“There is much to what Captain Kerensky says,” Korsht seconded. “Perhaps it would be best to break contract now and forfeit the bond.” Many other officers nodded or voiced their agreement.
“And where will we go?” Wolf asked. “Nobody wants a merc unit that runs away when things are tough.”
“They'll understand,” Major Patrick Chan protested. “Nobody will fault us for leaving Kurita.”
“You're wrong, Pat. The Successor Lords watch our every move,” Wolf reminded him. “If we break faith with one of them, each one will assume we'd to the same to him or her if we get unhappy. What seems like a good reason to us doesn't look the same from the other side of the paychest.
“Even if we have a good business reason to break contract, we still have our own honor to worry about. We gave our word. If we break it, what are we worth? We'll be the cheap sellswords they claim we are. Can any of you say you want that?”
The only reply was silence.
“We'll keep our contract, to the letter,” Wolf continued. “If the Combine steps over the line, then we can act in all honor. Until then, we work for House Kurita.”
The acknowledgements were soft, but they came forth, Minobu noticed that some of the Dragoons, including Kerensky and Korsht, said nothing. At least they did not disagree. Despite their outspoken opinions, Minobu did not think they would disobey Wolf.
“Your devotion to honor is most ennobling, Colonel Wolf,” Minobu complimented him. “It will stand you in good stead.”
Wolf looked up sharply. “There's something else, isn't there, Tai-saTetsuhara?”
Whether or not Wolf had felt anything earlier, Minobu experienced the sting of the formal address. He inclined his head, took a deep breath, and released it. He pushed the message flimsy forward on the table before raising his gaze toward Wolf.
“Lord Takashi Kurita summons you to Luthien to account for your actions.”
Interlude
Unity Palace, Imperial City, Luthien
Pesht Military District, Draconis Combine
28 August 3027
The small Dragoon contingent arrived at Unity Palace. There were only six of them, all that the travel passes accompanying the summons would allow. Jaime Wolf had wanted to go alone, believing that the fewer who went, the fewer might be made hostage. Major Stanford Blake had made the case that, as intel chief, he would be needed to present the Dragoon position. Major Olga Kormenski had included herself, claiming that her job as Wolf's Security Chief required her presence. The three others in the group wore the uniforms of Dragoon officers, but looked as though they'd be more at home in muddied combat armor. It was Kormenski who had insisted that they come. If she couldn't take BattleMechs to protect Wolf, she settled on the next best thing: troopers from Seventh Kommando, the highly secret Dragoon Special Forces Team.
A squad of Otomo,the Coordinator's fiercely loyal bodyguards, met them at the palace gates to serve as escort. The Tai-iof the Guard wore a black leather holster and the traditional two swords, each bearing the insignia of the Sun Zhang Military Academy. The white tunic of his dress uniform contrasted sharply with the red and blue uniforms and polished ceramet defenses of his squad. Those guardsmen wore the ceremonial armor of the palace, and each carried a heavy-barreled stunner at port arms. The weapons looked almost delicate against their bulky chest plates and gauntlets.
The Tai-igreeted the Dragoons with a stiff, formal bow before leading them in silence through the gardens surrounding the carved splendor of Unity Palace. The group passed wondrous topiary creations and splendid examples of horticultural art as they moved through gardens unrivaled in the Inner Sphere.
Once they entered the Palace, with its predominantly teak architecture and woodwork, they found that the interplay of light and shadow among the carved decorations created an impression that was both strong and airy. The Otomoled them through hall after hall until they came to a small shoji-paneled room.
“Colonel Wolf, your party will await you here.” The Tai-iindicated a row of straight-backed chairs, distinctly out of place against the pervasive Japanese decor. “Only you shall enter the audience chamber.”
“Major Blake is to present relevant data,” Wolf objected.
“All data may be entered here.” The man clapped his hands, and one of the guards rolled back a gorgeous gold foil screen to reveal a glittering chrome and plastic computer console. The Tai-ibowed, again stiff and formal, and left them alone.
“This doesn't look good, Colonel,” Kormenski said.
“It's even worse than I thought,” Wolf said gloomily. “They're not going to listen.”
Blake looked up from the computer console. “You don't know that for sure, Colonel.”
Wolf stopped massaging the bridge of his nose and rounded on Blake.
“Don't I? You're supposed to be an intelligence officer, Stan. Look around you. Look at how they're treating us. What other conclusion can there be?”
“Being a stubborn old man won't help,” Kormenski chided, and Blake nodded agreement.
Wolf scowled at his staff officers. “I may be stubborn and I may be old, but I'm not fool enough to waste my strength. Not even a young man can single-handedly reverse entropy.”
Having served under Wolf for years, Blake and Kormenski knew when to back off because the Colonel was simply not receptive to their arguments. After exchanging helpless glances, Blake returned his attention to the console while Kormenski pretended interest in one of the five Fudo statues adorning the room. Wolf stood in silence, his back to them both.
Half an hour later, the Otomo Tai-iand two guards returned to escort Wolf through the great arch into the lesser audience chamber. Before them were two massive teak doors carved with scenes from the history of the Kurita clan, with a guard to either side. The Tai-istopped halfway across the room and indicated a row of chairs. “Please be seated, Colonel Wolf. Warlord Samsonov will join you shortly.”
Sure enough, Samsonov came boiling through the archway before long. The Warlord drew a sharp breath when he spied Wolf already seated and waiting. Without a word, Samsonov stalked up to the great wooden doors to the inner chamber. Behind him the dapper Akuma trailed, ice to the Warlord's fire. The Sworder nodded a polite acknowledgement to Wolf as he passed. Wolf stood and joined them.
As the massive doors opened silently, they revealed the inner audience chamber. Though the architecture was simple, clean, and functional, it was opulent in its own way. The finest woods gleamed in oiled perfection, accented subdy by the gold fittings where beams joined. In the few niches were pedestals displaying exquisite masterworks of carved ivory. Standing at the far end of the chamber was a stocky figure in a black kimono of glistening daigumo-spidersilk.
The man kept his back to them for a few moments after their footsteps began to echo in the room. Then Takashi Kurita turned to face his visitors, inclining his head in greeting to each of the officers in turn.
“Warlord Samsonov, welcome again to Luthien.
“Chu-saAkuma, you are welcome also.
“I am pleased to see you, Colonel Wolf. It has been a long time since Quentin, and we had no time to chat after I presented you with the Bushido Blade on Benjamin in '26.” Takashi made no reference to the summons that had left Wolf little choice but to come to Luthien.
“You have gone to a lot of expense for a little chat, Coordinator,” Wolf said.
“As Coordinator, I can often judge such whims.” There was a hint of regret in Takashi's voice. “I wish that were the case this time. Warlord Samsonov has had some harsh things to say about your Dragoons, Colonel Wolf. I thought you might want the opportunity to face your accuser and reply to his charges.”