Candace shook with rage. "He fights his own battles, and those of your son, as I recall. Your tale is absurd. Sun-Tzu punched out accidently after targeting one of my son's targets? Romano, even you were not that incompetent in a BattleMech. If your son is not an outright coward, he's a schemer who tried to engineer an embarrassing defeat for my son. Had Kai not proven himself worthy of the challenge, you'd be denouncing him as a failure. Because he won despite your son's trickery, you argue that he will lead your troops into untenable situations because he believes in his own invincibility."
Candace turned to face Jaime Wolf. "You were there, Colonel. Your Archer destroyed Kai's Daishi. Did you find him invincible?"
Romano's harsh laugh usurped Wolf's answer. "Dare you imagine, Candace, that your son could stand against the greatest warrior in the Inner Sphere? Even cheating as he did, he is not that good and you cannot be that arrogant!"
"Lady Romano, I am more than able to answer questions on my own," Wolf snapped irritably. "Kai Allard-Liao's actions speak for themselves. His use of the geological survey satellite feed was not cheating—it was incredibly resourceful. The first 'Mech he downed was piloted by his father, once the undisputed champion of Solaris VII. The BattleMaster he destroyed had Hanse Davion as its pilot. My son MacKenzie and Christian Kell were at the controls of the Marauder and Thunderbolt he took down. Sven Ngov, one of my better Dragoons, piloted the Hoplite. Acting alone, Kai Allard-Liao used his head and took down five of the best MechWarriors the Successor States have ever seen."
Wolf looked over at Kai. "And it was by no means assured that I would not be his sixth victim. One more exchange and I might have turned the Dragoons over to his lead."
Feeling all eyes on him, Kai looked around selfconsciously. His father and Hanse Davion were smiling proudly. Theodore Kurita and Hohiro acknowledged his warrior skill with simple nods. Victor, Cassandra, and Ragnar wore big grins and Prince Magnusson seemed to be wishing he could clone a hundred of him. Thomas Marik, on the other hand, seemed to watch him warily, and Romano's savage stare threatened to burn holes through him.
Sun-Tzu was the only one who refused to look at Kai.
Romano pulled herself erect. "So this is it, then? You all unite against me! Very well. I shall deal with the Clans when they set foot in my realm, and not before." With that, she turned on her heel and stalked from the room. Stunned, the rest of her entourage followed slowly. Kai noticed Isis Marik watching Sun-Tzu intently, and he saw his cousin nod to her as he walked past.
Wolf waited for Romano to fully exit the council chamber, then addressed Thomas Marik. "Well, Captain-General? I would not characterize you as Romano Liao's ally in all this, but you have been closer to her than any others. Will you leave us, too?"
Thomas Marik rose slowly, revealing his sickly little boy seated behind him. The dark circles under the boy's eyes mirrored his father's haggard expression. "Colonel, I do not dispute or question the bravery of Kai Allard. Though I do not have Lady Romano's objections to the suggested plan, I do have my own reservations. I cannot fail to recognize our common threat, but I am uneasy about putting your new 'Mech weaponry into production within the Free Worlds League. You want me to export ninety percent of what we produce to the Federated Commonwealth and Draconis Combine."
Wolf frowned. "That is now a problem? I thought we had agreed ..."
"In principle, yes." Marik sighed wearily. "However, my advisors have pointed out that payment for these parts is to be made on a long-term schedule, the last not due until 3110. How can I ask my people to approve that agreement when neither the Draconis Combine nor the Federated Commonwealth might survive that long?"
Theodore Kurita gave Marik a withering stare. "Captain-General, if we do not get the field modification kits, it is you who carve our epitaphs. If we do have them, we can throw the Clans back."
Thomas raised his hands. "Kanrei, I understand the trap of circular logic, but I cannot be certain my enemies will see it the same way. My nation is a democracy, not a dictatorship. I cannot ..."
"Bah!" barked Hanse Davion. "You could impose those production quotas using the powers of the Emergency Action Laws enacted after your father's assassination. Do not use the excuse of politics to justify your refusal. You mean to gouge more out of us, more worlds and more technology."
The Captain-General stuck an air of noble innocence. "Far be it from me to use this crisis as a means of ransoming your freedom. However, some immediate and material gains for the Free Worlds League would make it easier to justify this agreement to my people."
Hanse shot to his feet. "Cut to the chase, Thomas. You will make our equipment as long as we give you something, right?"
"If you choose to see it that way."
"I do." Though Hanse had his back to Kai, the young MechWarrior could easily imagine the Prince's expression as he hunched forward. "Very well, Captain-General, I will give you something no one else can. I will give you your son's life."
All color drained from Marik's face. "What?"
"You heard me. The New Avalon Institute of Science knows no equal in the Inner Sphere for its medical research. Candace Liao, for example, successfully battled breast cancer at the NAIS a half-dozen years ago. Since then, our oncology researches have proved very promising in cases of leukemia, even in advanced cases such as your son."
The Captain-General of the Free Worlds League leaned heavily on his table, then looked back at his son. The boy gave his father a brave grin, but even that effort seemed to fatigue him. Thomas reached back to rub his hand affectionately over the boy's bald head.
He turned back to Hanse Davion and Kai saw tears streaking his face. "You would use the life of a sick child against me? If I don't agree, you will consign my son to death?"
Hanse nodded solemnly. "Yes! As readily as you would consign our sons to death without those 'Mechs. I'm not out to win a Peace Prize and I don't care how history remembers me. All I care about now is ensuring that there will be people who can remember. This effort may be futile, but it would be criminal cowardice not to make it."
Hanse's voice softened slightly. "If bargaining for your son's health is the only way to communicate to you the urgency and gravity of this situation, then so be it. I regret it comes to this."
Shaken, Thomas Marik sagged down into his chair. "How soon can the treatments begin?"
"I have a command circuit of JumpShips linking me with New Avalon. It will take three days to get Joshua up to the ships, and then less than a week to get him to New Avalon. Your wife can accompany him, as may your doctors. They will be provided housing, security, and complete anonymity."
"Then you shall have your machinery." Thomas fixed Hanse with an unforgiving stare. "I entrust my son to you because I cannot deny him a chance at life. I give you your war toys because it is true that your son deserves the chance you are giving to mine. Do not imagine, though, that this makes us friends or allies. I will not forget—I cannot let myself forget—that you are the devil incarnate."
Hanse made no reply as he sat down, but Kai read a look of grim satisfaction on the Prince's face. Melissa reached out for her husband's hand. "Can they save Joshua?" she whispered.
The Prince of the Federated Commonwealth shrugged slightly. "They will do what they can, everything they can, just as I have done." His blue eyes darkened. "It will have to be enough."
Hanse's words set Kai to deep reflection. Could I ever find it in myself to be that confident? he wondered. Then again, if I have to sacrifice so much of my humanity, would I want such confidence?
Jaime Wolf spoke slowly, his voice low, in keeping with the somber mood that had fallen over the chamber. "It is good that we have reached an agreement concerning the OmniMechs because the exercise evaluators have completed the review of the training cadre's performance. As all but one of its members are here, I will take this opportunity to announce their scores. A perfect score on this exercise was 300 and could be obtained by 100 percent destruction of three foes, with no damage
to the 'Mech of the pilot being tested."
Wolf smiled cryptically. "It should come as no surprise that Kai Allard-Liao scored highest in the exercise. He ended up with a score of 445 points, based on 520 points for the damage he did, less the 75 percent destruction of his 'Mech. To my knowledge, this high a score has never been achieved anywhere, within the Clans or here on Outreach. That he achieved it fighting against such tough opponents only makes it the more impressive.
"Hohiro Kurita earned a score of 255, to come in second. Victor Davion scored 235. Galen Cox and Shin Yodama scored 195 and 193, respectively. Cassandra Allard-Liao scored 189 and Ragnar Magnusson scored 157."
Wolf raised one eyebrow. "And because you will ask, Sun-Tzu Liao ended up with a score of minus 62 points.
"Because of their scores, Kai and Hohiro will be given Daishi chassis OmniMechs to configure in whatever manner they choose. We all agreed that it was important for the sons and daughters of the Inner Sphere's royal houses to present a united front, and these scores and performances seem to auger well for the chances of an alliance that can defeat the Clans."
Kai felt his mouth go dry as he stood up. "Excuse me, Colonel Wolf."
"Yes?"
He swallowed hard. "I am honored to be given an Omni-Mech, but I must refuse it."
Victor shook his head. "No, Kai, don't do this for me. You won it fair and square, and Hohiro blew past the mark I set."
Kai forced himself to smile. "Victor, though we are friends, I would not sacrifice a Daishi to soothe your feelings. It's too fine a machine to let go so easily." Kai looked back to Wolf. "Colonel, I already have a 'Mech that I wish to pilot in battle. It was my father's, the same one that took him to the pinnacle on the Game World and that saw him through desperate battles in the last war. In that 'Mech, he carried my mother from the Capellan homeworld."
He looked down, avoiding Wolf's probing stare. "For this reason, I ask you to let another pilot have the OmniMech you so kindly wish to award me. Yen-lo-wang safeguarded my father and mother in most dangerous times. It will do the same for me."
Jaime Wolf nodded slowly. "As you wish, Leftenant Allard. Your Daishi will be assigned to Victor Davion. Whatever I might think of your decision, no warrior could deny your request."
Wolf shifted his gaze to Hanse's son. "Victor Davion, you have here a friend more valuable than all the worlds in the Inner Sphere. By stepping down, he allows you and Hohiro Kurita to remain on equal standing with one another. Let this selflessness be a reminder of the kind of deeds that may yet be necessary if this alliance is to endure and be victorious."
23
ComStar First Circuit Compound, Hilton Head Island
North America, Terra
17 September 3051
Primus Myndo Waterly smiled as Precentor Tharkad grew angrier. "Calm yourself, Ulthan. This is not the First Circuit. I do not need your histrionics, nor am I obliged to tolerate them here in my quarters." She pointed beyond him to the Precentor from the Draconis Combine. "Why can't you maintain your composure, as does Sharilar?"
The purplish hue of Ulthan Everson's beefy face did not look terribly healthy, but the color began to return to normal as he looked first at Myndo, then back at Sharilar Mori. "Why can't I be more like her? Because I was not raised in the repressive samurai society that produced her or you, Primus. Precentor Dieron might be able to hide her emotions, but how could she not feel the same outrage?"
Thick white eyebrows bunched like clouds over his blue eyes. "Just how long have you known the Clans were planning to resume their invasion of the Inner Sphere?"
Myndo shrugged, then tugged the golden pleats of her silk robe back into their proper position. "I have always known they would resume the war, Ulthan. We all have. As for knowledge that they were actually returning, I suppose I learned in early July that they had elected a new ilKhan. It seemed obvious that they would start their return shortly after that."
Ulthan Everson blinked his eyes in amazement. "You've known for two months, but this is the first you've thought to tell us of it?"
Myndo's dark eyes glittered like black pearls. "Until the actual return, I did not believe it was necessary to bother you with such things. You have enough on your hands administering the areas the Clans have already conquered. Even now, the Precentor Martial is on his way to meet them, and he will report to me as needed.
"By the way, Ulthan, I was most pleased with the upswing in the popularity of our Blessed Order in the occupied worlds of the Federated Commonwealth. You have done well."
Sharilar pressed her delicate hands together. "Primus, I believe Precentor Tharkad wished to learn of the return as early as possible to make certain the Clans will find no fault with our policies. I share this concern because a new ilKhan could easily decide not to continue the liaison with us, robbing us of the chance to spread the Word of Blake among the masses."
Bright girl, so like me at her age. Myndo smiled indulgently at the woman who had assumed the Precentorship she had held before her accession to Primus. "This was a dilemma I foresaw long ago. However, the new ilKhan is Ulric of the Wolves. In the past, he was quite eager to use our people to pacify and administer the worlds he took, so I assume he realizes the benefits of alliance with us."
The Primus smiled coldly as she watched Precentor Tharkad pace impatiently before her. "I think, Sharilar, that Ulthan has another objection to my tardiness in informing him of the Clans' return. You still do not like my policy of working with the Clans, do you, Ulthan?"
The Precentor from Tharkad stopped short and shook his head. "Not one bit. We know virtually nothing about these Clans. They are supposed to be the remnants of General Kerensky's Star League army, but we have no actual proof that is true."
"But neither do we have reason to doubt their pedigree."
"Don't we, Primus? Kerensky left the Inner Sphere to avoid war. If they were his heirs in philosophy as well as blood, why are they returning in such an aggressive manner? They seem more the heirs to a thousand Periphery raiders than to one so noble as Kerensky."
"An interesting point, Ulthan, but it is utterly immaterial." Myndo lowered herself into the backless U-shaped chair by the semi-circular window and spread her skirts out into a golden fan. "The Clans are returning. We are letting them shatter this fledgling renaissance so we may bring the true order Jerome Blake directed us toward three hundred years ago. When the Clan invaders have exhausted themselves, we will lead a revolution that liberates those they have captured. It is a simple plan, but it will work."
Ulthan's head came up. "But you will not allow us to warn the people of the Inner Sphere that their year of peace is at an end?"
Myndo waved that away as though it were an annoying fly. "Why should I? Their own agents on the captured worlds can get the word out in some manner."
"But Primus," Sharilar put in, "if ComStar is not providing transmission of those messages, the only way the leaders will hear of the return is when more worlds fall."
"True, Precentor Dieron. Quite true." Myndo took in a deep breath. "Pity they weren't watching their borders instead of chattering away on Outreach, isn't it? By late next month, they should know of the return. I can't wait to see what their response will be."
"Neither can I." Ulthan clasped his hands behind his back and stared out the window. "Of their reaction, this I do know: it will be the best and most cunning thing you or I can imagine. There is an outside chance, Primus, that you have decided to back the wrong horse in this race. If so, you can expect from Hanse Davion and Theodore Kurita all the help you have shown them."
Myndo threw back her head and laughed aloud. "That, Precentor Tharkad, is something I shall remember when I am dancing on both their graves."
24
Wolf's Dragoons General Headquarters, Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
21 September
3051
Kai felt a shiver run down his spine as his father led him wordlessly through the dark corridors
leading to the Dragoons' 'Mech bay. "Is something wrong, father?"
Justin stopped and rested both his hands on his son's shoulders. "Wrong? No, Kai, nothing is wrong. If I am quiet, it is my preoccupation with all that is happening. I'm afraid my mind is off wondering about the Kurita ship that just showed up in the system and the message they beamed to Outreach. We intercepted it, of course, but our crypto section is having no luck cracking the code."
Kai felt the heavy weight of his father's mechanical left hand on his right shoulder. "I was afraid I had done something to upset you."
Justin laughed and dragged his son forward into a hug. "I don't know what made you think that, but nothing is further from the truth. You have done nothing but make your mother and me proud. Perhaps I don't say it enough, but I love you very much, and any father who says he is more proud of his son is a liar."
Kai wanted to say a million things in response, but the lump in this throat effectively blocked the words. He embraced his father tightly, desperately relishing the little-boy sense of security it gave him. He swallowed hard and fought to keep a waver out of his voice. "You know I would never do anything to bring shame on you or Mother, don't you?"
Justin held Kai out at arm's length. "If I were keeping a balance sheet, even one entry in the negative column would go unnoticed. Kai, you are everything your mother and I wanted to be when we became MechWarriors. You are a thoughtful leader and a damned fine warrior. When I'm your grandfather's age, I'll be telling all my friends that yes, once, a long time ago, I could beat you in simulator battles."
Kai saw the mirth in his father's eyes and the laughter in his voice, but still could not fully believe it. "Then you are not angry that I shot you out first in the test?"
Hanse Davion's Secretary of Intelligence threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Angry? God no. I knew I was your logical first target, and I told both Hanse and Jaime that I'd be down first." He threw his son a wink. "Hanse said I had more important work to do off the testing field, so he didn't let me hide behind his BattleMaster."