Текст книги "Wolves On The Border"

Автор книги: Robert N. Charette

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BOOK II

Loyalty

16

Hoshon Mansion , Cerant, An Ting

Galedon Military District, Draconis Combine

15 August 3026

 

Late afternoon sunlight threw long shadows across the courtyard of Hoshon Mansion. The outer wall's shadow ran down the edge of the archery range where Minobu and Jaime Wolf were shooting. The great tower set at the corner of the wall was built to resemble an ancient Japanese castle keep, and its shadow bisected the still sunlit ground. When the image flickered with movement, Minobu looked up from the veranda to see Tomiko and Marisha looking out over Cerant from the balcony of the second level. Minobu caught Wolf's attention and pointed out the women to him.

“I am glad you're finally back, and that you and Marisha could find the time to visit us here. It has been too many months. Tomiko has missed your lady. The plan you initiated two years ago on the Hephaestushas borne wonderful fruit. Tomiko and Marisha have become like sisters.”

“It wasn't myplan,” Wolf said, smiling. “But I, too, am glad they've become friends. Tomiko had always seemed so distant, and now she is even polite to me, a bloody-handed mercenary barbarian. She even tries to teach me civilized manners.” Jaime paused, his eyes resting on the two women. “It's good for Marisha to have someone to talk to outside of the Dragoons.”

“And you have no such needs to fulfill by coming here?”

“No need to fish for compliments,” Jaime said with an easy grin. “It's not the same with us. We are brothers, no matter what, sharing the profession of arms as we do.”

“I share my profession with many people, but I would call few brother. Even friends among those rare men of true honor are uncommon.”

“Now you're trying to flatter me.”

“Certainly not. You need nothing to inflate your ego.”

“What!” Jaime raged, though his eyes showed the fury to be a sham.

“Calm yourself. A show of temper is uncivilized, but uncivilized you certainly are. That monstrosity of metal and plastic that you call a bow, for example. No civilizedman would use such a thing.”

Jaime was caught up in his friend's sportive mood. Years dropped away and cares were forgotten in favor of playful banter. “It's the product of the most advanced technology available to archers in the Inner Sphere. It's balanced, strong ...”

“It is dead.” Minobu dismissed the bow with a wave of his hand. “How do you feel the shot through all that lifeless hardware?”

“I don't have to feel it. The sighting equipment allows millimeter-precision in the aiming point. With this bow, an archer doesn't need any of your mystic nonsense about 'becoming one with the target.' And the pulley system will deliver more power than that bound bamboo longbow of yours.”

“Power? There is no power in that device.”

“Oh yeah? Watch this.” Wolf adjusted his bow's tension settings, selected an arrow, and sighted carefully on the target before releasing. The arrow buzzed through the air to bury its head more than seven centimeters into the solid backing of the target post. It stood out from the center of the inner ring, blue feathers gleaming against the golden shaft. Wolf turned to Minobu and grinned, clearly proud of his shot.

“A fine shot,” Minobu agreed.

Minobu selected one of his own arrows. He fitted it to the string, then stopped to concentrate for a moment. In that moment, he focused his ki,drew the bow and then loosed the arrow with a motion that was rapid but smooth. Stillness followed the brief flurry of motion; he held the release position until the arrow reached the target.

The arrowhead shattered Jaime's shaft and passed into the target's backing. Only the fletching remained visible in the target circle.

Jaime shook his head in disbelief. “Could you show me how to do that?”

“I have tried to show you the way, but you found the methods unacceptable.”

“You mean that business about shooting at a target only thirty centimeters away. That's pointless.”

“A man must walk before he can run.”

Jaime shrugged. Ignoring Minobu's disappointed look, he sent another arrow at the target. “At least you've had more success in teaching me Japanese.”

“You have the capability. It is simply a matter of focusing.”

“So you have told me often enough. Jaime Wolf, secret master of ki,”he said in mock seriousness, then laughed. “Guess I'm just too old a dog. You'll have to be satisfied being senseito Michi.”

Minobu took the time to loose another shaft before speaking. “Michi is a good aide, always trying hard to please. He has the heart of a fine samurai and shows great promise as a ‘MechWarrior, but his kiis as yet weak.”

“He will come into his own. The new generation always does.” Wolf selected an arrow for another shot. After he loosed, he said, “Kelly tells me that the Draconis Command has assigned you a BattleMech for a command vehicle.”

With his friend, there was no need to hide behind the impassive face a samurai must present to the world. Minobu let his pleasure at no longer being Dispossessed show in his smile. “It is true. A DRG-1N.”

“A Dragon!That's not your type of machine at all.”

“The type seems very unimportant to me right now. I have a 'Mech again and I have been restored to honor under Lord Kurita. I cannot be ungrateful by disputing the model selected for me.”

“Have you tried it out yet?” asked Jaime.

“Yes. It is very different from my old Panther,but then my position now is also different. I am adjusting.”

“Having problems feeling the shots through all that 'dead hardware'?” Jaime asked, waving his pulley bow for emphasis.

“A BattleMech is different.”

Minobu paused to consider. Jaime was a strategic and tactical genius, with the intuition and understanding of people required of a successful general. He was also a magnificent warrior, honed in the hard school of the Succession Wars for over twenty years. Despite all that, he was unable to grasp the core of the spirit of bushido,to appreciate the spiritual nature of the samurai's code.

“In the old days, a samurai's sword was his soul. It was a part of him, a channel through which his kicould flow. Today, we samurai of House Kurita carry the swords as symbols only. The BattleMech takes the place of the samurai's sword as the channel for a warrior's ki.A ‘Mech Warrior enters his 'Mech and almost literally becomes one with it. It is a symbiosis that an ancient samurai could never achieve with his sword.

“Not all warriors are samurai, to channel their kithrough their 'Mechs. Of those who are samurai, not all have 'Mechs that would seem to be the best match for them. Most often these assignments are arranged by unenlightened bureaucrats.

“The type of machine does not really matter. What really matters is the warrior who pilots the BattleMech. The warrior's spirit is the real strength, not the technology.”

Minobu looked into Jaime's eyes. He could read the lack of true comprehension, but a flare of appreciation showed. If Jaime could not understand, at least he respected the code and those who followed it. Jaime's own code might be different, but he still walked a path of honor and that was something Minobu respected. On that mutual respect, they had built their friendship. Devotion to honor had bound the two warriors, despite their different backgrounds and all that they could not know or understand about one another.

“As to a 'Mech matching its pilot,” Minobu said, “look at yourself. An Archerwould not seem the best choice of BattleMech for the commander of the largest and most successful mercenary unit in the Inner Sphere.”

“You might be right on that. Certainly, there have been times when I would have liked something tougher or faster. It's a matter of prestige. The Dragoons have a lot of Archers,all of them our special model. It's almost a signature machine. Seeing me pilot one gives the troops an identification with their commander.

“That's something to keep in mind now that you are a commander.”

“So ka.Now you become the sensei.”

“No,” Jaime said, shaking his head. “No, I'm not a teacher. I'm a doer. There's too much action out there. Too much to be done. Maybe you'll get a little friendly advice from time to time, like just now, but I can't be your teacher.” Something had entered Jaime's voice, a hint of yesterdays passed. “The battlefield is the real sensei,the only way to learn to command.”

“If you truly believed that, your Dragoons would not maintain the Training Command with the regimental instruction programs.”

“Not so. Some things can be learned in practice. Mustbe learned. Your own kyudoart demands constant practice. So do any warrior skills.

“Command is more than just another skill. You can't train a man to make command decisions in split seconds and live with the consequences. A man has to learn that for himself. If he takes too long to learn or he fails to see that he never will learn, good people die. And he still has to live with that.” Wolf stopped and took a deep breath. He seemed to come back to himself and to the present. “Touche, Minobu. You got your lecture from senseiWolf. But by the look in your eyes, I don't think I told you anything you didn't already know.”

“A man needs to feel that he is not alone even when he knows it is so.”

“Ah, the wisdom of the Dragon.” The banter was back, covering exposed emotions. “My friend, we are getting entirely too serious for the day. Shall we return to more mundane matters again? Tell me how the organization of your unit is going. Logistics headaches are about the most mundane things I know of in this universe.”

“That is very true, but in this case, you may not have found your cure. The Coordinator has named us Ryuken,the Dragon Sword, and it seems he wants his sword well-cared-for. Our equipment is of excellent quality and our supply levels are high. The principal headache I face is where to store everything until I have the personnel to use it.”

“You're short on ‘Mech Warriors?”

“Not really. Some are having to travel long distances to join the unit. Others do not have the necessary experience as yet. It is but a temporary problem. You see, I have been allowed to request pilots from other units. There have been many volunteers as well.

“If the Ryuken is to fight like your Dragoons, I must have a certain breed of ‘Mech Warrior. I have been selective, and yet have found many fine candidates among the Combine's soldiery. However, once I select a pilot, especially one to serve as an officer, the ISF must approve of his or her loyalty to the Combine.”

“You don't sound too pleased with that last condition.”

“Let us just say that the ISF and I do not always agree on a ‘Mech Warrior's qualifications.”

Wolf nodded in understanding. His brow wrinkled briefly as he registered a phrase Minobu had used. “You said 'his or her loyalty,' didn't you?”

“Yes. Does it surprise you that a samurai of House Kurita would consider seeking out women for positions in a fighting unit? Many women serve in the Combine's military. Though I do not expect them to excel at a man's work, I do expect all my ‘Mech Warriors to perform to their utmost. I expect them all to work together as a team in a balance of strengths and weaknesses, as your ‘Mech Warriors do. A commander cannot afford to ignore talent and competence, and so I have made my choices looking for those qualities.

“Besides, I have seen women working well in the Dragoons. Therefore, many of my choices have been women. So far, it is proving a boon. They are grateful for the recognition of their prowess. They work hard, often harder than the men, and perform well. An additional benefit is that the ISF has fewer objections to the women I choose for my ‘Mech-Warriors than the men.”

“A noble attitude.”

Minobu could tell by Jaime's smirk that he was amused, but had no idea what the mercenary found funny. Confused but undaunted, Minobu continued to fill in his friend on the progess of the Ryuken.

“The training proceeds well with the soldiers on hand. First Battalion should be operational in another month, in time for the raid on Barlow's End.”

Minobu and Jaime, bows forgotten in their hands, were just getting down to the fine details of the Ryuken's readiness when they were interrupted by the arrival of Tomiko and Marisha. “See? I told you they would be talking business,” Wolf's lady announced.

“You sound like that's all we ever do, dear,” Jaime responded.

“Sometimes it seems that way.”

“Husband,” Tomiko said, cutting off the good-natured argument before it could get rolling. “I have asked Marisha to join us for the evening meal.”

Minobu turned to Wolf. “Which means, my friend, that I am to issue the same invitation to you.”

“I would be delighted, but I have a previous engagement.”

“Business,” Marisha said in disgust.

“Afraid so,” Jaime confirmed. “But there is no reason for you to pass up the Tetsuharas' hospitality. With luck, I won't be gone long and can rejoin you later.”

Jaime started to excuse himself, but Minobu cut in and insisted on accompanying him on the short walk to the Dragoon administrative building. Jaime seemed uncommunicative, and lost in his thoughts during the walk, but Minobu found that acceptable. A stroll in the gathering twilight was pleasant. It was made more so by the comfortable, if silent, presence of a friend.

As they drew near their destination, Minobu saw a knot of Dragoon officers gathered outside. It included two Regimental Commanders, Baxter Arbuthnot and Wilhelmina Korsht, several Majors, and a few lesser officers. Among those gathered and doing most of the talking, was Natasha Kerensky. Even though she was technically outranked by half the officers there, her actual status was almost as high as that of the Regimental Commanders. She was commander of an independent company and had, more than once, refused promotion. All present seemed to be giving serious consideration to her words.

The group was agitated and disturbed. Though Minobu could sense no imminent violence, the local constabulary obviously did not share that sense of safety. Four members of the Civilian Guidance Corps had gathered at the far end of the block, and the quartet watched the Dragoons nervously. One of the men in the red-and-white striped uniforms was speaking into a comm unit.

As soon as one of the assembled officers pointed out Jaime's arrival, the whole company moved to meet him. The Dragoons were vociferous, and the cacophony of voices made it hard to determine just what the trouble was. Minobu could tell that Jaime was having trouble sorting it out as well.

“Please take the discussion inside,” Minobu said, voice deepened to override the babble. “It is not seemly to air your grievances in public. You do nothing for the reputation of the Dragoons.”

Wolf took advantage of the sudden silence. “Tai-saTetsuhara is right, people. Let's take it inside.” He started for the entrance. “Coming, Minobu?”

“Wait a minute, Colonel!” Kerensky blurted, stopping Jaime's progress towards the door. Kerensky pointed at Minobu. “He's Kurita!”

A chorus of grumbling showed agreement with her statement and all it implied. Jaime silenced it with a monosyllable charged with the force of his will.

“So?”

“So, it's Kurita we've got complaints about. The Snakes are doing us dirty and he's one of them.”

“Do you have a specific difficulty with Tai-saTetsuhara, Natasha?” Jaime's use of her name was intended to bring things to a personal level, a deliberate reminder that she was speaking of a man and not a faceless, nameless “Snake.”

Kerensky faltered, but only for a moment. Though her voice betrayed a slight loss of conviction, her pose remained as arrogant as ever. “He's still a Kurita officer. How can we trust him not to go running to the ISF and report us as mutineers?”

“I trust him. That should be enough for all of you.” Jaime's eyes swept the assembled company. “I'll want his opinion on the validity of your complaints after I get your story. It'll be easier if he hears it for himself.”

“Perhaps it would be better that I not be there, Colonel Wolf,” Minobu said in a placatory tone. “I am no longer your Liaison Officer.”

“You were before and you know the new one. Your troops are going to be working alongside ours. You're still deeply involved in this, my friend.”

In a dimly lit room in Government Center, a tall, thin man smiled as he reached across his marble-topped teak desk and switched off the monitor that relayed signals from the comm station below. The image dissolved before the sound faded, taking away the gesticulating figures before the contentious voices vanished as well.

“It seems matters are proceeding quite nicely,” he said. His hands held a Dragoon undress cap, one finger tapping a rhythm against the black wolf's-head of the unit ID patch. He tossed the cap to the taller of the two other men in the room. The scarred blond man put up a hand and caught the hat. Without any apparent effort, he made it disappear from sight.

The thin man got up and walked to the window that surveyed Cerant. A satisfied laugh filled the room. That laugh had a nerve-grating quality to it, but the two men in black Kurita uniforms showed no reaction at all.

17

Hoshon Mansion , Cerant, An Ting

Galedon Military District, Draconis Combine

16 August 3026

 

“Michi,” Minobu called over the intercom. Noketsuna appeared immediately. “Yes, sensei.”

“I want to show you something in the garden.”

“Is there a problem, sensei?”

“Perhaps.” Neither spoke as they strode through the passages, soles slapping softly on the oiled wooden floors of Hoshon Mansion. It was not until they were walking among the carefully tended plants and away from the walls of the mansion that Minobu spoke again. “I want to discuss a matter that may have great bearing on the future of the Ryuken.”

“Why do you speak to me, sensei!Surely your Executive Officer or some other member of the command staff would be of more help to you. Perhaps your friend Colonel Wolf?”

“I have already spoken somewhat to Jaime Wolf. You were with me when I was PSL officer, which gives you a perspective that my other officers lack. Besides, if I call the whole staff together, the ISF would know what was said before the minutes of the meeting came off the printer. It might be well to avoid that.” Minobu watched Noketsuna react with a moment of dismay that was quickly replaced by trust in his superior.

“The ISF would need to be informed of treason, sensei.I am sure I will have no need to speak to them.”

“You are honorable and trustworthy. Michi– san. And bright.”

“Thank you, sensei.”

“But I think the time has come that you should stop addressing me as sensei,especially when we are alone. We are both soldiers and have weathered the storm of Combine and military bureaucracy together. Let us speak as friends.”

“I am most honored by your trust, sen ...” Noketsuna stuttered, at a loss for the correct form of address. The sudden offer of comradeship from an older man, and a military superior at that, clearly flustered him.

“Minobu will do in private,” Minobu prompted.

“Minobu,” Noketsuna repeated hesitantly. He drew himself up, almost defiantly. “I shall agree to your request, but you shall still be my sensei.”

Minobu shook his head resignedly, but proceeded to outline for Michi the problems the Dragoon officers had brought to Wolf's attention on the previous night. Noketsuna listened carefully. Minobu could see that he was reaching a conclusion even without all the details. Rather than continuing, Minobu asked, “Well, what do you think?”

“The Dragoons are justified in calling Chu-saAkuma an obstructionist. He is using his position as PSL officer to make their lives difficult.”

“A year ago, you would have said that mercenaries should expect no better treatment or that Akuma was justified in making their lives difficult. You have changed.”

“I've been learning from you, sensei.”Michi's use of the honorific was unrepentant.

“Have you learned to predict what the Dragoons will do?”

“That was something I thought even the master could not yet do.”

“Well spoken, imp. They are indeed hard to predict in many things. Jaime Wolf is a man as bound by his honor as we are by ours, and he will stand by his contract. Most of the others will follow his lead without question. The one I worry about is Natasha Kerensky. That one has a wild streak. She is impetuous and at the moment most unhappy with her employers. I fear she will do something ... hasty ... that will cause bigger problems.”

“Surely she will not disobey Wolf's orders.”

“Let us hope not. Things are confusing enough in this situation, even without such a volatile personality. For example, the supply shortages that the Dragoons are experiencing do not make sense, especially in light of our own abundance.”

“Could Chu-saAkuma be setting them up for the 'company store' approach? Setting them up to be plunged into debt to the Combine?”

“Perhaps. I cannot say for sure. He has offered no Combine alternatives, with the attendant higher prices, to replace the balky sources on which the Dragoons rely. If that is his plan, it will fail. The Dragoons are too resourceful.”

“But you said that they were having trouble even with shipments from their long time suppliers like Ceres Metals.”

“That is another curious fact. From hints that Jaime has let slip, I had the impression the Dragoons held stock in that company. Major Seward of the Contract Operations Group reported increased tariffs and communications problems. Why would that be? There are unknown factors operating here.”

“If they are unknown, how can we deal with them?”

“As best we can, Michi-san.As best we can.” Minobu stared at the wall that blocked the view of Cerant. “I begin to believe that many recent events are interrelated in some way I do not yet understand.

“This latest order, for example, requiring that each military cargo be inspected and verified by a PSL officer, who will then accompany that shipment. The Dragoon officers are upset about that. Spies, they say. Spies set to learn their secrets. I think they may be right.”

“That would seem to be a reasonable assumption,” Michi said.

“Are we not the same, my young friend? We have been set the task of learning the methods behind the success of Wolf's Dragoons and copying those methods to better serve the Combine. We are also to learn their weaknesses.”

“Why does that make us spies? To copy their success is wisdom. Is it not also wise to identify another's errors that you may avoid them yourself?”

“Yes, it is. Somehow I do not think that it is quite that simple and innocent. I fear that someone wants us to find those weaknesses so that a plan might be developed to exploit and to destroy the Dragoons, should it become necessary.”

“If they are a threat to the Combine, should they not be destroyed?”

“It is always a Kurita samurai's duty to destroy threats to the Combine,” Minobu said with conviction. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. After a moment, he spoke again. “I think we can discern little more at this time. We have work to do and troops to train.”

“At least that is something we can do with a full heart, Minobu-.sama. It is a good work that is well underway.”

Minobu nodded, eyes on the sky. “But, my young friend, I fear that Akuma's work has only just begun.”