The Great Hall
Castilian Royal Palace
Asturias, Castilian Principalities
Star Colonel Rory Vargras, flanked by the pair of Knights Sanguine and by the pair of Vampire-clad Elementals, stood before the Castilian and Umayyad delegations and swept his gaze across all in attendance slowly.
There was the Castilian king, Joseph Noye, with his Blakist advisor at his side. In proximity to him were the principes, who ruled the various Castilian worlds as their own personal fiefs. There were also dozens of minor nobles as well, though not nearly as many as one would find in a Great House's court. Many of those nobles wore expressions of fear or even open hostility... but not a few of them looked pensive and interested, as well.
Forming the third point of the triangle in the room was Lise Burrill, clad in her elegant silks and veil, and the warriors who accompanied her, clad in beige desert fatigues that awakened a sense of vague recognition in Rory's mind. Despite the outburst of one of their number, they had already proven themselves honorable, and it pleased Rory that they were present for this occasion.
"Honored delegates, I will not waste your time with pointless blustering and pontification. I am Star Colonel Rory Vargras of Clan Blood Spirit, and I have been dispatched by my Khan, Adrianna Schmitt, to Nueva Castile because she has seen an opportunity for everyone involved here to learn from and help one another. Despite the poor precedents already set during our arrival, we are still committed to this course of action, and I thank all of you for your presence here today. You show us great honor and we shall prove worthy of such."
Rory paused only for a moment. "We have not come here as our dishonorable brethren in the other Clans would, as conquerors and tyrants, but as fellow warriors, as equals... and, perhaps one day, as friends. Both sides have born witness to the truth of this in the Espana Valley on Valencia, where we fought and bled at the side of your warriors. You have also seen the truth in this very hall, where we have thus far stayed our hands despite the violence that briefly broke out between both sides. Remember these things, and think on them."
And as Rory paused once again, he regarded King Noye and Caliph Burrill in turn. "I ask each of you: what is it that you want? What will it take for you to bring an end to this endless cycle of warfare and bring peace to Nueva Castile? And how can we help you to accomplish such a feat?"
Noye leaned forward and growled a curt response, "Star Colonel, my kingdom's demands have always been simple: for the Mohammedans to return our stolen worlds to us to and to return whence they came. It is to this end that we do battle, much as - if the reports I have heard are correct - your own people did for your world of York. Of course, were you to join your strength to ours, this matter could be resolved in short order."
Burrill restrained herself from any overt show of frustration with the Castillian monarch, but spoke clearly and without any hesitation, "Had you made such demands when we were newly arrived to this star cluster, Joseph Noye, I would have no choice but to acknowledge the honor of your demands; however, we are not the ancestors who came to this place long ago. I and every one of my subjects was born on the worlds of Neuvo Castille just as were you and your nobles. We have as much claim as you do by right of Jus Soli. If you desire peace, we will treat with you in good faith, but know that we will not meekly give up our homes. If you want peace, you must accept that you will have to share this star cluster with us."
One of the younger Castillian nobles turned to look at Rory Vargras with an expression just a fraction short of a sneer, "So there you have it, Clansman. Tell me, how do you propose you settle this matter? We want the moros gone, and they want our land."
For a few long moments, Rory reflected on the words of the king and the caliph.
Like many such conflicts, there existed truth on both sides of it. The Castilians were indeed justified in wanting the Umayyads to remove themselves from worlds they had seized so many years ago, worlds that did not belong to them. And yet, the Umayyads had gone through many generations since then, and had placed permanent roots upon their worlds.
One had only to look at Asturias itself, which Rory's agents in the Blood Spirit Watch had reported the bloodlines were actually intermingled to the point of being impossible to extricate. An interesting finding, considering that Asturias was the center of the Castilian Principalities. And a fact that, like so many others, served to further complicate the unending war between the two sides.
Shaking off his momentary respite, Rory turned to King Noye and the Castilian nobles holding court around him. "We have not come here to take sides in this conflict, but to help you both to bring it to an end. Caliph Burrill has come here in good faith and has offered to work with you in good faith, and your only response is to spit in her face and ask that she and her people leave the homes they have occupied for generations? Is that how you propose to bring a peaceful end to a destructive conflict?"
Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he took a single step forward. "Neg. You invite extremists and terrorists into your home, members of a cult that have brought nothing but misery and death to those who do not share their views. Have you asked yourselves what your 'advisor' seeks to gain by standing at your side and advising you on matters beyond Nueva Castile? Have you asked yourselves what price he will demand for the aid he has given to you?"
Noye frowned as Rory confronted the Blakist, "Star Colonel, I have heard a great many things about your peoples' quarrel with the Precentor's order, and I would caution you before using words like 'extremist' and 'terrorist' so casually; after all, you have asked us to break bread with people who more than once have earned the same title - to say nothing about 'cultist,'" he said in a neutral tone.
One of Burrill's MechWarriors visibly flinched towards his sidearm, but the Caliph stopped him cold with a gesture of her hand, "King Noye, surely you must accept that by our very presence here our intention is neither rooted in extremism or a desire to spread terror amongst your people. And as for your disrespect towards our religion... are you not followers of the Book yourselfs? You must understand how denigrating our beliefs only debases your own."
One of the Castillians spat back dismissively, "Only an Umayyad would compare their moon-god with Christ Jesus," looking towards Vargras he said, "Do not allow yourself to be fooled by her honeyed words, Clanner, the Umayyads are the aliens here: they will accept your Way of the Clans no more than they accept the True Church."
Burrill hissed to one of her warriors who appeared to be about to speak, "تكون صامتة والحفاظ على كرامتكم," then addressed Noye in a hard but silent voice, "King Noye, you did not answer the Star Colonel's question. What promises have you made to the Terran infidels? I am most curious to hear what the great Terran Hegemony would ask from a poor Periphery star cluster."
Noye seemed about to snarl something at Burril before the Blakist bowed close and whispered something to him. Noye nodded curtly and the Blakist faced Burril and Vargras.
"I believe I can answer that question. I was dispatched with other consular and technical personnel to bring the Light of Blake to this distant corner of the galaxy. We brought with us HPG equipment, medicine, news to the greater galaxy, and lost Star League technology to ease the burdens suffered by Nueva Castille. These things we brought as gifts from Terra to King Noye's court, and in exchange he accepted me as ambassador and advisor."
Before Vargras could ask the obvious he raised his hand to forestall the question, "And yes, we also brought arms. Understand, there are many in this region who would do us harm - not the least being your allies on the Grand Council, Star Colonel. Given our friendship with King Noye, however, we were happy to put those arms to more constructive uses - specifically training the scattered feudal armies of the cluster to fight as a modern professional military."
"Understand, Star Colonel, we asked for nothing but the friendship and protection of King Noye. Terra is distant, but she is also rich and powerful, and has no need to extort tribute from distant outposts of civilization such as Asturias."
Rory nodded at the precentor's words, and almost smiled despite himself. The robed advisor was good at his job, and was obviously prepared to do battle in this arena. But he would have expected no less from him. The Terran Hegemony would not entrust such a task to one who was not capable of it. So he would have to meet the Blakist on his own terms. So be it.
"Long experience has taught me that Spheroids do nothing out of the kindness of their hearts. And they certainly do not uplift others without gaining from the exchange. Perhaps you should think on that, King Noye, before you allow yourself to be hypnotized by the gifts that Terra offers to you. What interest have your people ever had in events outside of your own worlds? Did you not leave the Inner Sphere to escape such manipulations? In this, we have more in common than you might think."
Then, he shifted his dark gaze to the precentor. "If your mission here is as altruistic as you claim it to be, why have you offered none of these gifts to the Caliph and her people? Are they any less deserving of Terra's favor than the Castilian Principalities? The Caliph has asked a valid question: what have the Castilians promised in return for this... generosity?"
Finally, he glanced at Caliph Burrill. "Clan Blood Spirit also stands prepared to offer the best of what we have to both of your peoples: medicines, technologies, and other things which would improve the quality of life for all in Nueva Castile. Perhaps we should simply reserve our own bounty for the Umayyads, who have been so unjustly excluded from this 'Light of Blake'. It would seem to be the most expedient and justified course to take, quiaff?"
The robed Precentor shrugged, "You may wish to ask the Caliph herself, Star Colonel. We offered our aid to the Umayyad as well, but they chose not to treat with us... for reasons that I am hardly qualified to judge."
"By that," interjected Burill, "you mean that the Caliphate would not tolerate a false and occult religeon being introduced into our lands."
"I suppose that is one way you could justify your position, though the Word of Blake is neither a religeon nor false. Still, as I told you when we last met, Madame Caliph, I respect your position and would never dream of trying to force you to change it."
Noye rolled his eyes, "You are too kind to those savages, Precentor, they spat upon you when you offered them aid... now you owe them nothing."
Before the Blakist could answer the second part of the question, Noye addressed Vargras, "As for what promises we have made to the Word of Blake, I can answer that question. They have received land grants upon which to build their hyperpulse generators, and the Ambassador has been awarded a modest estate here on Asturias to function as his embassy and official residence. The crown has also deigned to pay the wages of a reasonable staff of retainers to ensure that their servile needs are met and their facilities properly maintained. Oh, yes, and the Planet Cordoba will be given over to them once it is liberated."
This last revelation left the hall in somewhat stunned silence for the better part of ten seconds. Even as yet another murmer of anger started to rise from the Umayyad side of the table, an older Castillian warrior turned plaintively towards his King, "But... your majesty, Cordoba is my family's ancestral home! You have said nothing of this before."
Noye belted out a harsh laugh, "Calm yourself, Don Francisco, that was a jest, for the benefit of our guests. Cordoba shall be your family's once more, once the reconquista is completed, God willing."
Don Francisco let out a sigh of obvious relief while the rest of the Castillian warriors joined in their King's laughter.
While the Castillians enjoyed their moment of levity, Burill turned to Star Colonel Vargras, "I fear, Star Colonel, that your hopes may have been somewhat exagerated; however, your offer seems a sound one... presuming what you desire in return is equally reasonable. We should talk more on this after this conference."
His gaze moving from the Blakist precentor and back again to the Castilian king, Rory chose his next words carefully, infusing them with steel and resolve. At his flanks, the pair of Knights Sanguine, male and female, glanced at each other warily as they knew what was coming.
"It was my sincere hope that we could reach an accord and walk into the future together... but the presence of the Word of Blake obviously changes things. In fact, I daresay that it makes our task here all but impossible to fulfill, for they have proven to be unable to coexist alongside my own people... or any other."
Heaving a slight sigh, he glanced again at the precentor. "Moreover, I am honorbound to report your presence to the Grand Council of the Clans, for there is a Trial of Annihilation leveled at you and the rest of your kind, and the existence of my Clan would be forfeit if I kept this information from them. I would imagine that they would be swift to bring about the destruction of the Word of Blake here in Nueva Castile, especially considering the relative proximity of our Homeworlds, and they would come in unanswerable force."
Then, returning his gaze to King Noye, he continued. "The other Clans of Kerensky will not come to you as I and my Clan have done. They will annex your worlds, occupy your centers of population, and root out and destroy any evidence of Blakist activity that they find. And once their grip is solidified, they will never let go, for they cannot take the risk that the Word of Blake would return to Nueva Castile and continue their activities... activities that could and likely would very well threaten the sanctity of our Homeworlds."
Rory paused for several long seconds, enough to allow everyone in the Great Hall to absorb the full brunt of his words... as well as their implications. As the first Castilian opened his mouth to reply, Rory held up his right hand to forestall it.
"There is, however, another option."
There was a long silence, and for a moment it seemed like the Blakist intended to break it with words of his own, but King Noye raised his hand to preempt the man.
"Ah, yes. The Trial of Annihilation. I had wondered how long we would trade witty ripostes before the four hundred kilo gorilla managed to come to our attention."
"Tell me, Star Colonel, was this your intention from the first? To disarm me with honeyed words, then level your dagger of genocide at my heart?"
At the mention of genocide, there was a stir of activity on both sides of the table. One of th Umayyad MechWarriors turned to the Caliph and asked a question in their native tongue - one that prompted her to turn towards Vargras.
"Star Colonel, in all things you have appeared to me to be a man of honor and integrity; however, I must ask: does the King speak the truth when he names your intention to be genocide?"
Before Vargras can get a word in edgewise, the Blakist spoke in an even tone.
"Madame Caliph, I am afraid that is exactly what the Clans' intentions are. Centuries ago, there was a schism within the Clans and some amongst their number were condemned to total destruction: their warriors killed, homes razed, civilians sterilized and enslaved, their very names erased from history; however, some of them escaped extermination and fled to the Sphere, where Our Blessed Order granted them sanctuary. For that act, the Clans have once again brought war to the Inner Sphere. It is not a matter we often speak of, but... it is the truth."
Once again, silence settled over the room as all eyes turned to Star Colonel Rory Vargras.
Rory Vargras weathered the stares of hostility, bewilderment, and fear without flinching. He was, first and foremost, a Clan warrior, and there was little in the universe that could cause fear within him. He merely maintained his carefully-guarded, neutral expression, and did not have to look over his shoulders to see that the Knights behind him did the same. They had prepared for this moment.
"If my intentions were of genocide, gathered delegates, we would not be having this conversation. You would do well to think on that, King Noye, before you allow the Blakist at your side to whisper further poison into your ear."
Then, steeling himself for what was to come, Rory began speaking to the captive audience before him. "The Precentor is almost correct in his 'history lesson', though he has not divulged the entire truth of the matter. It is not surprising, for it is unlikely that he is even aware of the entire truth. Aff, the Clans have embarked on a Trial of Annihilation against the Word of Blake for harboring the Not-Named Clan within their ranks. Aff, this war has been carried forth into the Inner Sphere by the collective might of the Clans of Kerensky. This much is true."
To forestall any interruption, Rory held up a single, gloved hand. "However, if the Precentor were being entirely truthful, he would have informed you that Clan Blood Spirit has repudiated the Trial of Annihilation in recent months, as we had recently come into possession of information that cast the original Trial into a new light. After an emergency kurultai of our Clan Council, called into being by the ascendant Khan Adrianna Schmitt, it was determined that the Not-Named Clan had vindicated themselves by surviving the Annihilation, and Clan Blood Spirit therefore withdrew from the war that rages even now in the shattered remnants of the Lyran Commonwealth."
Rory looked then to the Umayyad Caliph, and nodded deeply in her direction. "Your own warriors can attest to my honor in this matter. We were not even aware of the presence of the Word of Blake here in Nueva Castile until we arrived here on Asturias for the summit. Investigations carried out by the Blood Spirit Watch and the Knights Sanguine in the aftermath of the battle on Valencia were inconclusive, but the presence of this Precentor merely affirmed what reports had suggested might be present. So, to answer your question... neg. Genocide was not our intention upon coming here."
Then Rory turned his gaze upon the Precentor himself, his eyes giving away nothing. "The fact remains, however, that the Word of Blake has come to Nueva Castile, and there is only one logical conclusion to draw from your presence here, an oasis of civilization so distant from Terra that any other explanation falls apart: you have come to prepare for a strike at our Homeworlds. And though we may have seen fit to lay aside the Trial of Annihilation against the Not-Named, the Word of Blake has proven itself to be an enemy of the Clans, and I cannot simply keep your presence from the other Clans without tearing my own honor to shreds."
Finally, Rory looked to King Noye, his jaw set firmly. ""I will stand by the Umayyad Caliphate, whom fought and bled at my side on Valencia and whom showed wisdom and restraint when the Word of Blake came to Nueva Castile. And I will gladly keep their people from harm when the other Clans come to rid your worlds of the Blakists. But as long as you continue to eat from the poisoned apple that Terra has offered to you, I cannot and will not do the same for the Castilian Principalities."
Rory took a step forward. "You have a choice here, King Noye. You can reject the Word of Blake and expel them from your realm, and accept the hand of friendship and aid that my Clan is prepared to offer, or you can turn us away and bring an end to a great many things - your freedom, your people, your way of life. Choose wisely."
"There is of course," said the Precentor, "a third way."
Noye looked to his advisor with an eyebrow raised in question, and the robed man continued, "Do not disguise Our Blessed Order's presence from the Grand Council. It would do little good in any event, as I am certain were you to return empty-handed from your mission today, others amongst the Clans would come to investigate for what purpose your came. No, tell them by all means - but in doing so complete the path you have already laid the first foot upon."
"Your Clan was created to symbolize the camaraderie and esprit de corps that lie at the heart of Clan unity. It must gall you terribly to see the ways of the Founder discarded so casually when they do not fit the Grand Council's purposes. You must have ground your teeth in rage when you learned of the Ghost Bears dismantling of the castes, the Star Adders granting Bloodnames to the Freeborn, the Fire Mandrills odd new totem, or the mass uprising of the Scientists to steal the Warrior Caste's right of leadership. How many of the... factions... occupying seats in the Grand Council are truly still Clans? How many of them have kept their oathes to uphold the Founder's vision?"
"You may not see it yet, but you are bound to the same cruel fate that befell the Clan of McEvedy. In time, the Blood Spirits' adherance to the ways of the Founder will make you a liability in the eyes of the Grand Council. Just as the Wolverines were sacrificed to seal the unity of the Grand Council in times past, which Clan do you think will be sacrificed on the altar of unity for the New Order that is rising even now in the Homeworlds and in the Occupation Zones? Surely it will not be the Jade Falcons or the Star Adders or the Clans that have united to form the Greater Dominion. No, as the Blessed Blake once said: the nail that stands tallest will be hammered hardest; and right now, only one Clan stands tallest in its defense of the ways of the Founder."
"Your Clan has already taken the first step down the path to confrontation with the Grand Council by renouncing their plans to inflict genocide on the Inner Sphere. Do you have the courage to take the next step? Do the Warriors of Clan Blood Spirit yet see the inevitable conclusion of the path they have embarked? Are you prepared, emotionally and intellectually, to accept that the corruption which has festered in the Grand Council for three hundred years must be opposed, not only to return purity and justice to the Clans, but to ensure the continuity of human freedom throughout the explored galaxy? If so, then there is a third answer to the dilemma you face, for there are not two potential allies for your Clan in the star cluster, but three."
"I am sure you know, deep in your heart, that a confrontation is coming: otherwise, you would not have sought new allies beyond the reach of the Council. You can destroy the impure ones. The Master has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join us, and togehter we can restore righteousness to the galaxy. In your heart, you know it is the only way."
The silence that came after the Precentor finished speaking was deafening.
To their credit, none of the Blood Spirit warriors reacted overtly. Rory Vargras stood impassively, as did the pair of Knights Sanguine at his flanks, and the Elementals guarding the door of the chamber merely became more alert, ready for the first sign of treachery. But that was not to say that there was no reaction whatsoever. Both Knights readied their hidden wrist-blades, prepared to strike the Precentor down where he stood at the slightest signal from the Star Colonel.
Finally, one of the Knights spoke. The female, Veronica. "We could be broken for bloodfoul for this conversation, Star Colonel," she said evenly, her words coming parsed and very precise. Her comrade-in-arms said nothing, though his dark gaze was fixated firmly on the robed precentor.
Rory raised a single, gloved hand up at his side, forestalling any further comment. "Leave us. Now."
A rank-and-file Blood Spirit warrior would, perhaps, have offered immediate disagreement, if not an outright Trial of Refusal. But the Knights Sanguine were cut from a different cloth, and their orders were very clear: they were to aid Star Colonel Vargras' mission to the utmost of their ability, and to carry out his orders in the same fashion. After a few long moments of uncomfortable lingering, the pair of white-robed knights-errant bowed respectfully to their superior, and preceded the pair of Elementals from the chamber.
Once the massive double doors had closed behind the quartet, Rory turned again to face the Precentor, keenly aware that all eyes in the room were upon him. And when he spoke again, he did so with great deliberation. "Every fiber of my being screams for me to kill you where you stand for speaking such heresy. And yet... I cannot. For nothing you have said here is an untruth. By the Founder, I wish I could deny even a part of it, but I cannot."
"During the long journey to Nueva Castile, I was given the opportunity to study the recovered journal of our founder, Colleen Schmitt, and I was quite thorough in my studies. I read of her reinvigorated sense of purpose when the Founder set out to create the Clans from the ashes of the Star League Defense Force. I read of her passion to become worthy in his eyes to lead one of the new Clans. I read of her drive to mold our Clan into serving as the force that bound all of us together. I read these things, and was reminded once more of what it meant to be a Blood Spirit warrior."
"I also read of the numerous betrayals that occurred because of the Not-Named Clan. I read of her speaking out in support of McEvedy's people, of finding another way to deal with them. I read of the disgusting treachery of the Burrock Khan in calling for our own Annihilation. Clans called us soft, weak, and deviant for working so tirelessly to keep that sense of unity alive. I read of the ultimate betrayal of the Founder himself, censuring our Clan and warning us to adhere to the Way of the Clans or suffer the consequences. And this because we chose to fulfill the function that he himself created us to carry out!"
Pausing to collect his thoughts, Rory looked back up at the Precentor. "In truth, our unity with the other Clans died when the Founder was struck down on the fields of Ironhold by the Widowmakers. Even without having the words of our own founder to guide us, each and every one of us has known the truth of that since our creche days. We alone have held to the True Path, despite being given every reason to abandon it, when every other Clan has faltered. We have seen the fall of so many of those we once called brethren, and those that remain have become a pack of bellycrawling mongrels who have abandoned the Way of the Clans in their naked ambitions of landgrabbing and powermongering."
Heaving a great sigh, an uncharacteristic display in any Clan warrior, Rory spoke again after another moment of silence. "The Way of the Clans has been destroyed. And what all of us within my Clan have come to realize in recent days is that it was destroyed when we chose to Annihilate the No-- Clan Wolverine." For the first time in his life, Rory found the resolve and the strength to speak that name. Though their name might have been erased from the Clans' histories, the symbol of the Wolverine still adorned the Chamber of Supplicants within Blood Spirit Hall on the Spirits' homeworld. And all knew why it had been spared.
"Tell me what it is you propose, Precentor. For the moment, you have my ear."