Rex's voice came back strong and full of fire. "Roger, Captain. What do we do when we hit the forest?"

Alanna shuddered, the image of Colonel Harkness's death by inferno rocket flashing through her mind. "We torch the forest and try to stay one step ahead of the flames. With any luck, that'll flush our opposition and we can break out of what is obviously a very big trap." Her hands curled into claws. "And if we survive that, then we go looking for the idiot who got us into this situation and kill him!"

18

ComStar First Circuit Compound

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

29 May 3029

Myndo forced her fists open and held her head high. I can feel their fear. They know the day of reckoning has come. They called the tune, and now they must pay the piper.She smiled coldly. This piper is more than ready to collect.

The Primus looked at her with unconcealed rage in his dark eyes. "I believe we all know the reason Precentor Dieron has called us here for an emergency meeting." He inclined his head in her direction. "Precentor, I believe you have a motion to put forward?"

Myndo waited a second or two before killing her smile. "Hanse Davion's troops landed on Sarna yesterday morning. I demand, as we have agreed before, that we vote a complete and total Interdiction of service into and out of the Federated Suns—this to include information from Davion agents inside the Capellan Confederation or any other nation."

The Primus looked around at the other Precentors gathered in the wood-paneled, dome-shaped First Circuit chamber. "Is there any discussion?"

Precentor Tharkad nodded his gold-maned head. "My esteemed colleague from the Draconis Combine is correct that our threshold event has been reached, but the conquest of Sarna is not complete. I would suggest, therefore, that her motion is premature."

Myndo's eyes blazed. "You hypocritical fool! We agreed that an attack on Sarna would trigger Interdiction! I delayed calling for this meeting until Davion's troops actually landed on Sarna because I expected you to balk before war was enjoined." She stabbed a finger toward her enemy. "How can you justify delaying a stroke that might save Sarna?"

Ulthan Everson rose to her challenge. "Have you forgotten, Myndo Waterly, that the holovid of a raid on our installation that you manufactured uses a location that appears to be the substation in the Weng-chu Prefecture of Santa's Gold Coast? Davion's troops have not pacified that area yet. How can we base our Interdiction on so transparent a piece of fakery?"

Before Myndo could reply, Precentor Sian cut in. "I must agree with Precentor Tharkad. Despite earlier agreements, it would be an error to interdict right now. Davion's forces have taken a terrible beating on Sarna. Interdiction would prevent knowledge of their defeat spreading back through the Federated Suns. The bloodbath might be enough to kill support for the invasion all by itself."

The ghost of a grin twisting the Primus's lips made Myndo angry and then suddenly cold, with a clarity of vision she'd never experienced. Everything fell together. Of course! We're so busy watching the Fox's hands that we ignore his true motives.A small laugh escaped her.

The Primus stiffened. "Ridicule has no part in this place of reason, Precentor Dieron. Control yourself or be censured!"

Myndo bowed her head apologetically, then saw the other Precentors watching her as her head came up. They've noticed the change. Now, while I have their attention, I must use what I have learned.

She focused upon Villius Tejh. "Precentor Sian, why do you think Hanse Davion pursues this war?"

Tejh regarded her carefully, probing the expression on her face for the hint of a trap. "I am not fool enough to be taken in by his speeches about the threat Liao presents to the Federated Suns. The Prince must have realized, after Galahad 3026, that any assault by the Capellan Confederation would result in disaster for Maximilian Liao. Hanse Davion wishes to be the First Lord of a new Star League. He married into part of such a new government, and now he conquers yet another."

The Precentor of New Avalon shook his head. "With all due respect, Precentor Sian, I believe my own vantage point is better than yours. Quite simply, I believe the Prince has launched this war to capture major portions of Liao industry. Wars have repeatedly been fought for technology and the means to produce it. The NAIS is learning much of the old ways and has even branched out into areas that the early technologists did not study. The Prince needs facilities to move these discoveries from the lab into the real world."

Ulthan Everson smiled broadly. "This has been my thought concerning his motive for war. His marriage with Melissa and the agreements made with the Archon before the wedding have linked the Lyran and Federal economies. The inclusion of Liao production facilities will expand both economies and enrich both realms."

The Primus looked at Myndo. His eyes narrowed as though his gaze could pierce her mask and penetrate her thoughts. Then he broke off and turned to Precentor Tharkad. "If this is true, Ulthan, why would Davion stab so deeply to take Sarna? It has no industry. If not for the history and symbolic power embodied by that world, it would be considered one of the poorest planets within the Capellan Confederation."

Everson nodded, but Myndo read the hesitation in his gesture as a portent of her coming victory. "You are quite correct, Primus, in noting the relative worthlessness of Sarna, but I believe Hanse Davion sees it as strategically important. Liao will realize he cannot afford to let the planet fall into Davion's hands. This is obvious because he garrisoned it with McCarron's Armored Cavalry."

Myndo sprung her trap slowly. "I would point out to my learned comrade from the Lyran Commonwealth that McCarron's Armored Cavalry was placed on Sarna by order of Justin Xiang, not Maximilian Liao. I would further suggest that had Xiang's return from Bethel not been delayed by a helium seal failure on a JumpShip, Maximilian Liao would have ordered him to redeploy the mercenaries."

Precentor Tharkad waved away her suggestion, distaste spreading over his florid features. "Nonsense. Liao knows of Sarna's importance. He's already lost the Commonality capital worlds of Tikonov and Liao. He cannot afford to lose another important planet."

"I see." Myndo let her words hang in the air as an indulgent smile slowly appeared on her face. "So you believe Hanse Davion's motives are political or economic? This could explain much, but not everything. There is a deeper motive behind the Prince's actions. One that doesexplain all."

The Primus's left hand nervously massaged the back of his right hand. "What is this motive, Precentor Dieron? Please, enlighten us. .."

Myndo nodded. Gladly. Primus."Let us examine the significant actions the Prince has taken, shall we? Start with his conflict with Duke Michael Hasek-Davion, who made an effort to depose and supplant Hanse immediately after former Prince Ian Davion's death. Hanse won that covert little war by 3016, then systemically did all he could to break Duke Michael. Hanse forced Morgan Hasek-Davion to come to the court at New Avalon and neatly deprived Michael of his son's philosophical loyalty. Then, when Hanse and his watchdog, Quintus Allard, determined Michael was turning information over to Maximilian Liao, the Prince fed the Duke information that resulted in Michael's mortification and death."