Coromodir
Aurigan Coalition
"This is ridiculous! The Concordat couldn't care less about this ball of rock!"
"And yet all we ever hear from you is how this part of space used to be yours and how we are squatters on Taurian territory!"
"That's an exaggeration!"
"It's a declaration!"
The shouting had been going back and forth for the best part of an hour now, ebbing and flowing with each round of discussion and fact finding. By this point, it seemed little else would be discovered and it was time to try and draw some conclusions.
"If I may?" Secretary of Earth Alliance Foreign Affairs Frederick Lantze headed off the brewing fist fight for the fourth time today. "Let's try to keep to what we know for now. Lord Arano, could you summarise only the proven facts?"
"Yes, very well." The ruler of the Aurigan Coalition calmed himself, restoring the dignity of his office. Tamati Arano was a well liked leader and carried the respect of his people. A broad shouldered man of Polynesian heritage, he reminded Lantze of the legendary Admiral Joe Tennant, current commander of the Earth Force Home Fleet. While he had a similar presence and confidence, he had none of the bombast of the Alliance officer. Most of the time, he was well measured and reasoned, but today Lantze was seeing more of the man's fire.
"For almost a year now, raids have been picking at my worlds," he outlined. "Small at first, but growing. In the last three months, they have escalated sharply with battalion level strikes on major industrial and economic centres. These are not simple pirate attacks, they are too bold and too well coordinated."
"What about your response?" Lantze asked.
"My forces have only caught the enemy twice. Most of the time, they strike and withdraw before we can retaliate." Arano grimaced. "My warriors are outstanding, but they can only be in one place at a time."
"Those you did engage, were they pirates?"
"Impossible to say. Their equipment wasn't standardised, but they fought well and with considerable skill. My Captains tell me they were more like mercenaries than pirates."
"Which suggests they were hired by someone for a greater purpose." Lantze understood. "So we must decide who."
"The Taurian Concordat vehemently denies any involvement," Ambassador Cody Hagan declared loudly. "If we wanted your planets, we'd just take them. We don't work through proxies."
"Exactly what somebody who worked through proxies would say." The fourth person at the table added silkily, Ambassador Esmeralda Tahir of Canopus. "Ultimately, you are the one who stands to gain from the collapse of the Aurigans."
"And you don't?" Hagan snapped back. "Only one government here is capable of such immorality!"
"That is slander." Tahir didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to, the venom was obvious. "We merely offer military assistance to help our neighbours."
"Garrison armies right on our borders!" The Taurian laughed bitterly. "Your schemes are obvious!"
"We're drifting again," Lantze once more interjected. "I think for the moment we should take a break, let tempers cool a little."
"There's nothing more to be gained here," Lord Arano recognised. "We won't find the truth in words. But while we are all here, I do want to propose a solution, one that no innocent party would object to."
"Go ahead." Hagan narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Ultimately, you are right Ambassador, we have no hard evidence. You might be responsible, an effort to destabilise us so you can reclaim your former worlds. Or the Capellans could be doing the same thing, or the Canopians might be using it as a ploy to fill my nation with soldiers sent to help us who would turn and conquer us instead."
He raised his hand to stop any protests.
"The point is you all have something to gain, so I do not trust any of you." Lord Arano turned to Lantze. "But not you, Mr. Lantze. Your Alliance is too far away to have territorial ambitions. All you want is trade. Ultimately, that is why I asked you to mediate these talks, because I want something more. I need the Earth Alliance to find out who these raiders are."
"That is... unexpected." Lantze was careful in his wording. "You are right, we have no territorial interests so far from home, but that also means we have little incentive to involve ourselves in your troubles."
"I am prepared to offer you basing rights here," Arano stated. "I am aware you have no interest in us, but you do have some interest in Capella. I am sure you can see the value of a military staging area within striking range of their territory."
"Our business with Capella is concluded."
"I guarantee you, Mr Secretary, their business with you is not."
He had a point. Even at best speed, it was a six week haul to Capellan space. A base in Auriga would put them only one or two jumps from the border. While Earth had no particular interest in getting deeper into regional power games, there was wisdom in being prepared.
"I'll have to talk to President Santiago. An intervention would require the approval of the Senate."
"I'm not so sure about this," Ambassador Hagan voiced. "We have no particular enmity with Earth, but they are a little too friendly with the Davions. A base in your territory also puts we Taurians in a vice."
"I will make basing rights exclusive to the Alliance only, no Davion allies will be permitted," Lord Arano promised. "Is that satisfactory?"
"Probably," Hagan grudgingly allowed. "But I'd like to put an observer in any mission. We didn't launch these raids and if someone is trying to frame us for it and start a fight, we want to know who it is. This isn't something we take kindly to."
"Likewise the Magistrix would be interested in seeing how this is resolved," Ambassador Tahir concurred. "Perhaps we can both send a company to assist in any direct investigation?"
"I thing we can swing that," Hagan agreed. "Lord Arano?"
"A single company is acceptable. Alongside my Royal Guards and anything the Alliance wishes to send?"
"That will be for the President to decide." Lantze remained non committal, acutely aware he was in danger of being railroaded into a course of action. "It will likely take a few days, but I believe the President will handle this before he travels to the Babylon station for it's opening."
"Then I'll begin preparations." Arano smiled. "I firmly believe this will mark a new era for the Periphery, a greater cooperation between its strongest members."
Aberdeen Proving Grounds
Earth
April 3012
"We still have a few of these around. Most are replicas, but I've seen at least one original." Ian Davion rested a hand on the pitted steel hull of the tank, connected in that moment to an ancient history shared with this unusual world. "Rumour is the Steiners have the last Tiger tank. I'll have to ask them about it."
He half smiled and stepped back, looking around at the collection of museum pieces.
"My brother could probably identify them all be sight, he knows his history well. When I tell him about this place, he'll be intensely jealous."
Michael Garibaldi gave him a good natured shrug, falling into place beside the First Prince as they strolled through the exhibits.
"This is my first time here too. My dad talked about coming here as a kid and I guess he always planned to bring me, but never got round to it."
"What did he do?"
"Army, then private security and investigations, then army again."
"Is he still with us?"
"Last I heard, he was deployed to Proxima. The Minbari had taken the planet, but there was still plenty of resistance." Garibaldi looked away for a moment. "My guess he's still out there yelling at people."
"I hope it is so," Ian allowed. "He sounds like a resourceful man."
"Take more than an alien invasion to kill him, they already tried that and it didn't work." Garibaldi broke a smile. "When we get back, I'll let you know."
The First Prince nodded, enjoying the conversation. Garibaldi had been assigned to accompany the Prince today as he took a brief tour around the museum before joining Earth Force's first Mech Regiment for an inspection. As an officer of that unit, Garibaldi seemed well placed to answer any questions Ian had, and frankly he was enjoying the simple honesty of the man. Michael Garibaldi was no diplomat, he spoke plainly and that was refreshing. He was a warrior and it was reassuring that this world had them in quantity.
"That tank over there, that was the first one over the DMZ back in World War Three." Garibaldi nodded. "My dad always said we had an ancestor in that wave charging behind one of those things."
"A Third World War." Ian read the notations on a plaque beside the vehicle. "I don't think we ever had one of those, though the old nations of Terra fought each other often enough. It is still unusual to learn this history, some of it shared, some of it not."
"Must have been a bit of a surprise when we showed up out of nowhere."
"You could say that." Ian smiled at the thought. "Most people still don't believe your story. Even many in my own court think you are just a lost colony shaped to look like old Terra."
"Hell of a lot of shaping." Garibaldi grunted a laugh. "What do you think?"
"I was sceptical, I admit, even after Hanse so passionately explained the science. I still don't understand it."
"Nobody does, even the person responsible, but she's working on it."
"Ultimately though, I think it is true. I've visited this place twice now and as a wise man once said, eliminate the impossible..." The Prince trailed off.
"Right." Garibaldi nodded. "Pretty crazy though, right?"
"Yes." Ian shook his head in amusement. "Crazy indeed."
They left the museum and entered a waiting car that took them the short distance to the proving grounds themselves, an area of varied terrain and firing ranges set up by the old US Army to trial their newest inventions. It was still used for this purpose, the entrance to the range itself proudly marked by a massive block of metal with a hole cored clean through it. They passed several facilities and various vehicles, Ian paying particular attention to a row of pristine Brunhilde super heavy tanks.
"Impressive machines." He appreciated. "Gauss guns?"
"Rail guns, same type we used on our first generation Frigates." Garibaldi looked out at the massive vehicles, each one four times as large as the standard issue Odin tanks. "I mean, those things don't have the reactor power of a warship, so they won't hit that hard, but they'll still delete most of what you point them at."
"Tanks still have a critical role anchoring the line of advance, MechWarriors can often forget that." Ian settled back in his seat. "Will you be deploying with them?"
"That's what they're here for." Garibaldi confirmed. "Combined arms."
"Good, hopefully you'll be fast learners."
The car followed the roads through the base, the First Prince continuing to absorb everything he saw. The utilitarian buildings that could easily have belonged to his own armed forces, the columns of marching troops, the grunts painting and cleaning whatever their Sergeants told them to, a veritable sea of vehicles ranging from trucks and light Utility cars up to the massive new generation of heavy tanks. It was a massive base focused on mechanised warfare. It had enough people and vehicles to equip an army, and it wasn't even the biggest base on this continent.
Then, finally, there was the mech hangar, a colossal long square building with no windows and plain grey painted metal sides. It wasn't a hardened structure, just a testing facility, but it was still impressive in scale. The car slowed as it approached, indicating it was their destination, a gaggle of people in suits and dress uniforms milling around by the entrance.
"Ah, yeah, right." Garibaldi winced. "I was hoping to avoid these guys. I lied about when you'd be arriving."
"Should I be concerned?" Ian wondered.
"Not really, just try not to get any slime on you as you push past."
"I see." Ian half smiled. "So you have lobbyists too?"
"Everywhere. That one is the Governor, there's the CEO of Mitchell Hyundyne, I have no idea who the rest are, but they definitely want something."
"Fortunately I've had plenty of practice. Stay close, Lieutenant, I'll punch a hole through their ranks." Ian grinned. "One advantage of my rank is that no one gets in your way."
The car pulled up and Ian was out immediately and setting off at a forceful pace. Aside from being First Prince, he was also a hardened warrior in his prime, an imposing physical presence in addition to the charisma and charm of his upbringing. He may not have had the subtle wit of his brother, but Ian was still a larger than life character. If he decided something was going to happen, it happened. And right now he had decided he wasn't wasting a second out here.
"First Prince, welcome to Maryland!" A sharp suited middle aged man took the lead moving to intercept. "I'm Governor Robert Fallon, do you have a moment to talk sir?"
"Not right now." Ian smiled but did not reduce his pace, striding toward the cluster of suits who parted before him, exactly as he knew the would. "I have some duties to take care of. You can contact my secretary through your government."
"I wanted to ask if you had decided on purchasing Starfuries?"
"That will depend on the outcome of the evaluation and if Commander Sinclair believes they satisfy our needs." The door was getting closer, Garibaldi rushing to keep up.
"We have some significant investment opportunities in this great state, perhaps..."
"I can be reached through my secretary." Ian maintained his well practised smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me I am here in an official capacity and I have a strict schedule. Good day Governor, gentlemen."
He entered the facility, let Garibaldi through, then shut the door with some strength in the faces of the politicians and lobbyists.
"My presence here was supposed to be privileged information," Ian exhaled. "This isn't a state visit."
"Probably the Governor." Garibaldi guessed. "Lot of business interests, if you ever need to know who is pulling the strings, follow the money."
"Indeed." The First Prince exhaled. "Well that's done, let's go do something entertaining. Show me the mech."
"Right this way."
The interior resembled a cross between a hangar and a factory, with most of the space dedicated to maintaining mechs for the testing runs, with sections set aside for machining additional parts. Earth was still in its testing phase when it came to battlemechs and probably would be for years to come. Things had progressed to the point where the first native built factories were coming online and a few hundred machines had been built, but there was still much to do.
"I see you've taken to mechs rather well." Ian smiled. "Very similar set up to our own procedures. Your gantries look identical."
"Form follows function." Garibaldi grinned. "Plus we ended up with a few standard maintenance bays with that Urbie factory the Capellans gave us."
"Which explains your little friends over there." Ian nodded to a quartet of grey Urban Mechs gathered at the edge of the hangar, gleaming with fresh paint. "Good little machines in the right setting. Back in the academy, I took down an entire medium lance piloting one of those. Great days."
Garibaldi had to respect that, he'd engaged UrbanMechs in wargames and had wiped the floor with them in every fight. Rumour was that Ian Davion was a mechwarrior of the highest calibre. Garibaldi looked forward to finding out.
"The guys have been working on the mech you sent for the last couple of months." He kept pace beside the First Prince, the clang of machinery and percussive calibration forcing him to raise his voice a little. "Is it one of your personal mechs?"
"No, though if the modifications are as good as you say, I might adopt it." He grinned at the thought. "Originally she was Kuritan, we took her during the liberation of Robinson quite a while ago now."
"That would explain the Japanese writing stamped on the reactor casing."
"She's been part of the Guards Brigade ever since, switching through different units as required." Ian spotted the target up ahead. "The original pilot had called her 'Atsuki,' so we kept the name as a mark of respect. She is an old and glorious warrior, Mr Garibaldi. I'm interested to see how she has adapted to new technology."
The source of their conversation rested in the central mechbay, the imposing bulk of an Atlas Assault Mech gazing balefully at the far wall with dull eyes. Like most Atlas mechs, it had a terrifying visage, though in the case of Atsuki, it was modeled more on a Samurai mask, instead of the classic skull face. Despite its Kuritan origins, the machine stood in Davion blue with her Royal stripes of white and red standing in contrast. The mech lacked any unit markings yet, but there was a small badge on her arm applied by the team who had modified her.
"I think I can see what you've done, but walk me through it anyway, Lieutenant." Ian craned and peered around examining the mech. "Then we absolutely must take this thing for a stroll."
"Well, this was a test run to see if we could add new weapons and systems to an existing machine, and a big one at that." Garibaldi stared up at the Atlas. "We retrofitted some other captured mechs but nothing this big, and not to this degree. The most obvious change is the pulse cannons, four uni-pulse cannons, two on each forearm. We had to ditch the medium lasers but I think its a small sacrifice."
"These are a type of particle weapon, correct?"
"Yes, they fire bolts of energy in small rapid pulses, exactly the same guns we use on Starfuries, but better protected."
"Rate of fire?"
"Very high, about one round every half second per gun."
"Very handy. What about the heat buildup?"
"The alloys and power systems we use are highly efficient, there's very little waste heat," Garibaldi explained. "Even so they aren't perfect, and your second gun definitely isn't." He pointed to the torso. "We swapped the AC 20 for a plasma cannon, and that will generate some heat."
"That had better be as nasty as it sounds if you took out my giant gun."
"Oh, it is. That thing coughs out a glob of superheated plasma hotter than the sun, which will douse any target out to about five hundred metres. So it's pretty short ranged, but anything it hits is dead. Not just a little dead either. Very dead."
"I think I could make that work." Ian half smiled. "Even if I don't make a clean kill, all that heat would top an enemy's heatsinks."
"This is a new weapon for mechs. We only use plasma weapons on our largest warships. Honestly, we don't actually know if it'll work."
"I'm very keen to find out." Ian spoke with absolute sincerity. "What else did your people manage?"
"Well, to feed these weapons we had to boost reactor performance, that meant adding extra capacity to your power systems. Unfortunately that needed us to take away your missiles in the torso there. The LRMs."
"That's a pity, but you are using the space for more reactor capacity?"
"Exactly." Garibaldi confirmed. "We kept your short range missiles and made them compatible with our own Hammer missiles. They don't hit as hard as a standard SRM, but they are fire and forget. They don't miss."
"Any change to the armour?"
"No, we just don't have anything right now that works better than what it came with. Same for the motive systems. Myomers are entirely new to us, so apart from having more power to put into the legs there's no real difference." Garibaldi shrugged. "But we did update your heat sinks to handle plasma weapons. I don't know the specifics but each mount is about four times more efficient."
"So a quad heatsink? That is definitely handy."
"You've got improved comms, updated targeting systems, auto tracking and datalinks, holographic heads up display..." Garibaldi ran down. "Oh, and a pair of CPPGs on the shoulders, just up there on flexi-mounts. We use those instead of machine guns, rapid fire phased plasma bolts. We put them there to handle infantry and anyone trying to get behind you, but the tech guys say they should work pretty well for intercepting missiles."
"My very own anti-missile system? That is a nice addition." Ian considered. "So I've lost long ranged weapons, but in return I have gained excellent medium and close range energy weapons."
"That's about it."
"Good, I like to get up close in a fight anyway. So, how much did all this cost?"
"No idea, but to you, nothing."
"Nothing?"
"A gift from the President of the Earth Alliance." Garibaldi beamed. "And the good people at Lockheed Dynamics, who are probably hoping you'll be so happy you'll buy an army from them."
"They might not be wrong. Let's go for a test run, see if Atsuki is as dangerous as she sounds."
The newly built mech range had seen a fair amount of testing. Earlier that day, the base commander had sent some of the new Brunhilde tanks through to put them through their paces. It was a standard set up with various obstacles, terrain types, and pop up wooden targets shaped like various mechs and tanks to shoot at. Some were on rails to offer a moving enemy, though none returned fire. Garibaldi had run this course a dozen times in his Marauder and could usually complete it in just under twenty minutes. The record was his fellow test pilot Captain Colette Farro, who had done it in nineteen minutes. Ian Davion, in an Atlas, did it in twelve.
"Absolutely outstanding!" The First Prince didn't even try to hide his glee as he stormed through the course. He went through at a full run and barely slowed down for anything. He fired on the move with better accuracy than Garibaldi managed stationary while carefully conserving his fire. No target took more than two rounds, and he did not miss once.
Garibaldi angled his Marauder to step up beside the Atlas. He hadn't been engaging any targets, he had only needed to follow the Prince and he still managed to fall behind. It was at first embarrassing before it became concerning. Ian was a top tier warrior, so it was expected he'd beat the course handily, but nobody expected him to demolish it so thoroughly. It was a reminder that Earth Forces shiny new Mech Regiments still had a lot to do.
"I'm not even at three percent heat, I needn't have been so conservative with my weapons." The Prince sounded genuinely overjoyed. "And its nice not to have to wear any cooling gear. Feels wonderful in here!"
"Glad you had fun." Garibaldi was pleased his comrade was having a good time. Given his duties and responsibilities, it must have been a rare event just to cut loose and indulge himself. "Any recommendations?"
"The balance is off, a little front heavy, and while you boosted power to the legs, you need more in the arms too," Ian recommended. "I can walk your teams through the balancing calibrations. You just need to compensate more for these pulse cannons."
"Understood."
"Other than that, I think I've found my new mount. This upgrade is fantastic. Your Marauder has the same set up?"
"That's right," Garibaldi confirmed. "Pulse cannons, advanced targeting, superior heat management. Earth Force has already selected the Marauder as it's primary Battlemech."
"A good choice," Ian approved. "What about other units? A mech formation needs to be flexible."
"We're also building Locusts for scout missions and raiding, Stalkers for heavy assault, and our Urbies for infantry support."
"Just those four?"
"At the moment, yeah, they fill the roles we need and it helps our logistics to mass produce only a few models."
"That's logical enough, but I expect you'll find you need more designs to fill out other missions. Still, for a general purpose Regiment, I can think of worse. They should serve you well."
"As soon as we're up to full production, I think it's inevitable the President will offer to sell you some," Garibaldi guessed.
"I'll buy them. High quality brand new mechs are worth every penny." Ian didn't hesitate. "And I am sure Katrina will too. The terms of our trade treaties state anything offered to one of us must also be offered to the other."
"To keep the balance between you and the Archon." Garibaldi understood. "But not the other powers?"
"Janos Marik is trying to get in on it, make it a three way power block and keep up with us," Ian recalled. "He might make it too. The Lyrans are trying to keep them out, but I think your President wants the League in on this. Janos is a potentially disruptive element. A good statesman will want to bring someone like him in as a counterweight to Katrina and I."
"You think its a good idea?"
"It is a good idea, at least from Santiago's position. It reduces my influence and Katrina's, so I don't like it. But it is logical, and I can live with it. Your President is at least wise enough not to trust Kurita or Liao."
"Do you think Liao is still a threat? You gave them a beating and took a few worlds."
"Less than I'd like. Candace Liao is a much better strategist than I gave her credit for," Ian was forced to admit. "But their strategic reserves are depleted, many of their best warriors are dead, and their people are still humiliated. They are dangerous, but in no position to strike against anyone. Kurita is the real threat, always has been."
"Is that why you are cosying up to the Lyrans? Surround Draconis and hit them from both sides?"
"Ir probably looks like that, and I have no doubt Takashi Kurita believes it. But in truth, I think Katrina and I have found ourselves reaching a similar conclusion. The old rivalries aren't sustainable anymore. We have to move beyond our old objectives and accept the galaxy is never going back to what it was. The Star League is dead, the throne of First Lord is a poisoned chalice that has robbed us all of so much and given us nothing in return. Your arrival has probably accelerated the process, forced us to confront it sooner rather than later."
"But that's a good thing right?"
"For me? Yes, and no doubt for Katrina too. But you also made the other Lords reassess their situation too and accept the status quo is now completely overturned. Some of us are trying to make a more peaceful and closer future, but I think Kurita is going to lash out, and the saints only know what Marik is going to do. I doubt even Janos knows what he'll do beside scramble not to be left behind."
"Times are a'changing then." Garibaldi was forced to reach the same conclusion. "Think it's gonna get bad?"
"No doubt about it," Ian confirmed. "So a few Regiments of pulse cannon Marauders would be very welcome indeed. Kurita will move against Katrina and I. When he does, he'll die very surprised."
Bavaria
There was still a chill in the air despite the spring sunshine, the idyllic lakeside retreat lined with tall trees amid rolling hills. It was a beautiful secluded spot with as much peace and quiet as anyone could wish for, a chocolate box wooden lodge nestled among the trees near the lake, giving its occupants that timeless German fairytale experience.
Katrina Steiner appreciated it, not for the view or the history, but because it gave her a rare and blissful few weeks of peace with her family. These moments were beyond precious, not least because they were inevitably coming to an end.
She settled on one of the padded wicker chairs, drawing her legs up beneath her, a cup of warm tea cupped in her hands releasing its steam into the crisp air. In the seat beside her was her husband, smaller and frailer than at any time she had known him. Arthur Luvon had been a man of boundless energy and drive, someone who had lifted her high in her worst days, who had shielded her from harm and loaned his strength when the time to fight had arrived. She had no doubt she wouldn't be here today without him. In all likelihood, she'd already be buried in the dynastic cemetery.
To see such a man reduced to such a shadow had been like a curse, a reminder of the cruelty of the universe.
"Do you think your ancestors lived in a place like this?" Arthur spoke quietly, a raspy whisper from beneath several layers of clothing.
"No, no not at all." Katrina smiled over the tea. "We were just workers, industrialists, scholars. We aren't descended from ancient nobility. What we are, we shaped ourselves."
"And now you could probably buy this whole country."
"I don't think its for sale."
"Everything has a price."
"And now you sound like a Marik."
He coughed a laugh, the act apparently creating some discomfort. "It is a nice view."
Closer to the shore was their daughter Melissa, the small child apparently enjoying the cool water, splashing playfully at her Governess who was futilely chasing after the small child.
"She has your looks," he considered.
"And your disregard for authority," Katrina replied, immediately making her feel guilty as Arthur made another grating laugh. They were silent for a while absorbed in their own thoughts, soaking in the moment.
"I think I'm ready to head back." Arthur broke the silence.
"Are you sure? It's a long way back. Maybe you should stay here, this is a good place to stay for..." She tailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
"For the last weeks of my life?" He concluded for her. "I know what you're thinking, but I want to be back home. This place is beautiful, and it was very close to the hospital for us, but it's time to go."
"I'll come with you."
"You can't, you know you can't." He smiled back. "You have to go to the opening of the Babylon station. You have to smile and shake hands and be nice to people who hate everything you stand for. That's what an Archon has to do."
"I don't want to be out there when... when it is time."
"Don't worry, I won't be going anywhere before you get back." Arthur looked back out over the lake. "If the Reaper shows up, I'll brawl with him until you get home. No force in this universe will rob us of one more day together."
She had accepted this reality a long time ago, but accepting it and being able to deal with it were two very different things. During one of their adventures together, both Arthur and Katrina had been exposed to a severe dose of Radiation, Arthur more than herself. It had turned out that Earth Alliance medical science was advanced to the point where it could treat radiation induced cancers, but only to a degree. Katrina's radiation exposure had been low enough that she could be treated. Arthur's was not.
"I'm sorry this happened. Sorry I lead us into that deathtrap, sorry I dragged you along, sorry I didn't know any better." Katrina voiced what she had been keeping tied up within for so many years. "I thought it was going to be worth it, that securing black box technology was worth our lives."
"It gives us an advantage nobody can touch, secure interstellar communications."
"And a few years later a group of strangers from nowhere gives us tachyon encoded transmitters that achieve the same goal for no sacrifice." She squeezed shut her eyes, pushing the tears back to where they came from. "All of that sacrifice, that risk, those lives. What was it for? What will your death be for?"
"You can't see the future, Kat. You acted for the good of the Commonwealth and we all agreed to go with you knowing the risks. It is a price we all agreed to pay and I don't regret it," Arthur spoke plainly. "And we still have the black boxes if we ever need them. Something even our Alliance friends have no idea about. Might be useful just in case."
"I stole your future."
"You gave a future to the whole Commonwealth, one far greater than anyone else could have done." Arthur summoned up some real passion, some energy that was buried inside to truly get his point across. "You are the right person, in the right place, at the right time. You are the only one who can actually lead us to a different future, to move beyond the bones of the Star League and forge a new galaxy. That's worth more than one life."
She often told herself the same thing, that nobody else had the vision or the strength to completely redirect the course of her people, and through that, the entire galaxy. It was an ambition as lofty as they came, to reshape a civilisation of trillions, an entire galaxy, but that was her goal. She had no idea if it was possible, but with Ian Davion seemingly open to her plans and now this Earth Alliance, there was a hope, a faint spot of light in the distance. Maybe she really could do this, or maybe she could not. She knew sacrifices would need to be made, but the reality of what that meant was really hitting home.
"I had longer than I thought, these treatments delayed the inevitable a few years and I'm glad it did." Arthur watched his daughter playing in the lake. "I got to see my child grow, I heard her first words, saw her first steps. I want to see her reach adulthood, see what kind of woman she grows into. I want to disapprove of her choice in men, wag my finger at her is she dresses too wildly. I want to walk the aisle on her wedding day and hold my grandchildren. But more than all of that, I want Melissa to live in a galaxy where all those things will one day happen, and if we hadn't done all we did, then she wouldn't have any of that. What we did, the risks, the sacrifice, it made her future possible, and is going to be a beautiful future. Promise me you'll see it through."
"Of course I will, nothing is more important." Katrina spoke without doubt. "She will be a leader we can both be proud of, and a good kind person."
"Such a rare combination." Arthur nodded in satisfaction. "My cousin Morgan will watch over her in my place. I've left him my fortune and he's already building a mercenary unit, the Kell Hounds. You'll always be able to rely on them."
"The Kells are honourable and determined people, but it won't be the same."
"I know, but sometimes the cost of building a better future is not ever seeing it. I made my choice and I'd make it again. Now you have to keep going, make all the sacrifices worth while, make a future for Melissa to lead in peace," Arthur shared with her. "That's your sacrifice, to keep going and keep fighting and do the impossible. Change the entire galaxy."
"You always did dream big." Katrina smiled despite it all.
"We both did, and you'll make it real." He settled back down, his energy evaporating in an instant. "I'll be watching and you will both always have my love. Time won't wait for us, but I'll see you back home for a real farewell. Nothing will take that moment from our family."[/hr][/hr][/hr]
