Steiner's Papers
These papers illuminate the character of a stateswoman who has just graduated from news into history. We regret the passing of Archon Emerita Katrina Steiner, and we welcome the chance to show her pressures and her personality in brief. We thank Court Historian Thelos Auburn, and recommend to our readers his upcoming book Katrina the Peacemaker.
Archon Elizabeth
Hospital, Tharkad
January 4, 3040
Archon Emerita Katrina Steiner died last night. She passed away in her sleep so quietly that the time of her death cannot be precisely determined..
Warning
October 15, 3038
Archon Katrina Steiner
The Palace, Tharkad
Once again, Prince Hanse Davion has used deceit to cloak his territorial ambitions. Under the pretense of restoring order after the Skye crisis, he so interwove his troops with your LCAF forces, that it must have been difficult for you to know where yourloyal troops were to be found.He has been shuffling troops around as he did before Operation Galahad, trying to confuse attempts to estimate his strength.
He is not succeeding.
The Draconis Combine is strong enough to defeat his cunning. The Draconis Combine is prepared to fight its enemies, on all fronts necessary. This time we will win. Our enemies will lose and will be severely damaged in that loss.
You need not be one of our enemies.
Do not press this war of aggression which he is sure to begin. We will attack no worlds of the Lyran Commonwealth; we will commit no violence against the soil of your worlds of the Tamar Pact or the Isle of Skye.
Consider this letter a warning. If you support the Federated Suns in warring against us, you will upset the balance of power in the Inner Sphere in a way which will pass beyond the bounds of civilized warfare. If you so contravene the conventions of war, do not expect me to be limited by them in dealing with you.
House Steiner has taught the Dragon several lessons in the nature of war. I do not think you wish to find just how good a pupil I have been.
Perhaps your son-in-law will yet come to his senses, and the peace you so often -- and so publicly -- have longed for will continue to bless the Inner Sphere.
- --for the Dragon Gunii no Kanrei Theodore Kurita
signed with his personal seal found among Katrina Steiner's private papers
Strange Dream
The Archon Emerita called me last evening, January 2. A had the strangest dream," she told me. "I dreamed that I stood on a high cliff overlooking a harbor. I was about to take a long voyage by sea. I was looking at this coast for the last time. I felt as I did when I had to go into exile; confused, saddened, even a little exhilarated.
"I had companions waiting for me. In my dream, Morgan Kell, my husband Arthur, a woman called Jeana who was once my friend ... I think Patrick was there too ... were waiting on board for me. But I still wanted one more walk along the shore, wanted it fiercely. They were impatient and were urging me to hurry.
"I bent down and plucked a thistle. Its spines dug into my hand; the soft down at the top blew away in the breeze even as I tried to shelter it with my hand. It's something like being a ruler! I laughed to myself as I tucked it away for safekeeping. Now I'll always have the Commonwealth in my blood!
"The thought made me happy beyond words. I danced like a girl again, on the deck, on the beginning of this strange voyage."
- -- from Katrina the Peacemaker Thelos Auburn's work in progress
Ruler's Health
"It has long been my belief that if a ruler's health does not permit her to give her best efforts, she owes it to her people to resign if there exists a reasonable successor. Indeed, I challenged my cousin for the Archon's throne with that reasoning. You supported me in this claim; now support me again. I do not leave you with the chaos of civil war; I have left you an able and legal chain of successors, in the persons of my daughter and her son after her. You have watched each of them grow up in the court at Tharkad. You know their abilities. Since Melissa's actions last May in support of her peoples of the Sarna March, I know in my heart that she is worthy to be a ruler.
I have always claimed that I would rather wear out than rust out from inaction. My health has now become so uncertain that I cannot trust it to allow me to perform my duties.
I am too old and too ill to give you my zestful and energetic labors. I love you too well to allow you to be governed by any but the best. Let me live quietly for the year or two remaining to me, and let me delight in my grandchildren and my memories.
And when I go to my grave, carve on it 'She was proud to be known as a Lyran!'
- -- Abdication Speech of Katrina Steiner,
March 15, 3039
Harmony
July 12,3039
Archon Emerita Katrina Steiner
"I will fight no more forever." These were your words at the end of the Fourth Succession War, less than a decade ago.
"Let us show the Inner Sphere that it is possible for three such near neighbors to live in harmony together. " Those were your words at the conclusion of the Ronin Rebellion, only fouryears ago, when together we secured the independence of the Free Republic of Rasalhague.
I was responsible for the death of your cousin, Duke Frederick Steiner. I he attack which has taken place today on Vega may have placed your sister, Field Marshal Nondi Steiner, in jeopardy. I regret the necessity to shed the blood of any more of your kin. You were warned. You have allowed yourself to be forced to wage a war which must be distasteful to you. Speak out against it now.
- -- Signed with the Kanrei's personal
seal found among Katrina Steiner's private
papers
The Fox Eats Crow The Failed Invasion of the Draconis Combine
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