Riposte

Villius Tejh did not let her protest slow him down in the least. "The Davion forces have recovered some supplies, but those were stores meant to sustain battalions, not Regimental Combat Teams. Those stores do nothing to replenish the quantity of materials Davion is spending in this operation. The tether, then, is Davion's line of supply. I am certain that as soon as they can sort out the reports flooding in from the fronts, Liao's crisis team will hit on that fact, and then will deal with it."

Precentor New Avalon nodded in agreement. "I would also point out to Precentor Dieron, in an effort to calm her anxieties, that no Capellan March troops have been committed to this invasion. Without Duke Michael's support, there is no way possible that Hanse Davion can conquer the whole of the Capellan Confederation. Likewise, because of Michael's lust for the throne, Hanse ca

Myndo pointed to the crescent of worlds carved from the Capellan Confederation. "Hanse's troops are all far from home. Why doesn't Michael strike now?"

"Why should he strike while Hanse is weakening both himself and Liao?" the Primus said, with a knowing smile. "Michael is merely waiting for his two enemies to bleed themselves dry, then he will step in and finish off both of them." The Primus narrowed his eyes. "Of course, his son Morgan will oppose his father's conquest of the Federated Suns. This will split the Capellan March between father and son, weakening the Federated Suns yet further."

"Things run similarly in the Commonwealth and the Combine," Precentor Tharkad put in. "Theodore Kurita has rallied his Vegan Legions—at least two of his regiments anyway—to lead a vigorous defense against Commonwealth troops. He will be seen as a strong leader, which will help divide the Combine into two factions, pitting father against son. Wolf's Dragoons are fighting a vendetta out in the Galedon District. I would suppose that if the Combine becomes substantially weaker, then the Rasalhague district will again attempt to secede." The Precentor paused for effect. "And Duke Aldo Lestrade will undoubtedly proclaim the Isle of Skye's independence whenever House Kurita lands troops within his holding."

Myndo clapped her hands mechanically. "Bravo, gentlemen. Your analysis is brilliant. You prophesy, most convincingly, that the entropy predicted by the Word of Blake is accelerating. You speak of decay as if we were already watching it. But I, fellow Precentors, do not see it. You peer into the future and act upon what you think you see. Yet I do not share your view.

"As told in the old Terran tale, someone must say that the Emperor has no clothes! You tell me of civil wars in all the Houses, yet I only see House Davion moving like an agroreaper through the Capellan Confederation. If we do not act to stem the tide now, when will we act? What will be too much?"

Primus Julian Tiepolo looked over at Precentor Sian. "In your estimation, when will the situation stabilize itself?"

Villius Tejh pressed his lips together in a flat line as he considered the question. "I calculate that Davion will have exhausted his supplies by the start of the new year. He will, no doubt, reinforce the worlds he has taken, but I ca

Precentor Sian hesitated, then continued at a gesture from the Primus. "I should add that if Colonel Ridzik survives the siege of Tikonov and manages to drive out the Davion forces, he may attempt to declare the Commonality independent. In that event, I would heartily recommend extending our influence and aid to ensure his success."

The Primus looked at Huthrin Vandel. "Does Precentor Sian's assessment coincide with yours, Precentor New Avalon?"

Vandel nodded solemnly. "Yes, Primus, I believe we will see two more waves, then a cessation of hostilities. Davion will have enough worlds with which to reward his mercenaries. Anything more than that and the mere effort of garrisoning the worlds will become more than he can handle."

Vandel nodded to Precentor Sian. "In addition, Primus, I would voice my support for Precentor Sian's recommendation that we welcome an independent Tikonov."

Myndo growled with irritation. "Again you avoid my question. How much is too much? When do we act?"

Vandel gri

Fury flashed through Myndo's eyes as she watched the other Precentors react to Vandel's suggestion. I ask for a serious discussion and I get nonsense. Vandel knows, given what was said, that Sarna is utterly out of reach. Still, they have given me something."Very well, Primus, I amend my motion as follows: ComStar will place House Davion, its allies, vassals, and agents under a complete and total Interdiction when House Davion troops attack Sarna."

Myndo smiled as each Precentor nodded silently in agreement with the motion. Now that it has passed, all I have to do is somehow prompt Hanse Davion to strike at Sarna and so trigger the fall of his empire.She looked around at her fellow Precentors. With only these fools to oppose me, there is no doubt: Blake's will be done!

46

Sian

Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

21 December 3028

Justin Xiang shut his eyes, deeply fatigued from a job whose demands never seemed to give him a moment's respite. I've not had more than six hours sleep in any one stretch since the Davion invasion began. And that was on the trip back to Sian— after spending twelve hours analyzing dishes for their "secret messages."He looked up at Tsen Shang and read the same physical and emotional exhaustion in his aide's brown eyes.

Between them sat a glowing holographic projection of the Capellan Confederation's holdings. What had begun as a chop across Tikonov's throat had widened on both sides. Half the Tikonov Commonality had been either conquered or was currently besieged by Davion forces. All the loyal worlds glowed with a savage green light, while the worlds taken in each successful wave of Davion assault burned in ever deepening shades of blue.

Tsen Shang pointed at the cerulean light that represented Tikonov. "Your estimates of Davion actions check out, Citizen. The Crucis Lancer Regimental Combat Teams have spread out and hit six targets in the third wave. On Menker and Achernar, they face nothing but militia ..."

"Great. Just great." Justin forced a weak smile. "I suppose we can console ourselves that they will capture no supplies."

Shang shrugged. "Face it. They won't expend any either." He pointed a long-nailed finger at the verdant world called Tigress. "House Hiritsu might do some damage, but that world's lost. Davion tossed two RCTs at it."

Justin massaged his right temple. "As I see it, even with this latest wave, we've still got one shot at stopping the Federated Suns. As you've suggested all along, all we have to do is hit the staging bases. If we can capture—or at least destroy—the Davion supply bases, it'll cut off support. We'll not be able to turn around and force the troops out, but we'll get the time we need to recover."

Shang sighed loudly enough to fill the small, dark chamber with the sound of his frustration. "But how do we get the Chancellor to listen? You heard him last time I broached the subject of sending out strike forces. 'We must crush the invader here, Citizen Shang. We must feed their flesh to our worlds so that what the enemy has made barren will flourish again.' He's obsessed with his dream of being the new Star League's First Lord—so much that he can't see his realm collapsing around his ears."