BattleTech Legends: Heir to the Dragon by Robert N. Charrette

Author:Robert N. Charrette [Charrette, Robert N.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2016-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FIVE

DUCAL PALACE

KANASHIMI

DROMINI VI

DIERON MILITARY DISTRICT

DRACONIS COMBINE

15 SEPTEMBER 3029

“You bastard! How could you sit here and listen to me prattle on about honor and agree with me when you were planning such treachery?”

Enraged at the news he had just received, Theodore swept the visiphone across the taboret. The comm device smashed into the fine crystal decanters and sent them crashing to the hard marble floor. Even before the shards of crystal bottles and ancient ceramic sake bowls landed, Theodore had drawn his sidearm. Driven by fury and frustration, he leveled it at the man kneeling in the center of the room.

Duke Frederick Steiner, ankles manacled and left arm still linked to the hobble by a short length of chain, stiffened. Rising as erectly as possible under the circumstances, he lifted his chin and met Theodore’s gaze defiantly.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said calmly. The duke’s eyes never wavered to the pistol whose single, black-eyed stare was directed between the Lyran’s blue eyes. Theodore could not help but admire such cool acceptance of the death before him.

The duke’s serenity touched Theodore despite his rage. Perhaps Frederick Steiner was, indeed, a true warrior. Perhaps he did not know. Ever since the duke had landed at the head of a Steiner raiding force to cripple Theodore’s invasion plans by destroying his carefully hoarded supplies, Frederick Steiner had conducted himself well. He had fought fairly and with great courage, and nearly led his single regiment of BattleMechs to victory against the three Kurita ‘Mech units already on planet. The fervor he had inspired in his men was a testament to his leadership.

Unable to sense a hint of treachery in the man before him, Theodore banked his anger. The duke had to be a dupe of his cousin and ruler, Katrina Steiner, Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth.

“No. You would not have resorted to such trickery,” he said, speaking his conclusion aloud. “Your cousin sent Loki agents to cripple the JumpShips of my fleet. Four have blown helium tanks, two have had their solar recharging exchangers destroyed, and the last has lost its station-keeping engine. That one is currently falling toward the sixth planet, though other ships should be able to stabilize its orbit.” Theodore’s voice rose in anger as he described the damage done by the Steiner saboteurs. “What you fail to do in honorable combat, she accomplishes by trickery.”

“Get used to it, Theodore. It is the way of things. Politicians will forever betray warriors because what we observe as the conventions of war they exploit as our weakness,” Frederick said with a smile.

Theodore’s anger flared again, the duke’s smile enraging him. Frederick’s acceptance of such an intolerable condition was disgusting, unbecoming. How dare he be so smug while Theodore’s dreams to save the Combine turned to smoke around him? His finger tightened on the trigger.

Through the walls of his anger, Theodore sensed satisfaction and a feeling of completion coming from Frederick. Despite all that had happened to him, this man was ready to die to see his state continue.

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