Tukkayid
“You co-opted who?” Henry roared into the microphone.
“Calm down, Henry, we can use him.” the soft German accent of the Precentor Martial filled his ear piece.
“He’s a fucking lunatic, a drunk, an overall shitty human being, and an abject failure at everything he’s ever touched in his entire life.”
“Henry…”
“No, i put up with a lot of nonsense and people not listening to me in our blessed order, but you are going to hear me for once.”
“All right, Henry, make your case.”
“He follows his own operational ideas and doesn’t do well with a command structure he’s not at the top of. Further, when he is in command of assets, they have a remarkable tendency to start doing their own thing in the field. I watched him lose control of the planet of Zathras over the span of a couple of years. He is also operationally responsible for the death of my sister, as well as the destruction of several thousand tons of war material that could have been used to stabilize his own position. This will end badly if he’s anywhere near here.”
“THis wouldn’t have anything to do with him being the grandfather of your daughter Aya, would it?”
“Tangentially. Her mother’s asked me to end him on two different occasions.”
“What’s a matter, didn’t feel like killing an old man?”
“Ivan asked me not to, and I respect him a hell of a lot more than Mason.”
“Then get Ivan.”
“You think i can send out for him like he’s a pizza?”
“He would be a valuable asset to our cause.”
“Then you should exert some influence and see about getting the Sokolov kids back from the Falcons. While he’s busy chewing through that problem, he isn’t going to be able to concentrate on much else.”
“What about his other units?”
“The three that i can keep track of, i know where they were two weeks ago. One of them disappeared into the Periphery. One linked up with Ivan on Arc-Royal, and the last one is currently taking a contract with the Free Rasalhague Republic. Setting up shop on Radstadt, as part of the garrison.”
“Are they aware of the operation on Radstadt?”
“Well, i didn’t tell them.”
“Fair enough.”
“Back to Mason.”
“Indeed, He will be assisting you with the operation i have planned for Tukkayid.”
“How in the fuck is he supposed to help with that?”
“Mason thinks differently…”
“From every other rational person in the universe, agreed.”
The Precentor Martial stared at his deputy from across the HPG link. Henry rolled his eyes and “We might be able to find a use for that difference and use it to our advantage against the Clans.”
“See, you do see value in him.”
“If i can secure Ivan, can i replace him?”
“If the clansman is willing to help with the planning and execution of the campaign, i suspect his more intimate knowledge will be more of an asset than asymmetrical thinking. If you can secure the Elemental’s cooperation, you can replace Mason.”
“That may require us providing us a little assistance to him in his quest.”
“So long as ROM stays out of our business, and you keep it quiet, you can assist your friend.”
“Thank you, Precentor Martial.”
“Expect Mason within the Hour. He should be arriving soon.”
“Well, that means i have about a half an hour to find his favorite alcohol, put it in a pile on the lawn and set it on fire. Then i can organize the most appropriate who gives a fuck parade in history.”
“Precentor Jones.”
“Very well, I will treat Mason with the appropriate level of respect for a person who’s never had the experience of meeting him.”
“That’s better.”
“I’ll find him an office somewhere he can do some good things.”
“I need to go, it sounds like there’s something else going on in the grand council chamber.”
“Oh good, that’s never worrying.”
The line went dead and he ran his fingers through his hair. This sucked. “Sarah, i need to have a chat with you.” He said quietly into his ear piece.
“Be there in five minutes.”
“Bring a chair, this is going to get heavy.”
“Why?”
“Mason’s on his way here at the behest of the Precentor Martial.”
“Is it your birthday?”
“He’s coming to help with the clans.”
“Funny.”
“I know right, but the Precentor Martial thinks he could be an asset.”
“He’s never met Mason, has he?”
“Not as such, no.”
“Oh, this is going to turn out well then.”
“Yeah, like i said, bring a chair, and authorize yourself a hazard pay bonus.”
“Why?” Her voice growled for just a second.
“Because, I’m making you his supervisor.”
“What!”
“Look, if he spends any actual time around me, i’ll probably shoot his ass for breathing too loudly. There’s too much history there. I need someone i trust to keep an eye on his ass, and of the people i have access to, you’re the one i trust with the job the most.”
“What am i supposed to do with him?”
“Give him a team of civilians and have them comb the archives for anything that may be of use in the crisis we’re going to drop on this planet.”
“Logistics?”
“He might even find that missing bottle of scotch.”
“You know he’s going to make life hell on those adepts.”
“Good point, authorize them for a hazard pay bonus as well.”
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