fist into the table, Theodore cut off discussion. "Enough, Conti. This is shameful. If you resent Yorinaga on a personal basis, settle your differences with him outside this room. His Genyoshais a superior fighting force, and all of us in this room know it. By the same token, we know my father has abandoned it in much the same way he has forgotten the whole Dieron Military District. The Genyoshaare an elite unit, but they get no supplies. This holds true for the entire district. My father is not giving us the materials, support, or respect we are due."

Theodore pointed to the star map. "My plan will enable us to beg, borrow, and steal the supplies we need to sustain a campaign of conquest. The Genyoshawill be our first unit going into the Isle of Skye, and they will destroy the Kell Hounds. Yorinaga has earned the glory and the right, and he shall have it."

Palmer Conti's face darkened, and Jinjiro sensed wheels turning within wheels in his mind. The Kurita Tai-sholooked up. "Will not the strike at Nusakan tip our hand?"

Theodore chuckled slightly. "No. The Archon has given her blessing to this battle between the Kell Hounds and the Genyosha.She is enough of a warrior that she will not move troops into that area for fear of dishonoring Morgan Kell. What few troops remain in the Isle of Skye will not be anticipating an attack, and we will catch them unprepared."

Theodore watched as Conti reluctantly nodded his agreement. "That settles it, then," said Kurita. "By the new year, we will rule the Isle of Skye. If he's lucky, I will let Aldo Lestrade live long enough to see how brilliant his plan truly was."

29

Moore