Celestial Wisdom BattleTechnology's Svetlana Chan managed to gain access to some of the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation's time late in May. Maximilian Liao, at age 64, is the second eldest of the Successor State leaders. He rules his Capellan Confederation with an iron fist, and, although lord of the smallest nation-state, he has proved considerably adept at manipulating his enemies. He is not to be taken lightly, and enemies who have misjudged him have paid dearly for their mistake. Maximilian Liao Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation .. also known as "Celestial Wisdom," "Universal Paragon," and, in his own words, "the only logical candidate for First Lord." BattleTechnology: We thank you, Universal Highness, for granting us this portion of your invaluable time for our so humble purposes. Chancellor Maximilian Liao: Come, come, my dear. Do not grovel so, it makes is so hard to hear your questions. You need not prostrate yourself--kneeling will be sufficient. BT: Thank you. I would like to ask you to characterize the state of affairs in the Successor States today. Chancellor: Of course. The Successor States have suffered through nearly 300 years of warfare which has sapped the will of most people. They cry out for a leader to unify mankind once again, yet they do not find a clear choice. I can sympathize with them. My close friend, Janos Mark is far too old to lead us into a new Star League, and Takashi Kurita is too rigidly tied to his concept of Bushido. To select him would be to impose that harsh philosophy over the entirety of the new Star League. BT: What of Katrina Steiner? It has been suggested that, with the linking of the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns, she could abdicate to her daughter. In that case, we could have, as First Lord, a capable leader with experience on the throne. Chancellor: It is clear, my dear, that you do not understand the intricacies of politics. First of all, Katrina is a woman. While this does not preclude her from ruling, it is well known that most women do not have the ability to handle such pressure. Ruling requires a detachment that few women manage to obtain. BT: And Hanse Davion? As the youngest of the rulers, he would have the longest time on the throne... Chancellor: You jest. Why would we want the product of faulty birth control leading the Star League? The man was not trained to lead, and his Federated Suns has continued to prosper despite his best efforts to bankrupt it. As for his possible longevity, his family has weak blood--he would wilt beneath the pressures of being First Lord. BT: That leaves you as the only alternative. Chancellor: Does it? Yes, I believe you are correct. As I consider it now, in light of your having mentioned it, I believe that I would be the best choice. My family's history points to a number of relatives who live to an incredible age-without a change in abilities or mental capacity. I have the experience of guiding the fate of a constituent nation-state, which gives me an insight into how the new Star League would have to be run. My, my, your suggestion is an excellent one. I am the only logical candidate for First Lord. BT: A moment ago you said Hansa Davion is doing his best to bankrupt the Federated Suns. It would please us, Celestial Wisdom, if you would be kind enough to elaborate. Chancellor: It is obvious to even the most casual of observers that the Prince's obsession with his Galahad exercises is similar to that of a child playing with toy soldiers. In this case, however, those toy soldiers must be paid for over and over again. One might suggest that the abilities his armed forces have shown in the Galahad exercises are considerable, but the expense of his practice wars is enough to cripple his economy. It is an investment that has no return. BT: Then the exercises do not worry you? Chancellor: No, not at all. They are merely posturing on his part. Duke Michael HasekDavion has realized this and has withheld his troops from the exercises this year. I believe Hanse's shows of power are directed mostly at his own people. He has shown, with the Galahad exercises, that he can deliver troops to any world in sufficient force to repeat a Kentares massacre and end any popular rebellions. BT: You characterize the Federated Suns as a repressive regime, yet its people have more freedoms than the citizens of the Capellan Confederation enjoy. Chancellor: (laughs) So you have been brainwashed by Davion propagandists, have you? BT: No, I don't think so. Chancellor: You must understand, precious Svetlana, that people do not want freedom in the chaotic sense they enjoy it in the Federated Suns. There one may do whatever one wishes until it angers the state. If someone does draw that wrath of the state down upon himself, he is destroyed without warning. There are no clearly defined boundaries to let someone know when he has gone too far. As well, this lack of definition with the Federated system means people can slip though the cracks and be left to suffer the buff ets; and abuse of that anarchistic society. In the Capellan Confederation, on the other hand, each citizen understands his or her place in the society. Take your case, for example. You are allowed to work for a magazine that will be distributed throughout the Successor States because it pleases me to let you do that. Were you to abuse that privilege, your role in our society would have to be reevaluated. You understand what you may and may not do, and this gives you an element of security in what could otherwise be a very uneasy life. Do you follow me? BT: Yes, Highness. On a different front, you have to be looking forward to a time when you might not be able to guide the Confederation. Can you evaluate your three children for us in terms of possible succession? Chancellor: Three? BT: Candace, Romano, and your son, Tormana. Chancellor: My son? Oh, yes, him. He is off serving with the 2nd Ariana Fusiliers. Once he has some seasoning, perhaps he will amount to something. BT: Then the rumored reconciliation between you has not happened? Chancellor: Reconciliation? Why would you believe my son and I have any differences between us? He is merely going through a rebellious phase. I believe that, shortly, we will see that he is a chip off the old block. BT: Does this mean he will supplant one of his sisters in the succession? Chancellor: What? No, not at this point. As I said, he needs experience. It is well known that my eldest, Candace, is my heir. Her work on the economy provides proof enough of her leadership abilities. She is more than capable of making decisions with the cold deliberation needed in a ruler. If she ascends to this throne, I feel confident the Capellan Confederation will prosper. BT: On one hand you refer to her as your heir, but then you use the word "if" when describing her ascension. Is Romano going to eclipse her? Chancellor: (smiles) Though born of the same woman, my daughters are so unlike each other. Romano is more of a dreamer, a romantic, much as I am myself. She sees things with a vision that does not interpret the future, it molds the future. She is not afraid to act when she sees the need. BT: Rumor has it that she sponsored a terrorist attack on some Davion officers on Kittery last November... Chancellor: (laughs) Again you let the Federated propaganda machine deceive you. That rumor was spread as a justification for Davion troops to murder thousands of civilians on Kittery Consider this: if there was such an attack, why did the Davion forces not strike back? BT: Your point is well taken, but Duke Michael Hasek-Davion berated the Prince for his lack of action in this case. Does that not indicate that the attack took place? Chancellor: No, it merely indicates that the Prince only lets partial information go to his subordinates. This is a dangerous practice because it can lead to dissatisfaction. I would not want Michael Hasek-Davion displeased with me, were I Hanse Davion. BT: You make that sound like a threat. Chancellor: Nothing of the sort. It is friendly advice. The Prince can take a look at the Free Worlds League to see what happens when a House is divided against itself. I have nothing but respect for Janos Marik as a man, therefore I did not allow myself to be swayed by opportunistic advisors who suggested we exploit the civil war for our own purposes. BT: But it is said you engineered... Chancellor: You be careful, young lady. Again the Davion propagandists must be congratulated on how well they do their job. It is the sacred mission of publications such as yours to set the record straight. Surely I would not sponsor a civil war in the Free Worlds League that I meant to capitalize upon and then give away Wolf's Dragoons. What farmer would sow seeds, then give away his scythe? BT: You have made your point, Universal Paragon. What are your feelings concerning the upcoming wedding? Chancellor: Ah, you have touched upon a subject I find romantically tragic. I must, as do all others, find this fairy-tale sort of a wedding a thing of beauty. We all are touched by the quaintness of a Prince marrying a Princess. It satisfies a need in the human soul. BT: Why tragic, then? Chancellor: It is obvious, isn't it? Having broken his own economy, Hanse Davion tricked the Archon into linking their two states so the Lyran economy can infuse new life into the Federated Suns. The tragedy comes in when we look at poor Melissa. She is being trapped into a marriage with a man over twice her age to become nothing more than a brood mare. It is well known she would have preferred to marry another, but her mother would not have it. BT: What, who? Who would she have married in the Prince's stead? Chancellor: I have heard two names mentioned. One is Hanse's nephew Morgan Hasek-Davion, and the other is Tormana Liao. BT: But your son is already married... Chancellor: That is a misconception. An unscrupulous woman tried to trap him into a marriage to advance her own position. That situation has since been taken care of. I understand that the Prince's refusal to let Morgan Hasek-Davion wed Melissa has created quite a rift between uncle and heir. BT: You mentioned that the wedding of a Princess fills a void in the human soul. If this is true, why has neither of your daughters wed? Surely you could solidify an alliance with the Draconis Combine or the Free Worlds League by pledging one of your daughters to an heir of either realm. Chancellor: Would you have me become the sort of monster the Davion agents suggest in their foul rumor-mongering? Candace and Romano will marry when they are ready. I would not do what Katrina Steiner has done and consign either of my daughters to a life of living with men they hate. BT: During this interview you have mentioned, several times in fact, the Davion propaganda machine. How can you hope to counter Davion intelligence operations when they seem to have so much control over the perceptions of people inside and outside the Confederation? Chancellor: My own Maskirovka is indeed hard pressed to counter everything, but we know the Prince's past sins will catch up with him. We welcome those whom the Prince has mistreated, and they bring us tools to use against him. Eventually people will see what sort of man the Prince truly is, and they will rise against him. His record of injustices is quite clear and public. It is my duty to expose such crimes and to comfort those who have been abused. BT: Can you give us an example? Chancellor: The most shocking example in recent memory is the 3027 treason trial of Major Justin Xiang [Ed-Justinklard]. The evidence in this case was fictional and the court allowed flagrant violations of the laws the Prince has sworn to uphold. Then, not content with allowing this travesty to play itself out naturally, the Prince intervenes, directs a verdict and exiles this officer who had served him faithfully and honorably. Even if Jusin Xiang had not been half Capellan by birth, I would have extended my hand to him. BT: His being the son of Davion's Minister for Intelligence, Information and Operations had nothing to do with your kindness to him? Chancellor: The Universe rewards those who are proper in their conduct. I am certain, as you edit this article, you will learn the veracity of this statement. BT: Yes, He-Whom-The-Universe-Envies. Thank you. Svetlana Chan had not intended to become a journalist, but the Capellan Confederation felt this was the area in which her talents could be most useful to the state. In her first assignment she exposed corruption on the planet of Necromo, resulting in the conviction of Mandrinn Kensha Joba on charges of accepting money from Davion agents. Pleased with her performance, the Capellan government allowed BattleTechnology to pick up her contract and even let her travel to our offices on Exeter in the Federated Suns for an orientation course. She subsequently spent a year as a member of an observer team which Prince Hanse Davion allowed to watch military operations, including Galahad '27. Her reports, while occasionally critical of the state of Liaoist military preparedness, have not been suppressed in the Capellan Confederation. Chan is a valued member of our staff and her insightful reports on the inner workings of the Capellan Confederation shed light on a dim and distant subject. Back to BattleTechnology 5 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1988 by Pacific Rim Publishing. 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