OBT Forum

First Landing, Altair
Dieron District, Draconis Combine
10 November 3050

The tea house was located in a minor suburb of the capital city of Altair, an overlay of Japanese culture on the more western culture that had predominated under the rule of the Terran Hegemony. As a result, all tax records showed that it struggled to make a meagre profit from year to year.

In fact it ran at a loss, with the financial records fabricated to hide off-the-books payments that actually kept it in business. A tea house that was barely ever visited by customers made an excellent location for covet meetings. Anyone who knew the site knew also to bring their own tea as nothing too much could be expected of what was provided.

Theodore Kurita was proficient in many, although admittedly not all, of the arts expected of a Draconian gentleman. He prepared tea for himself and his guest with his own hands, as even Takashi Kurita might have.

Only when the formal obligations of this were completed did he ask: “With your wife on Sian and your master fighting a war, I am surprised that you accepted this invitation in person, Justin Allard.”

Dressed in a subdued business suit, the Federated Commonwealth Minister of Intelligence bowed slightly. “Some invitations merit extraordinary responses, Lord Kurita.”

“I’m gratified that you feel that way.” Theodore drew one hand across a discreet panel of the table and holograms danced briefly across the air between them. “We found this information regarding the Clans quite interesting.”

Justin nodded. “I’m pleased that it has served a purpose.”

“Yes, although you have evidently had some of this data for years.”

“Quite so.”

“I suppose I should be slightly gratified that the presence of the Clans prevented Prince Davion from turning his army against the Draconis Combine.”

“It is, of course, open to question how effective that would have been with your mysterious Yurei regiments.” Justin sipped on his tea. “My congratulations on your son’s successes against the Smoke Jaguars.”

“My understanding is that your own son is doing very well, and of course there’s your daughter’s marriage.” The Gunji no Kanrei pulled a data disc out of the table. “Some of our own data on the Clans. It isn’t as wide ranging as your own gift but perhaps a little more current.”

“You’re more than kind.” Justin tucked the disc away in his attaché case. “So, is this sufficient small talk? My experience of Kuritan social mores is largely theoretical.”

“My father would probably suggest an exchange of poetry or that we step out into the garden to view them but since I don’t plan to discuss this meeting with him, we can pass those.” Theodore sipped on his tea and studied his guest for another moment. “To address the matter of Clan Smoke Jaguar I have decided to re-arrange certain deployments facing the Draconis March. It seems to me that the embarkation of transports by so many regiments may cause some alarm to House Sandoval.”

“The Duke is quite sensitive about such matters, given the history of the region.”

“It seemed to me that my assurance that the regiments would be making their way towards Luthien rather than towards, for example, Robinson might help to keep the Duke from being worried. Of course, past history suggest that he might also consider this an opportunity. Not that the First Prince would approve, but Duke Sandoval does have wide autonomy in his March.”

He paused. “That would be a significant error on his part.” A new hologram came to life above the table.

Justin’s eyes narrowed as he examined it. “An Essex-class destroyer.”

“A sister ship of the one that bombarded Turtle Bay. My son captured it on Albiero. Since the Smoke Jaguars would probably be able to engage it with multiple or larger warships, destroying it in short order, I’ve ordered it be deployed to the border with the Federated Suns. I’m sure you can imagine how unfortunate it would be for an invasion force to be caught by this vessel.”

The other man shook his head and then chuckled.

“There’s something amusing about the prospect of dropships being destroyed before they can reach the surface of Combine worlds?” Theodore folded his arms. “I assure you I am not bluffing.”

“I was momentarily affected by the irony of the situation.” Justin sobered. “The AFFC is withdrawing some of the regiments present in the Draconis March, as you’ve probably realised. To ensure the security of our borders, a small number of our own warships have been stationed in the Draconis March and the Terran March.”

“A number of warships!” exclaimed Theodore.

“As you said, we’ve been aware of the Clans for some time,” Justin told him calmly. “While the expense of constructing new warships is problematic, there are wrecks that can be restored to service if you’re willing to take the time. As long as all warships remain on their side of the border, it’s unlikely to cause conflict.”

“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to share any details of this fleet.”

“A deterrent has little value if nothing is known about it. The ships assigned to the Draconis March are FCS Viking and FCS Vanguard, both of what we call the Vincent Davion-class, improvements on the SLDF’s Vincent-class corvettes. The vessels in the Terran March are larger but you haven’t offered me any information worth giving me those details.”

Theodore scratched his upper lip. “And if you’ll excuse me for saying so, I only have your word for the existence of these vessels.”

“Perhaps I’m bluffing, perhaps I’m not.” Justin smiled. “And after all, for a man with your resources, footage of a fairly common SLDF warship would be quite easy to obtain. But such a bluff would of course be beneath the dignity of a samurai such as yourself.”

“Very true.”

“And since neither you nor the rulers of the Federated Commonwealth intend to send forces across the border, neither of us will have to concern ourselves with details of these warships. Anyone they encounter will surely be renegades outside the protection of any Great House.”

“One day the Clans will no longer be a concern. And on that day I’ll be left to deal with a Federated Commonwealth that apparently has a small fleet of warships, not to mention one that controls the Capellan Confederation as well.”

“Well.” Justin lifted his tea cup in his left, artificial hand. “It may be the concern of a future generation, of course. There’s really no knowing how long the Clans will dominate the concerns of the great realms. For as long as that endures, we have a mutual interest in avoiding conflict with each other.”

“And if Victor Steiner-Davion decides he wishes to be First Lord of the Star League?”

“Then he will have three council votes, your highness. And neither more nor less likelihood of those votes being acknowledged on Atreus or Luthien than he does right now. However…” He trailed off in thought for a moment, covering it by finishing his tea.

“Your children may have some memory of the Fourth Succession War, Lord Kurita, but mine do not. Nor do Hanse and Melissa’s children. Certainly they are trained for war – but they have never seen it until now. And have the last twenty years or so been so bad? We may not entirely have been at peace, but are our people not better off than they would have been when barely a month went by without a raid across the border?”

“We both know that it isn’t that simple, Justin Allard.”

Justin shrugged and rose to his feet. “Perhaps you are confusing simple with easy, Theodore Kurita. But perhaps not. I suspect neither of us will make the decision in the end.”

“Have a safe journey back to New Avalon.”

“And you to… Luthien? Or will it be Alshain you lead your armies to defend? Even with Regular regiments pulled from the border I doubt you can defend both.” The Intelligence Minister shook his head. “I do not envy you that choice,” he finished as he left the room.

Theodore Kurita poured what was rest of the tea into his cup and threw it back. “Choice,” he half-snarled once Justin was out of earshot. “What choice? Alshain is a border world when all is said and done. If Luthien falls…”

He looked at the cup and almost – almost – hurled it against the wall. Instead he set it down.

“If Luthien falls…”


Katani Nature Reserve, Apolakkia
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
13 November 3050

“You are going to defend this planet alone?” Perigard Zalman had asked, hours earlier.

“Aff.” Timur Malthus wasn’t entirely resigned to this being the end of his career, but with the losses that had been suffered over the last month of fighting he was damned if he was going to share whatever glory might be achievable.

Faced with such a challenge, the Steel Viper saKhan couldn’t resist the challenge and now their OmniMechs were stalking across the hills of Katani. Precisely what nature was to be protected here wasn’t something that Malthus was particularly curious about. Small reddish clay hills with occasional patches of native trees and water.

If the trees were what was being protected then the local population might be upset about the way Malthus’ autocannon chewed through one of them. For his part, the Jade Falcon was more annoyed at the fact the shells had missed the Crossbow.

His Gauss Rifle had missed too and Zalman wasn’t as considerate as to miss the opportunity. The Crossbow couldn’t carry remotely as much firepower as Malthus’ Hellbringer but in this configuration it had a pair of very accurate LRM launchers.

Malthus tried to turn the ‘Mech out of the path of the salvo but Zalman had judged the shot superbly and a dense swarm of missiles caught the Hellbringer from the right side and scoured away entire tons of armour.

There was a crackle and the status of the right arm went black as the capacitor of the gauss rifle mounted in it shorted and discharged a surge of electricity through the systems. Fuses cut the limb off before the jolt of electricity could cause more damage but the Khan had to fight to retain his balance as the myomers of the arm contracted unpredictably and started it waving violently.

The two ‘Mechs were the same weight and roughly equal in mobility. Neither was even a particularly advanced design by Clan standards, making it somewhat ironic that they were the choice of the two Khans.

Firing his autocannon and both his SRM launchers, Malthus rushed closer. He’d need every weapon he could use now because without his gauss rifle, the balance of the firepower had slipped to the Crossbow – which wasn’t good when it also carried significantly more armour.

The good news was that Zalman had limited ammunition to work with.

The bad news was that he had more than enough if he was allowed to use it.

The Crossbow’s frame was marked by explosions as SRMs pockmarked its protective shell. Cluster rounds raked across its nearer shoulder and – importantly – the head.

More LRMs tore into the frame of the Hellbringer. Malthus had angled himself to take the brunt of the damage against the useless arm and it was reduced to a blackened stump shielding the right chest – vital since it contained the pair of missile launchers that made up most of his firepower.

If he still had a working gauss rifle to open holes, the missiles would have been ideal but as it was…

The last exchange of fire may have damaged Zalman’s sensors or possibly the control of the arm that contained one LRM launcher because it missed completely but the other launcher was squarely on target.

Malthus drove one foot down, pivoting his ‘Mech violently to take the hits to his rear armour. While thinner than the front armour, it could take at least one salvo and he’d need the frontal armour for the close range engagement he had no choice but to go for now.

The move seemed to catch Zalman off-guard and the Steel Viper backed his ‘Mech up, taking it down a slope behind a ridge and momentarily breaking contact with Malthus.

It wasn’t possible for them to completely lose track of each other – the two ‘Mechs were too large and too loud. More than sixty tons of metal made very noticeable noise even on fairly soft ground like this.

Being out of sight at least gave them each a momentary respite, a moment to let their ‘Mechs cool down and the MechWarriors catch their breath.

“Stravag,” cursed Malthus as a modest salvo of LRMs arced up and over the ridge. He’d slowed slightly to turn his ‘Mech back around and before he could accelerate away the missiles crashed down, tearing away more armour and cracking some of the internal bracing on the left side of the Hellbringer.

It wasn’t a particularly dense salvo though – only one missile launcher had fired. Perhaps the Steel Viper saKhan was avoiding the use of the other to preserve ammunition – it would make sense, particularly if he was right about damaging that arm.

The Jade Falcon pushed his heavy OmniMech into a run – not around the ridge but up and over it.

The other side was a steep decline and the Khan threw his ‘Mech back and worked the legs, fighting for balance as he half-slid and half-ran down to the bottom of the ridge.

He’d hoped to catch Zalman facing towards the end of the ridge, expecting him to circle it rather than risk the heavier terrain, but instead the Steel Viper Khan had backed up so the only time the move bought was the time for the Crossbow to bring its arm around and…

Malthus felt his ‘Mech stumble as he tried to move away from the ridge and return fire.

The timing was terrible and he saw his shots go wild as the Crossbow fired its missile launcher – only one again, and smashed away the armour plating over his chest.

Had he damaged his leg actuators as he descended the ridge? The damage display didn’t show anything.

Looking down he realised that his Hellbringer was ankle-deep in thick, heavy mud. Such water as there was here evidently ran through this lower ground and rendered the clay down to something that sucked at the ‘Mech’s feet as he moved.

It wouldn’t stop him. It couldn’t stop him.

But it could slow him and Perigard Zalman fired both missile launchers this time.

Forty LRMs followed a low arc across the distance between the two of them and almost all of them hit.

Malthus managed to stagger forwards. No more autocannon – the entire left side of his ‘Mech was a wreck. There had been a small laser there that he’d never even been in range to fire.

“I honour the courage of the Jade Falcons.” Zalman’s voice was smug on the radio and Malthus wished for a moment that he’d offered to fight unaugmented, just for the chance to drive his fist into the other man’s face. “But now I must question your judgment. Your ‘Mech is too badly damaged to continue, Khan Malthus.”

They were over two hundred and fifty metres apart. Just barely in range of his SRMs.

He could still fight, but barring Turkina herself swooping down to deliver victory, he could not win.

And thus, between Elias Crichell and Perigard Zalman, he would lose…

Well. Not everything.

The world, the khanship. But he was still a warrior of Clan Jade Falcon and Crichell’s machinations made him more enemies than friends. There might come a day to claw back what he was losing. It simply was not this day.

Malthus thumbed his radio controls. “Khan Zalman, victory is yours. This world belongs to Clan Steel Viper.”


ComStar Compound, Hilton Head Island
North America, Terra
14 November 3050

Myndo Waterly clenched her fists where no one could see them inside the long sleeves of her robe and fought back the urge to scream.

“Almost thirty years ago, I stood where you are standing now, Sharilar, and I warned Julian Tiepolo that allowing the marriage of Steiner mercantilism to Davion’s technological prowess would the greatest threat that our Order faced. Perhaps in future generations history will record me as a new Cassandra, one who warned but was not heeded!”

Sharilar Mori, Precentor Dieron and head of all ComStar operations within the Draconis Combine, bowed her head. “Dire as the news of Federated Commonwealth warships is, Primus, I am more concerned that this is the first we have heard of them.”

Waterly stabbed one finger towards the other woman. “That, right there, is why you are among the few members of the First Circuit I can trust. You see the heart of this while that fool Seneca burbles about surveying ancient battlefields and categorizing wrecks that may have been removed. Only Theodore Kurita’s need to bluster about being able to defend the Combine with his captured ship has forced Davion to show his hand in turn. If he had not, when would we have learned of them?”

“Most probably only when Prince Davion found it suitable to employ them in battle against the Clans.” Mori bowed her head. “Of course, the Clans return must post-date the beginnings of this programme. This is the work of years so if the Clans had not invaded…”

“Then he would have turned them upon us. Oh, he probably justified them as being developed to fight against the Clans – the Lyrans must have paid the lion’s share of this, given the damage caused to the Suns’ economy by our Interdiction twenty years ago. But once he had sufficient forces there is only one place in the Inner Sphere that he would require such a force to attack.” Waterly spread her hands above the star symbol of ComStar inlaid into the floor of the chamber. “Here.”

“I am not a soldier, Primus. Could our defences hold against such an attack?”

The Primus frowned. “That is uncertain. He can hardly have a fleet the match of that required by General Kerensky to take Terra all those years ago, but our defences are also much weaker. We have none of the Caspar drones that were employed to engage vessels outside the reach of the planetary defence centres’ weaponry. Even those fortifications are untested – Focht advised me that the figures our engineers claim for their performance fall short of specifications dating back to their initial construction by the Camerons.”

“We have our own fleet of warships, of course.”

“Yes, but Davion would have had surprise and most of the ships are based in hidden depots light years away from us. It could take days before they returned here. A swift strike, an orbital drop around Hilton Head and no doubt he has a puppet in place to assure the Precentors of our HPG stations within the Federated Commonwealth that all is well and that service would continue as normal.”

“Neither Thomas Marik nor Takashi Kurita would recognise the neutrality of a ComStar under the control of the Federated Commonwealth.”

“Of course not. But how would you and our Precentor in Atreus maintain the true order when the Terra’s factories are the only source of the most critical components needed to maintain the HPGs? Davion would sit back and do nothing as the Combine and the League slowly lost the ability to control their outlying possessions. His sons would be easily able to strip away outlying worlds and provinces until the Commonwealth could no longer be challenged even by the united efforts of all the free worlds.”

“It must be said then, that we should be grateful to the Clans for arriving and forcing Prince Davion’s hand.”

Waterly nodded. “The hand of Blake has reached down to guard us. But now that we are not caught off guard, we must take steps to respond to this threat. I have Seneca’s advice and I will question Focht at the next opportunity, but what is your advice, Sharilar?”

Adjusting her hood, the slightly older woman hesitated.

“Speak frankly, Precentor.”

She clasped her hands. “Two measures suggest themselves, Primus. First we should guard ourselves here. Admit that ComStar has restored a few of the ancient warships and that they are being mobilised to defend Terra in this dangerous time. With the Clans’ having used a warship against Turtle Bay, no one could question the need for our own. It is unlikely that Davion will strike at us now and a few active vessels, even if they were outnumbered, would make it clear that he could not seize Terra quickly or easily.”

“Vessels both here over Terra and guarding the shipyard complex at Titan,” agreed the Primus. “And the second measure?”

“Where is Davion’s Titan? He must have a shipyard that is restoring the salvaged warships he speaks of. It seems unlikely that he could hide more than one such facility. And there must be records at the shipyard of what they have worked on so once we have access to that we will know how many warships he has and how much of a threat they must pose.”

“Very good. We can safely conclude that he does not have the warships to effectively confront Clan Jade Falcon or Clan Wolf – the other Clans would not concern him. Both have employed around ten warships, with the former largely displaying cruisers and larger vessels. We can therefore safely suggest that two warships in the Draconis March and a slightly larger force in the Terran March represent much of Davion’s naval strength.”

“Eight to ten vessels perhaps, with few large vessels. We should confirm this before acting, however. It is possible that some of the ships were hidden in remote systems or only minimally crewed. Prince Davion was more than willing to allow dozens of worlds to be over-run before he committed his regiments against them. If he needs time to assemble and prepare crews for a cache of warships, he is almost certainly pragmatic enough to trade worlds and even regiments to win himself that time.”

“A valid point. This makes your second proposed measure all the more important – once we know where his shipyards are and can accurately assess his warship strength, we can decide on a course of action to neutralize it.” Waterly turned to look out of the window. The sun was rising and for a moment she envisaged the Steiner fist laid over it as if it were the banner of the Federated Commonwealth rising over her world.

“The Federated Commonwealth must end,” she murmured. “We can no longer permit them to prosper or the future Blake foresaw for us can never come to pass.”

“I recognise the need, Primus. The means to accomplish it, however…”

“You need not concern yourself.” Waterly smiled. “The Draconis Combine’s role is to hold back the Clans and you can bend your efforts to balancing their power against the Smoke Jaguars. Since the ilKhan’s Clan are not receptive to the overtures of the Precentor Martial, we need not do anything to aid them. House Marik has been untouched by the Clans and Thomas Marik is both ours and no friend to Hanse Davion.”

“I would not presume to second-guess my colleague on Atreus, but rumour has it that Marik’s son suffers from a form of cancer. Were he to come to Terra for treatment…”

The Primus laughed darkly. “We really do think alike, my dear friend. Alas, we have no treatment to offer Joshua Marik. Treatment for leukaemia remains a secret of Star League medical science we have not recovered.”

“Perhaps the Clans have more complete records.” Mori clasped her hands. “The possibility to bring the Captain-General’s son and future heir here for medical treatment and… education seems that it might even be worth some concession to the Clans.”

“Are you looking for a transfer to Atreus?” Waterly asked archly. “It can hurt nothing to ask the Precentor Martial to explore the possibility, I suppose…”


Tamar City, Tamar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
29 November 3050

“The Wolves are up to something.”

Field Marshal Cynthia Franks nodded in agreement with the analyst’s statement. “I can’t see it any other way. The Falcons are happy to tear away at our units on the four worlds they’ve attacked but the situation’s completely changed at this end of the defence line. They’re sitting in the areas they’ve secured and skirmishing regularly but there’s only been one major engagement this month and that was probably someone screwing up.”

“Maybe they’re short of supplies,” suggested Richard Steiner. The Archon’s nephew commanded the Benfled operations area, which had seen almost no fighting so far, except along Defence Line Gamma which was being overseen entirely by Franks so his main concern so far was ensuring a steady flow of supplies to the embattled regiments. “The background data suggests that the Clans generally have trouble with that.”

Lynn Zellner, his counterpart for Blackjack operations area, tilted her hand from side to side. “The Wolves have only taken a few worlds from us but they’ve always indicated a preference for swift, overwhelming attacks. This is different, I’ll give you that, but we’re also seeing fewer units.”

“It seems to me that the Wolves have decided a slugging match for these worlds isn’t worth their time.” Franks steepled her fingers. “If they’re pulling units off these worlds then they must be planning to strike at other worlds.”

“Here?” asked Zellner drily. “Duke Kelswa seems convinced they’ll land any day now.”

“It’s possible but they have to know that Tamar’s just as well defended as the other worlds in the defence line – more so really, with three fully upgraded RCTs on world. And if they’re scaling back operations on our neighbours then we can call in reinforcements.”

“Bypassing the line would mean they’d threaten Sevren, Weingarten and Laurent on our side of the border.” Steiner frowned. “The first two would be unfortunate but the third is a command world and one of our supply nodes. On the other side of the border, Memmingen and Vorarlberg would be under threat.”

“We can send a warning to the Kungsarme,” decided the Field Marshal. “We’ve bought them a couple of months to regroup but other than that we have enough to worry about here. What’s stationed on Laurent? We pulled the Fifth Ceti Hussars out to reinforce the other end of the line…”

“Fifteenth Deneb Light Cavalry. Their Beta Combat Command was still in reserve but Alpha and Gamma took a pounding on Baker 3 and Zoetermeer so we pulled them back to reorganise. Sevren’s technically part of Line Gamma but no one’s taken a swing at it yet.”

“The whole strategic purpose of defensive lines is to pin the Clans down on the worlds they’re fighting for. If they’re not hitting Sevren then it isn’t a priority.”

“Then the units on Mkuranga and Babaeski are available for redeployment as well. Right now, they’re just sitting out on our left flank.”

Franks nodded. “We’re not going to fall back on Defence Line Delta at this point but I want everything in position for if they try to rush deeper. There are unconfirmed reports of another Clan in the Jade Falcon occupation zone so we could be encountering reinforcements in the near future. Richard, you have a dozen regiments in deep reserve plus the CCAF units that should arrive soon, I want you to start them digging in along the line, working from Morges to Hainfeld. That should give us enough length to still cover the full front of their invasion unless they decided to change their entire axis of advance.”

“What about Sudeten? Even with the factories removed, it’s an important world and Defence Line Delta is behind it.”

“Lynn, move the un-upgraded RCTs from your end of Gamma line down to Sudeten to reinforce the Gray Death Legion. Consolidate the Twelfth Deneb Light Cavalry onto Parakoila – they already have one combat command there and it’ll put more pressure on the Falcons.”

“That leaves me the Fourth Ceti Hussars and Fifth FedCom as a reserve. Can I move them to Baker 3 and Zoetermeer? Vulcan is holding out okay with the Kell Hounds there but if more units arrive on the other worlds they could be shaky. The Lyran and Donegal Guards units on those worlds haven’t been fully upgraded and they’re taking a beating.”

“Okay. Pull them off world and replace them with the Fourth Ceti and Fifth FedCom. Then you can use the shipping to pull the Tenth Lyran Guards and Tenth Donegal Guards to Sudeten to refit and keep the two un-upgraded RCTs on Mkuranga and Babaeski in position as a reserve in case the flank is pushed further open.”

“Got it.”

“Richard, I’ll move the Third FedCom from Sevren to Laurent to look after the supplies and pull the Wolf Dragoon’s Delta Regiment here to Tamar. That should please the Duke and they’ll be in position in case the Wolves are going to focus their attention on just one world of the salient.”

“If the Wolves are weakening their positions here in in the salient, would it be worth pushing for a counter-offensive? If we can drive them off even one world it could free up regiments to reinforce the others and once we get momentum going…”

The two women exchanged glances. “I think that would be premature, Richard,” Cynthia said diplomatically. “The Wolves must have a reserve and that could leave us over-extended and vulnerable at the moment. Now, if they do commit elsewhere with those troops then it’s possible we could bring regiments forward from the Delta line and start re-taking worlds. But please don’t mention that to Duke Kelswa. If he demands an immediate counteroffensive it could cause problems on Tharkad.”


Tamar War Collage, Tamar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
29 November 3050

The cockpit of Vlad’s ‘Mech stank of fear.

Actually, the stink was probably the ineradicable result of age. The Woodsman had been one of the very first OmniMechs and had been retired from active service before Vlad’s sibko had been decanted. Probably before Khan Ulric or even Cyrilla Ward had been decanted in fact. No amount of cleaning could entirely rid him of the stench.

The fear wasn’t Vlad’s. Strapped to a jump seat behind his command couch a technician was doing his level best to restrain an almost gibbering terror. If the newly promoted Star Colonel was inclined to be fair he might have admitted that the man’s training didn’t include a ‘Mech drop from low orbit. Since fairness didn’t make up much of his world-view, he instead tried to ignore it.

“Aerospace fighters coming in from aft.”

Vlad clutched the joysticks in frustration. At this point in the drop there was nothing he could do about the attack. Until the pod was ablated his ‘Mech was trapped inside it and he couldn’t use its weapons to fight back or even the jump-pack strapped to the rear of the Woodsman to try to evade. “Carew, take care of it.”

“It is a work in progress.”

Like everyone in Vlad’s new command, Carew was working with hardware considerably less advanced than he would usually expect. The personnel of the Wolf Hunters had been assembled from those with bloodlines deemed questionable in light of the Wolf Dragoons’ decision to fight against their parent clan. The equipment came from shipments ordered from the Home world months ago to be used by garrison units.

In poorer Clans, that might have meant equipment cached by the SLDF when Kerensky first settled the Pentagon worlds and never touched since. It was scant consolation that the Xerxes, Tyre and Chaeronea aerospace fighters issued to the Wolf Hunter’s aerospace trinary were newer than that – they were still designs that dated back to the twenty-ninth century.

“Give me more detail than that!”

Carew’s voice was strained by the multiple-gravities imposed by rapid manoeuvring. “An interceptor wing – warbook calls them Seydlitz, Sabre and Sparrowhawks. They are agile but we can handle them – if you do not distract us.”

“Then do it!” Vlad pried one hand off his controls and punched a command into his warbook. Older designs of fighter, much older than Carew’s command, but probably upgraded. The Sabre and Sparrowhawk shouldn’t pose a threat unless they got close, but the Seydlitz was built around a large laser. If the upgrades encountered on other worlds held true…

After a long and terrible few moments, Carew spoke again. “You are clear. We have lost two fighters and three more will need to return to the dropships to repair.”

“Do it.”

“And one ‘Mech pod was hit and is falling out of control.”

Vlad smelt something acrid. Had the man behind him… “You cowardly surat!”

“What!?” Carew snapped back. “How dare you - !”

“Not you, the fool in my cockpit!” Vlad shook his head. “You have done well, Carew,” he added grudgingly. “Who have we lost?”

“Point Commander Marcus and his wingman Jonah. I do not know which ‘Mech it was.”

“It was Lajos,” reported Ranna from her own cockpit. “Do not be too hard on your technician, Vlad. At least he has not vomited.”

“Ugh.” Vlad turned his head as far as he could. “Do not even think about it!” If his ‘Mech was a more modern design, with the small and efficient cockpit of newer OmniMechs, there would be no room for someone else behind him. Of course, such cockpits were less than ideal for the long running battles that the Clans found themselves engaged in against the Inner Sphere. As with many matters, what worked for a Trial that lasted only a few hours was not quite so practical when waging a major war.

Lajos… The warrior had impressed Vlad slightly and his Corvis would have been useful in what was likely to be difficult terrain once they hit the ground. On the other hand, he was a contender for the Ward bloodname left vacant by Conal’s death. If he had won his next match, he would have faced Vlad in one of the semi-final matches. As it was, his opponent would have a bye before Vlad killed him.

The jump pod finally reached its limits and came apart. Vlad could see the night sky around him, lit by weapons fire around him and by the city still many thousands of metres below.

“We are right on target,” he observed. Normally he would expect nothing less than perfection but clearly the support the Wolf Hunters would receive from the rest of the Clan might be deficient – for now. “Carew, you are clear to engage ground targets, quiaff?”

“Aff. Our medium Star is ahead of you and below.” The diminutive Star Captain’s voice was still angry. “Do not shoot them down by error – or out of pique.”

“I do not make errors, Carew.”

The pulse lasers of the Tyres made them good for strafing and their heavy autocannon could punch out even fortified turrets on the ground – which was a good thing since they were too slow and poorly armoured for dog-fighting. Visigoths would have been better in every respect, but despite their being gradually replaced by Jaghatai in the medium fighter role, not a single one could be spared for the Wolf Hunters.

“More fighters incoming – just air-breathers,” warned Carew. “I will sweep them away. Skill, warriors.”

“Skill,” grunted Vlad in echo of Ranna’s warmer send off. A moment later he saw brilliant lines of tracer lash through the sky as Carew’s command star engaged with the massive assault autocannon built into their aerospace fighters. Unlike the fighters above, these spheroid strike fighters were vastly inferior and the Wolf aerospace fighters were sweeping them out of the sky almost as rapidly as they came into range.

 The ground was approaching rapidly now and Vlad checked the landing site. Good – the maps had shown a swathe of relatively open ground with the Tamar City encompassing it on three sides and that seemed to largely still be true – the training grounds of the Tamar War College were convenient to both the Drop Port and the Ducal palace, which made it ideal for this landing.

It also almost guaranteed that the landing zone would be contested by the College’s training battalion but that was also ideal. If any of the AFFC’s cubs survived the experience they might be worthy of consideration as bondsmen.

“Hold on.” Sparing only that sharp warning for his unwelcome but necessary passenger, Vlad fired the jump-pack, both slowing and stabilising his ‘Mech’s fall. There were buildings down below and if he landed amongst them there was risk of damaging the ‘Mech. On the other hand, there was also a chance of damaging some of the defences.

Vlad’s lips drew back from his teeth as he saw that almost directly below him was a large communications dish. A second flare of his jump pack removed ‘almost’ and then he braced himself, waited for the altimeter to reach the correct height and hammered the controls again for one last and longest effort from the bulky pack.

He’d timed it perfectly and the pack finally ran out of fuel with the Woodsman only a meter above the dish. Using several tons of enemy equipment was not recommended in drop procedures but Vlad would have sworn it made the landing easier – or at least more satisfying.

“Are we -?”

“Shut up.” He tore the Woodsman free of the wreckage and looked around. The other ‘Mechs of his Nova had landed around him – Byron’s Warhammer, Madison’s Marauder, Egil’s Glass Spider… “Garth?”

“Here.” The other MechWarrior’s Grizzly pushed itself through the wall of an administration block. “The roof was not as sturdy as I hoped.”

“We’re moving for the objective then. Carew, we are down. Refuel and rearm – I will let you know when you are needed again.”

“Your will, Star Colonel.”

“Status reports!”

“Baker Trinary is mounting Elementals,” Samis reported. “We will be with you shortly.”

Ranna chimed in: “Charlie Trinary is in position. We are short Lajos, otherwise all present. Moving for the Drop Port.”

“Continue as planned.”

“Beta Nova reports all well.” Madison raised one of the arms of her ‘Mech and pointed with the weapon pod to the south. “Gamma Nova are engaged to the south. One ‘Mech and three Elementals down.”

“Move then.” Vlad drove his Woodsman southwards between two of the buildings, the rest of his star falling in behind him. “Samis, head around the academy complex and stand ready to the south. We will push the defenders back on you. Command Nova elementals, we will rendezvous at Gamma Star’s position.”

“Aff. We will be ready.”

The courtyards and parade grounds of the War College had been laid out precisely to allow the movement of ‘Mechs and fighting vehicles between them if need be. This allowed Vlad to make rapid progress, battering aside minor obstacles with the heavy ‘Mechs feet. Closing on the gunfire he almost missed the appearance of a pair of Locust light ‘Mechs until they opened fire with the lasers slung beneath their torsos.

The damage inflicted was minimal and Vlad responded with his own lasers, the much more powerful weapons peeling away the limited armour of one of the lightweight scout ‘Mech.

Madison engaged the second Locust with her PPCs blasting both the right leg and the turret-like machinegun wing on that side of the ‘Mech into blackened wreckage. Her target collapsed even while the other three MechWarriors moved on, looking for targets of their own. Byron kicked down an ornamental wall to make room for he and Egil to march their ‘Mechs past while Garth fired his Grizzly’s jump-jets and simply hurtled overhead.

The surviving Locust back-pedaled quickly, scampering for cover but Vlad dropped his crosshairs on the back of the torso and fired his lasers again, tearing through the marginal protection and deep into the interior. The ‘Mech collapsed to the concrete.

“Gamma are short a ‘Mech to this?”

“Some of them must be more credible opponents,” offered Madison as they moved after the rest of the Star.

Vlad pushed his ‘Mech, using the myomer acceleration signal circuitry to briefly supercharge the speed of the Woodsman and catch up.

They arrived in time to see Star Commander Ajax’s Thresher firing a long and vicious burst from its autocannon into the already breached armour of a Crockett assault ‘Mech. Almost half again the size of the secondline Clan ‘Mech, the Crockett reeled and then fell onto its back, although it still raised one arm and tried to return fire with the large laser built into it.

Ajax side-stepped before raking the larger ‘Mech’s armour with his lasers and pummelling it with his lasers.

Looking around, Vlad realised that Gamma Nova must have landed almost at the door to the college’s ‘Mech hangers. More than twenty ‘Mechs were packed into the broad avenues around it, exchanging fire furiously. Zellbrigen had obviously been discarded, with the outnumbered survivors of Gamma Nova under fire from all directions.

“Concentrate your fire!” he ordered sharply. “Put them down and let the Elementals finish them.”

Obediently Egil and Byron both opened fire on a Dervish that was concentrating on engaging a Wolf Hunters Griffin. Both ‘Mechs mounted multiple pulse lasers, which savaged the armour before Egil used one of his PPCs to blow one arm off the smaller enemy ‘Mech and spin it half-around.

An elemental bounded up and onto the damaged flank of the ‘Mech and fired its missile launchers into the vulnerable missile storage bay. The resulting explosion hurled the Elemental into the building opposite but it tore the Inner Sphere ‘Mech apart.

Vlad spotted Garth engaging a Phoenix Hawk and a Chameleon. With a shout he fired both missile launchers and his large lasers into the nearer of the pair. The Phoenix Hawk staggered and then continued to fire into Garth’s Grizzly while the Chameleon turned its large laser upon Vlad.

Madison’s Marauder was engaging the Crockett as it tried to stand so Vlad charged towards Garth alone.

The Grizzly fired the pulse lasers in one arm into the Phoenix Hawk’s chest, adding to the damage Vlad had done. Then it raised the other arm and a slug from the gauss rifle cored into the vitals just as Vlad engaged again, this time with all four lasers.

The Phoenix Hawk fell and the Chameleon prudently fired its jump-jets to try to evade the incoming Woodsman. As it soared up into the air, a stream of laser pulses caught it in the right arm, severing the limb. Vlad glanced back and saw that the laser fire had come from Egil’s Glass Spider.

The Chameleon’s right arm was left behind as the medium ‘Mech withdrew to the south.

“Let it go,” Vlad ordered reluctantly. Samis’ Trinary, with their lighter and faster BattleMechs, would be able to catch the Chameleon, whereas the intense melee around the ‘Mech hanger had to take priority.

Rather than closing in, the two Wolves turned and engaged at long range, pouring withering long range fire into two Wasps and a Commando that tried to gang up on Egil. By the time that the last of the three light ‘Mechs had been defeated, the rest of the battle had died down.

The ground was littered with the broken remains of Tamar ‘Mechs cut down first by Ajax’s Nova and then the crossfire between Vlad’s command Nova and the late arrival of Beta Nova.

“S-sir, I am picking up transmissions from the planetary command centre.” The technician clutched the earphones he was wearing. “We have not broken their codes but the activity level is much higher than previously. They must be aware of our presence.”

“Good.” Vlad walked his ‘Mech across the wreckage. “Beta Nova, move south to link up with Baker Trinary. Ajax, pulse me the telemetry from your Nova.”

A secondary screen lit up with the remaining strength of Gamma Nova. In addition to the earlier loss of a Hunchback, the Star had also lost a Shadow Hawk and more than half their elementals.

“Consolidate your elemental points and check for Wolf survivors,” ordered Vlad. “Then take up the rear. Command Nova, form on me.”

He felt his Woodsman shake as Elementals latched onto the handles fitted for them.

The Wolf Hunters loped southwards, towards Samis’ Baker Trinary and beyond them to the heart of Tamar City.


Tamar City, Tamar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
29 November 3050

Richard Steiner felt a sick sensation as he strapped into his Zeus.

It wasn’t fear – he’d faced that before. The two shots of Glengarry whisky he’d had before the raid alarms went off might have had something to do with it, but he thought it might be something more.

The doctors called it Dobrowski’s Syndrome and prescribed anti-depressants but Richard believed that it was simply a label they put on something that they didn’t understand. Steiners simply saw more, understood more. Some, yes, could not cope with that. It was understandable, if a weakness. Simon Steiner had even abdicated rather than face the pressures of the throne combined with what he saw. And perhaps knowing one’s limits was a strength of its own.

Depression? Who wouldn’t be depressed by the endless warfare that seemed to consume mankind? It wasn’t pessimism, it was realism!

But he’d never felt this way before, not felt this sort of doom hanging over him.

“The Wolves have cut across the Jedborough bridge – if we push the pace, we can catch them at the junction of Atherton and Marsden,” snapped Selvin Kelswa from the cockpit of his Atlas. “Are you with me, Marshal?”

“Move out.” Richard punched the reactor activation button. Soon the cockpit would warm up and he’d no longer feel as if frigid worms were crawling around the inside of his coolant vest. He consulted his mental map of the city’s layout. East of the junction, along Atherton Avenue, the road crossed another bridge, this one over a narrow, gullied stream that ran down from Palace Hill to the river. “I’ll sweep down the Jaburo Stream in case they’re trying to sneak any of their Headhunter teams up to the Palace, then hook up with your left flank.”

“Good thinking. Do you want some support?”

Richard felt cold. “No, it’s just a precaution and narrow as it is, if I run into trouble one ‘Mech can hold that gully long enough for the Royal Guards to get here.”

“I’ll see you there then.”

The Atlas lumbered out of the hanger and up the slope towards the palace end of Marsden Avenue, named for the long ago Archon who’d wed a Steiner and from whom Richard could claim descent. After the Duke’s Mech came the rest of his personal guards. With the Archon’s blessing, Duke Kelswa had been able to fill them out to a full battalion of upgraded ‘Mechs – Ausf R models only but they had numbers on their side and – at the end of the day, they only had to hold until the Third and Fourth Royal Guards RCTs could bring substantial forces to bear.

Richard marched his Zeus into the brief gap between the Second and Third companies of the Kelswa Guards and then dropped out of line as they turned onto Marsden Avenue.

In the dark it took precious time for him to find the end of the Jaburo stream. He had to use his searchlight in the end, turning it on to look and then off again to avoid drawing attention to himself. The Wolf aerospace fighter cover had withdrawn for now but it would be all too easy for them to descend again.

The gully was hard going as it deepened. The massive feet of the Zeus made it stable on most ground but here he was having to jam one foot against either side of the v-shaped gully, sometimes even bracing it with the muzzle ends of each arm.

I’d better not get stuck here, he thought. It would look bad – as if I was hiding. But…

No. He wasn’t here to hide. Every shadow looked like a threat until he reached it but something, that heart-felt conviction that he was sure his ancestors had followed, told him that there would be danger here. A danger that might consume him but… “Just me,” he said out loud to himself and then checked self-consciously to make sure he’d not transmitted that.

A Marshal of the Federated Commonwealth shouldn’t be out scouting alone, he thought. Kelswa should have had this gully blocked off. It’s too narrow for most ‘Mechs but Elementals could use it and since I’ve got this far it can’t be impossible to come up the same way, just…

He broke off as weapons fire lit up the night.

Not too near him – off to the west. Duke Kelswa must have found the Wolves – or vice versa. Am I in the right place or have I made a mistake?

Richard took another heavy step and then froze as he saw metal emerge from the shadows, lit briefly by the flare of moonlight from above.

Clan Elementals!

Stabbing both arms of the Zeus forwards, Richard opened a general broadcast channel. “Clan Elementals in the Jaburo gully!” Then he pulled the triggers of his joystick and fired everything he had down the stream.

In the older models he’d piloted for most of his career this would have brutally overheated the Zeus but despite the significantly expanded weapon payload, the Zeus Ausf S’s double-heatsinks could control the surge in internal heat. Extended range lasers slashed through the Elementals, who were already beginning to scatter as much as they could in the narrow confines of the gully, bounding left, right and towards him on their jump jets. A stream of cluster ammunition tore into them, gouging at the surprisingly thick armour wrapped around each infantryman and then the paired LRM launchers spat their volley into them.

It was enough firepower to have slaughtered an entire company of conventional infantry caught in these confines but despite this the Elementals kept coming, their SRM launchers firing as they came into view and picking away at his armour.

Stepping back would have been courting a fall and forwards would take him directly into their clutches so Richard held the Zeus steady and continued to fire steadily into them, only slightly aware that he was shouting something wordless but defiant.

Elementals were falling now, but not enough and the first reached him, claw seizing the metal plates over the Zeus’ left knee and jamming its laser into the joint.

Richard swung the autocannon in his ‘Mech’s left arm directly down and delivered the full force of its loaded ammunition directly into the top of the Elemental’s head.

The distraction allowed two more to close, one on the right shoulder, separated from the canopy of his cockpit only by one of the ridges of dorsal armour that gave the Zeus its distinctive silhouette. Richard fired off the LRMs mounted in his right arm again, sweeping the arm from side to side so as to spread the salvo across the Elementals. Then the arm was torn apart as the ammunition bin detonated – the Elemental must have thought it was firing into the ammo feed but Defiance Industries had moved the entire ammunition assembly into the arm, where it could be screened from the systems of the torso by cellular storage.

The detonation ripped the Elemental into multiple fragments but more of them were crawling all over the Zeus now and at this close range, torso mounted lasers simply couldn’t bear.

Richard moved the selector switch on his autocannon – cluster rounds simply weren’t sufficient – and brought the autocannon around to bear as yet another of the infantry arced towards him on its jump jets. The Elemental suit disintegrated under the anti-Mech rounds.

Then there was a crash and Richard hurled his hands up over his face instinctively as the canopy tore open. It was a poor move he realised as shards dug into his bare arms. His head was already protected by the neurohelmet.

For a moment he thought the Elemental looming over him would simply empty the machinegun built into its arm through the canopy and finish him. Instead though, it kicked the breach in the canopy wider and jabbed its clawed arm into the control panel, disabling the ‘Mech.

Panting, Richard watched the lights of his secondary screens reflect off the grey-white paint covering the Elemental armour. The tinted visor made it impossible to see the face behind it.

Then the machinegun lifted and levelled at his face. The neurohelmet would do nothing to save him from that, not at this range.

“Tell me where your commanders are.”

Richard felt certainty. This was why he was here. Behind him, in the command centre, Cynthia Franks and Lynn Zellner were coordinating Tamar’s defences. If the Elementals reached them, not only the planet but the central leadership of the entire Tamar March would be left in disarray.

The doom was for him – but in embracing it, he could spare the rest of the Federated Commonwealth.

“I am Marshal Richard Steiner,” he managed between dry lips. “I am commander of the Benfled Operations Area.” Two truths. “You will find no superior officer on Tamar.” And one lie – although only half a lie since if they stopped looking now they certainly wouldn’t find any others.

The Elemental stared down at him.

“Why is a Marshal here, alone?”

Richard grinned challengingly. “Why would a Clan Wolf Headhunter unit look for a Marshal here in a minor gully?”

The Clan warrior barked viciously and after a moment Richard realised it was a laugh. “Who can argue with victory?” Then the claw reached down and started to tear away Richard’s safety harness.


Tamar Drop Port, Tamar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
30 November 3050

It was well past midnight when Vlad marched his battered command through the broken gates of the Drop Port’s perimeter security.

The signs of a past battle were clearly in evidence – two ‘Mechs lay where they had fallen and trickles of smoke still rose from an Armoured Personnel Carrier. Vlad was glad that his canopy was intact since otherwise he’d have to smell what was burning – possibly the remains of infantry aboard the APC – and he still had no confidence in the stomach of the technician behind him.

Near the control complex a pair of Wolf Hunter ‘Mechs were standing on guard. Both bore the marks of combat – one missile launcher on the Lupus was a blackened ruin and the Wakazashi assault ‘Mech was not only scarred by laser fire but also the grey-white paint had been almost completely covered in black stains.

“What did you do to your ‘Mech, Ranna?”

“Some of the security force here were carrying inferno SRMs.” Ranna seemed entirely calm about the matter, despite the subject.

Inferno warheads preyed upon the vulnerability of ‘Mechs to high temperatures, coating the target with napalm. Although the weapon was mentioned in older SLDF records, Vlad hadn’t encountered the weapon until the Wolves invaded Rasalhague. He’d seen an unwary MechWarrior’s Adder ablaze from head to toe, the MechWarrior unable to eject without exposing himself to the fire or to move his ‘Mech until it had cooled enough for the reactor to be restarted. Two industrial ‘Mechs with improvised weapon packs had smashed open the cockpit before Vlad and the rest of the Star could respond.

“You seem to have seen action yourself. Something new to boast of to your next opponent in the Trial of Bloodright?”

Vlad felt a smile creep across his face. “We have our prize. Now tell me, Star Captain Ranna, do we have a dropship?”

“We do, but it isn’t a ‘Mech transport.” She raised the arm of her ‘Mech – it was a squat, ugly machine of a Jade Falcon origin but Ranna appeared quite fond of it during their brief opportunity to train for this mission – and indicated a large aerodyne dropship near the end of the further of the two runways. “The techs I brought are pre-flighting it now but we don’t have time to secure ‘Mechs in decks designed to hold tanks.”

“You mean we must abandon these antiquated pieces of scrap? How will I live with myself?” Vlad jogged the Woodsman over towards the dropship. “You, get ready to get out,” he ordered the technician. “Then report aboard that dropship.”

“Aff, Star Colonel.” The technician started unbuckling himself and almost bashed his head on the back of Vlad’s seat.

The warrior groaned and reached out, unlocking the canopy. “Star Captain Samis, take charge of loading the Elementals and our prize.”

“We do have room for four ‘Mechs in the aft bay,” Ranna added. “I will be loading this one personally. If you don’t want to keep yours that is your decision.”

“You captured the dropship, it is fair that you choose the four ‘Mechs.” Vlad shook his head. “Do you have anything set up to dispose of the rest?” There were only seventeen other ‘Mechs with him – the Kelswa Guards had fought ferociously until Vlad destroyed the Atlas fighting in the lead and helicopters had taken out two of the survivors before Egil’s Glass Spider brought them down.

“Park them on the other runway, pull the reactor safeties and eject,” replied Ranna. “It will tear up their runway and I have a couple of jeeps ready to pick up you up and bring you aboard the dropship.”

Vlad nodded. “Good work. And Carew?”

“Fuelled and on his way down.” Ranna’s voice shifted to teasing. “If he got here before you I would not have waited.”

Ranna recalled the other ten surviving ‘Mechs of her Trinary while the Elementals bundled the captured AFFC officer aboard the dropship.

Walking the Woodsman into position, Vlad watched the woman march the Wakazashi up the aft ramp of the dropship. She’d picked Madison’s Marauder and Byron’s Warhammer, along with a Highlander from her own trinary to complete the load. They were the four heaviest surviving ‘Mechs, which made sense.

The other twenty six ‘Mechs stationed themselves at safe spaces along the other runway and Vlad checked his ejection systems before reaching back and opening the panel covering the magnetic containment circuitry. Quickly and methodically he yanked the circuit boards loose and felt the temperature rising as the reactor shielding was no longer protected from the direct heat of the fusion reaction. Safety warnings howled and he slammed his free hand on the over-ride.

Two circuit-boards left.

One.

Vlad snapped his arm back around without even releasing the circuit board he held and punched the eject button.

The canopy blew away and then his chair rocketed up and out of the Woodsman. Below him, the reactor finally lost containment and sucked in enough air to trigger a violent explosion that blew the seventy-five ton war machine apart.

Vlad looked at the circuit board in his hand and then discarded it as his chute deployed. On some level it was a waste to destroy so many functional ‘Mechs. On the other, since they could not be taken with them on the dropship, by doing this he was denying them to the enemy.

Down below, a jeep was collecting the other ejected ‘MechWarriors as they came to ground. In the distance he could see a column of blue and gold ‘Mechs and tanks entering Tamar City.

Mission complete. It was time to leave.

Tenth Lyran Guards Headquarters, Baker 3
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
7 December 3050

“We are here, Hauptmann Kai.”

Stirring from a doze, Kai rubbed his face and realised he must have dozed off in the passenger seat of the jeep he’d borrowed. “Thanks Diana.”

She pulled over at the guard hut and they presented their ID.

“Hauptmann Allard-Liao – it’s an honour,” exclaimed the guard. “I guess you’re here for Legendkiller.”

“Uh… yes.” Does everyone know it’s here?

“We kind of figured that with the Tenth shipping out soon you’d be here. You’ll want Hanger Seven. Would you like me to call ahead for you?”

Kai blinked. “Uh… no, that’s fine. Have a good day.”

“I didn’t realise us getting redeployed was such big news,” he muttered once the jeep was out of the guard’s earshot.

“Rumour is the only thing faster than a jumpship,” Diana told him wryly.

He chuckled. “Even among the Clans?”

“Aff… that is, yes.”

Hanger Seven wasn’t one of a dozen largely identical workshops set up for repair and restoration of damaged ‘Mechs – or one of the stores set up to contain the wrecks of machines that were as likely to be stripped for parts as they were to be put back in service. It was an operational hanger and Diana had to park the jeep thirty metres away to be out of the way as a mixed lance of Commando and Wolfhound light ‘Mechs exited it to start a security patrol.

The technical crew who’d evidently been about to move on to their next job came up short as Kai walked in. “Sorry, sir, if you’re looking for Ober-Leutenant Hale, she just left on patrol.”

Kai shook his head. “No, I’m just here to pick up my own ‘Mech.” He looked around and spotted a familiar shape in one of the rear-most ‘Mech bays. “It looks as if someone’s been taking good care of it.”

“Your ‘Mech?” The technician shook his head. “Uh, sorry, there must be some mistake. That Rifleman’s not open for assignment.”

“He knows that, Scott.” An older man walked out of the small office section of the building. “That’s Kai Allard-Liao you’re speaking to.”

“Oh! I’m sorry sir! I didn’t recognise you.”

Kai was beginning to wonder what sort of reputation he was getting outside of the Tenth Lyran Guards. “It’s not a big deal.”

The older man pushed his arms into the sleeves of his coveralls and shrugged it up and onto his shoulders so he could zip it up, revealing a Stabsfeldwebel’s epaulettes. “Don’t mind the kid – he’s got a good hand with myomers even if he forgets to salute officers sometimes when he’s supposed to. Not now,” he added as the younger man raised his hand. “We’re in the workshop, I meant in general.” He shot Kai a ‘what can you do?’ look.

“Anyway, I’m glad to see you found a leg for my ‘Mech. I was half afraid we’d need to truck it onto the dropship tomorrow.”

“Not a bit of it. In fact, since we had the chance, we’ve done some work and you should find it better than ever, sir!”

“How do you mean?”

The Stabsfeldwebel gestured for them to follow him back to the bay. “Well, for one thing there’s all that Ausf S armour available now that the newer ‘Mechs have so we’ve refitted with…” He trailed off as he saw Kai had paused and was examining a poster secured to the framework of the ‘Mechbay. “Oh, look I can explain…”

“‘Take your picture with Legendkiller’,” Kai read out loud. “The famous ‘Mech of Gray Noton, Justin Allard and Kai Allard. 5 to 8 daily, 1 kroner fee’.” He looked up. “Really?”

“Well some people are interested, and if people came in just any time then it was disrupting work.”

“Isn’t this a secure facility?”

“Well there’s a lot of people on a military base – I don’t let them in and it’s not my job to check ID.”

“He is not supposed to do that, is he?” asked Diana, reaching for her sidearm.

Kai caught her wrist. “Easy, Diana. Not the answer here.” He sighed. “Look, Stabsfeldwebel…”

“Schultz, sir.”

“Mmm. I figure I could ask at the gate and get a pretty good idea how many visitors you’ve had for this… tourist attraction, and by extension how much you’ve made off it.”

Schultz grimaced. “Couple of thousand, near as dammit.”

“You made two thousand kroner off letting people take photos of themselves with my ‘Mech? I admire your initiative – did you go to Blackjack?”

“No sir. Those amateurs get caught often enough to get a reputation.”

Kai laughed. “Look, there really are people who want to kill me just because of my parents. You make a thousand kroner donation to the widows and orphans fund and we’ll say no more about your little off-market business, but I’m going to need a full security sweep of my ‘Mech before I take it out of here.”

“Sir, I swear to God I wouldn’t have let anyone meddle with it.”

“It’s not what you’d have let them do, Stabsfeldwebel, it’s what they might have snuck past you. So while we’re checking Legendkiller from top to bottom, you can tell me about the improvements you’ve been making.”

Schultz sighed. “Fair enough, sir. Alright lads.” He whistled to his team. “We’re going to give the ‘Mech a going over with a fine-tooth comb before the Hauptmann leaves.”

As the technicians began moving cherrypickers into position, the Stabsfeldwebel gestured up towards the chest of the ‘Mech. “The first thing we did, sir, was pull the entire engine and fit one of the reactors from one of the Clans’ Mad Dogs that was brought in as salvage. That gives you about a twenty-five percent boost to your maximum speed and you’re still two tons lighter overall.”

“Those are bulkier, aren’t they?”

“Yes, but they come with those wonder heatsinks and we moved the ammunition store and the heatsinks in the torso out to the arms and doubled them up with the spare tonnage. So you’ve two tons of autocannon ammunition and you can’t tell me that extra cooling jackets isn’t going to help you. You Mechjocks live and die by handling temperatures, right?”

 â€œI see. And you were talking about armour?”

“Ah, yes. You’re used to seven and a half tons of Ausf R ferrofibrous armour – well, we replaced the weapons too with the lighter models – dead convenient that salvaged lasers from the Clans are compatible with our own systems still - and now you’ve got another ton of armour, all of it Ausf S grade. You’re still not packing the most armour of any ‘Mech this size but I reckon it’s just about as well protected as a Dragon would be.”

“It sounds to me as if you’ve rebuilt Legendkiller from the engine out.”

“Well… it was here for major repairs, sir. And the basic structure and myomers are all the same – not sure how useful they’ll be with the extra heatsinks…”

“Somehow I think I’ll be able to manage that.” Kai scratched his chin. “Well, I guess you’ve earned what’s left after you make that donation, Schultz. Now let’s just make sure no one spoiled all your hard work.”


Gamora, Twycross
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
11 December 3050

Elias Crichell and Vandervahn Chistu both looked up as Kael Pershaw entered the room.

“Kael, I did not know you were on planet.” The new saKhan rose to his feet and shook the cyborg’s hand unflinchingly. They were old comrades, a point in Chistu’s favour when Crichell had chosen him to replace Timur Malthus.

“I come and go somewhat irregularly.” Pershaw’s face creased in something that might be a smile. “Most recently in checking on Clan Steel Viper.”

“We have just been discussing how they might be deployed most effectively in breaking the deadlock on these worlds.”

“My Khans, Natalie Breen has no intention of doing so.”

Crichell frowned. “What do you mean? That was the entire point of activating the Steel Vipers as the reserve.”

Pershaw reached into the holo-display that currently showed the leading edge of the Jade Falcon’s advance. One silver world amid the green of their prizes marked the Steel Viper’s base of operations on Apolakkia. He expanded the display slightly to show additional worlds in all directions.

“Khan Breen is taking the position that the Steel Vipers are obligated to assist in the conquest of the invasion corridor but that she is neither entitled nor obligated to intervene in ongoing Trials of Possession. As such, she intends to leapfrog the worlds where our touman is currently engaged and strike deeper into the Federated Commonwealth.”

He touched controls. “I suspect collusion with Ulric Kerensky. There has been considerable communications activity with Rasalhague and while some of this may be a matter of coming to terms with ComStar, I doubt it’s coincidental that the Vipers have decided to alter their plans. Not only will they be striking at Graus and Dompaire, but with the exception of units assigned to take those worlds, the majority of their Alpha and Gamma Galaxies will be directed to take Sudeten.”

“Sudeten? Why there particularly?”

“A moderately significant industrial world,” Chistu answered Crichell. “However, no more so than Twycross.”

“It is possible the Steel Vipers intend to develop it as their major headquarters here in the Inner Sphere.” Kael Pershaw folded his arms. “However, while I cannot verify if this is the information that Khan Breen has received from the Wolves, we do know that some of the units we have encountered on Baker 3 and Zoetermeer have been withdrawn and replaced with fresh troops. I queried ComStar and they have confirmed that the units withdrawn from both worlds are now stationed on Sudeten.”

“So Breen expects weaker than normal resistance.”

Pershaw shrugged. “In that the Steel Vipers have no experience of fighting the Inner Sphere, I would not view it in that light. However, they might achieve a certain amount of prestige if they were able to eliminate one warrior in particular.”

Chistu frowned. “The only warrior we’ve encountered of note so far is… Kay Liao?”

“Kai Allard-Liao.” Pershaw nodded in confirmation. “We have confirmed he is part of the Tenth Lyran Guards regimental combat team, which will be refitting on Sudeten for the immediate future. If the Steel Vipers manage to defeat him where we have not it would be… unfortunate.”

“I think too much is made of this warrior. He defeated one freeborn warrior on Maxie’s Planet and is simply one of many warriors who has fought against us on Baker 3.” Chistu shook his head. “Let the Vipers gloat if they can defeat Allard-Liao. We have more to concern ourselves with the hundreds of AFFC warriors directly fighting us.”

Crichell nodded unhappily. “We have called eight additional Clusters forward with the recent agreement to increase the invasion forces of each of the Clans. If the Steel Vipers are going to deny us support on the worlds we are still contesting then I do not see that we can effectively continue the invasion until they arrive.”

His saKhan studied the map. “Even once they arrive, they will likely be needed as other Clans seek to deprive us of our conquests. It seems to me that we should consolidate our control of the worlds we already hold. The Federated Commonwealth have found that this ‘defensive line’ strategy is effective in hampering us so they will likely use it against the Steel Vipers. Let the Vipers pay in blood to learn how to counter it and we can then use this knowledge ourselves once our time comes.”

“That watching is your responsibility, Pershaw.” The Khan of the Jade Falcons sat back in his chair, looking at both his subordinates. “Vahn, you resolve our current conflicts so that we are clear to repel the Home Clans when they launch their campaign here.”

“In the meanwhile I will continue the conversion of the local industries to support our touman and the indoctrination of the population into the way of the Clans. There is a wealth of resources here in the Inner Sphere, sufficient to catapult us into our rightful primacy among the Clans. Neither Khan Breen nor any other Khan will see their touman upon Terra in the next year. With our position consolidated, we shall sweep forwards and bypass them.”

“Seyla,” Pershaw and Chistu breathed in affirmation.

Forbidden City, Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
18 March 3051

Sun-Tzu Liao had been woken by gunfire in the halls of the Forbidden City before. At least this time he wasn’t being evacuated by someone of questionable loyalty.

By the time anyone tried his door, he was behind the heavy wooden desk on one side of his apartment and strapping a ballistic vest on over his dressing gown. He crouched, holding the submachine gun that he’d kept in the same drawer as the vest. “Who is it?”

“Your sister sent us, Prince Sun-Tzu.”

He nodded in understanding and switched the selector switch of his gun to fully automatic. The gun was shockingly loud without ear-protection but he raked short bursts through the door and then through the wall to either side at around torso-height. Neither the wooden door nor the lathe and plaster walls would stop the armour-piercing ammunition he’d obtained. Hopefully, nor would whatever body armour the men outside were wearing.

Without waiting for any response, he headed for the window. If his sister’s agents were alive, the walls would be no more protection for him than they would be for the attackers.

Three paces before he reached the window, a shotgun blew the lock out of the door. In an Immortal Warrior action movie, Sun-Tzu would have simply dived through the glass of the window. However, unlike the interior walls of the palace, the window was made of the same advanced materials used in the canopy of ‘Mech cockpits. If he tried anything so foolish, all he’d do was concuss himself.

Instead he pulled the lever to open the window and then lifted the pane out of the window, having removed the corner pegs that should have prevented this.

The two Death Commandos who entered the room, prepared to execute Chancellor Kali Liao’s treacherous brother, were greeted by an incendiary grenade and Sun-Tzu curled in a ball behind the window pane.

The window pane protected the young Liao from white phosphorus that the grenade scattered across his sitting room. Body armour that had absorbed even armour-piercing small arms fire was much less effective against burning metal.

Without looking back, Sun-Tzu pushed the window pane over and scrambled over the window ledge. Fortunately, the building had a pagoda-style roof so he was able to roll down the angle of the roof without simply tumbling off the edge as there was a slight lip at the bottom.

Panting, Sun-Tzu looked around as he reloaded his gun – only one spare clip, what had he been thinking? – and saw shadowy giants moving through the Palace Complex. BattleMechs and he could not assume that they were friendly.

A rational coup d’état would centre upon the security barracks, the communications centre and the Chancellor’s apartments. Since Kali was involved, the throne room would also be secured even though it would inevitably fall into the hands of whoever came out of the power struggle on top. Where to go, where to go?

Movement in the gallery on the other side of this garden caught his eye and he saw two figures running through it. It was too far to make out who they were but the party that burst into sight pursuing them wore turbans… His mother’s Thuggee cult, almost certainly part of Kali’s faction.

Sun-Tzu aimed the submachine gun carefully and then raked the Thuggees with more short bursts. The recoil was hurting his wrists – probably the awkward angle, he hadn’t had this problem on the shooting range. Shooting from the shadows, his targets probably didn’t even see him before they fell.

The two who were fleeing were also out of sight – shot? Perhaps, or simply taking cover. In any case, if they were Kali’s enemies they might be allies of convenience. And he had just expended his ammunition so he needed a reload or at least a replacement weapon.

The young man rolled off the edge of the roof, catching hold with his hands for a moment to swing down and dangle before letting go and landing in the flowerbed below.

He could also do with some boots in the place of these slippers, he noted as he stood and then ran across the garden, crossing the ornamental pond by deftly using the stones that crossed it as footholds, just as he had as a boy.

Most of the Thuggees were dead and Sun-Tzu lifted the sidearm their leader had been holding to complete the job. One lesson his mother had taught him that served well: don’t leave a living foe behind you. Then again, wasn’t that her mistake with Candace? Well it wasn’t for want of trying.

“Cousin?”

He snatched up a carbine from where it had fallen and turned to see Kuan-Yin peering out of an open door. Like him, she wore a light robe over her nightclothes.

“Sun-Tzu?” A second face popped into view – Victor Steiner-Davion, a small pistol in one hand and wearing MechWarrior shorts and boots. Well, at least they were intended for use in combat.

“Indeed.” Sun-Tzu bowed slightly and lowered the carbine. He noted that the Steiner-Davion did not lower his own weapon. Well, perhaps tonight was teaching him a valuable lesson in caution. “If you plan to shoot me, Prince Davion, please get on with it. Otherwise I will be seeing if one of these men has boots my size.”

“Victor,” hissed Kuan-Yin.

“I don’t recall having an itemised list of who is on whose side here. We know his sister is part of this but…”

“My dear sister doubtless deems me a traitor and an unnatural son of our mother for visiting New Avalon and coming to terms with your father.” Hasty comparison of feet turned up two probabilities and Sun-Tzu pulled the boots off the first candidate. “Besides which, only one of us could sit on the Chancellor’s throne and she never likes leaving loose ends.”

There was a sigh. “Okay, point there. Keep your head down though. Someone fired from across the garden and -”

“Yes, that was me.” He frowned, testing the fit of the boots. “I know the guest quarters are on this side of the palace, but how did you get over here from your own rooms so quickly, cousin?”

There was no reply but Kuan-Yin’s cheeks were flushed when he looked up.

“Ah.” He had to fight down the instinct to turn the carbine back on the Davion. If nothing else, it wasn’t like the man was a polished seducer. Too much the bluff soldier, or at least that was what he wanted to be. “There are ‘Mechs on the grounds – probably from the Death Commandos’ secondary cache. I recognised one of the men in my own rooms.”

“Then we need our own ‘Mechs.”

“I was thinking more of a discreet exit,” Sun-Tzu suggested diplomatically.

“Are you absolutely sure that you know one your sister doesn’t? She must know at least one that Candace didn’t to get her forces into the palace”

“A good point. And with ‘Mechs?”

“The best counter to subtlety is direct action – do you think the Red Lancers can be counted on?”

Kuan-Yin nodded. “It seems likely, they were entirely compliant once House Imarra switched sides to mother. And if they have not, we have both Imarra and the First St Ives Lancers stationed nearby.”

“Then let’s get ourselves inside some ferrofibrous armour.”

“Very well.” Sun-Tzu pointed to the end of the corridor. “There’s a short-cut to the ‘Mech hangers this way. I’m sure Kali knows of it, but whether it’s guarded…”

Victor shoved his pistol into the waistband of his shorts and then picked up a rifle from the floor. “And one for the lady?”

“Yes.” Kuan-Yin was careful not to stand in any of the blood pooling the floor. “The flechette gun there, please.”

As it happened, the route wasn’t guarded – Kali must have some limit on how many men she had been able to bring into the palace – and Sun-Tzu slid a water-colour to one side, finding the control that opened a hidden panel in the wall. It was only waist high but none of them was excessively tall. Behind the panel was a stairwell.

“This opens at the back of a maintenance cabinet,” Sun-Tzu warned as he closed up the panel. “Be careful opening it – it’d be easy to knock over tools and draw attention.”

He followed them down. Hmm. Both ahead of him, moving side by side. It would be easy… but then he’d be alone against Kali and besides, Candace had three other children. No, eliminating them now would be completely unproductive.

At the bottom, Victor opened the hidden door with surprising deftness, reaching past it to secure the tools leaning against what seemed simply to be the back wall of the closet-sized space.

As he stacked them carefully out of the way, Kuan-Yin slipped gracefully past him and listened at the door before opening it a crack. Then she pushed it closed. “Three guards here – none in ‘Mechs. And the hatches for our Victors are still secured.”

“I’m not sure what you’re set up with…”

Sun-Tzu shook his head at Victor’s implied question. “I don’t have the passphrases for any ‘Mechs stored here. Candace was understandably cautious about that. In any case, my MechWarrior training is fairly basic. Whoever my sister has in her ‘Mechs will be Death Commandos, the Confederation’s elite.”

“Great.” Victor took a deep breath. “Okay, one step at a time. There are three of us and three of them. Kuan-Yin, where are the guards once we’re through the door?”

“One at the main entrance from the palace, one covering him on the gantries above and the third is nearest, right at the controls for the ‘Mech doors.” She raised the flechette gun. “I should deal with that one, this doesn’t have much range.”

The two men nodded understanding. “Then the gantry one is mine,” Victor decided. “No offense, Sun-Tzu, but this has most reach.”

“But less punch.” Sun-Tzu tapped the laser carbine he held. “Shooting from below this would be better – you deal with the one at the palace entrance.”

The Davion considered and then shrugged. “You know this place best, we’ll do it your way. You’ll need to go out first though to get any sort of angle.”

“Another argument in my favour since I’m wearing body armour.” He bared his teeth slightly. “You must learn to dress for the occasion, Prince Victor.”

“When we get out of this, you can give me some tips. Okay, on three.” Victor took the door handle.

“On three or after three?”

He glared slightly. “On. One, two…” Victor yanked the door open. “Three.”

Sun-Tzu ran out the door, raising the carbine. Main entrance there, best covering position on the gantry was…

There was the crack-hiss of a flechette gun.

There! Sun-Tzu fired, dropped to a crouch behind a stanchion, aimed and then fired again as Victor’s rifle filled the chamber with the smell of cordite and the rattle of automatic fire. The guard on the gantry was flat against the grille floor after the second shot but Sun-Tzu fired again, aiming for the throat, just in case.

“Dammit!”

He looked around, seeing both the other targets were down.

Victor dropped the rifle. “I think he might have reached the alarm panel.”

Useless. “Well, you were last out of the door.” Sun-Tzu started unstrapping his vest as he went for the steps that would take them up to the cockpits. “Too late to worry about anything now.”

“Wait.” Kuan-Yin joined them, having pulled three cooling vests out of a cabinet next to the one they had entered through. “You’ll need this even in the back-seat.”

“Thank you, cousin.”

Up on the gantry, Sun-Tzu considered which ‘Mech to ride in. Kuan-Yin’s grey-green colour scheme would draw less fire but Davion evidently needed more supervision.

“Come on,” Victor caught his elbow and pulled him towards his ‘Mech.

Well, decision made. “Don’t touch me.” He threw his vest over the edge of the gantry, peeled off the dressing gown and paused at the hatch to push his arms into the cooling vest. The heavy kevlar and plastic was uncomfortable but being broiled alive inside the ‘Mech would be much worse.

Victor entered the hatch first and started the process of activating the ‘Mech while Sun-Tzu climbed in after him and managed to cram himself into the folding seat behind the Prince. The view was terrible, his knees were crammed up and the safety harness was considerably less useful than that Prince Victor was buckling around himself. Still, as the hatch closed and the interior of the cockpit built up a slight over-pressure (making his ears pop), Sun-Tzu realised he was safer than he had been since he was woken less than an hour ago.

Raven’s Peak Caldera, Radstadt
Wolf Occupation Zone
18 March 3051

Raven’s Peak wasn’t quite an active volcano but nor was it entirely asleep. The circular caldera was a suitable size for this Circle of Equals and the surface was mostly solid enough to bear the weight of a ‘Mech – although treacherous in places according to a local Scientist specialising in such matters. It was also very very warm.

With Cynthia Ward still on the Clan Home worlds – although she had been called out of semi-retirement to act as an on-hand commander for the remaining garrisons as more and more warriors were called forwards – the responsibilities for overseeing the Trial of Bloodright fell to Star Colonels John Ward and Lara Ward, depending on which of them could be spared from the fighting. Sometimes the pace of activity was such that neither Delta nor Alpha Galaxy could spare a Star Colonel, leading to long delays between rounds.

It was also the reason that Vlad and his opponent, Star Captain Nygel, would not be facing each other in frontline OmniMechs. The fighting was consuming the resources of the Clan with frightening speed, something Vlad had only become aware of when he took command of the Wolf Hunters. As such, the Khans had pressured the Bloodhouses to draw on alternative sources of equipment for the Trials, even something as sacred as the Trial of Bloodright. The two warriors had been equipped with two of the last Panther BattleMechs constructed at the factory on New Oslo.

The factory would hopefully soon be constructing more capable machines, although the rebuilding and upgrading of their equipment was going slowly. Meanwhile machines such as this, slow and armed with inferior weapons were filtering into regular use among the garrison units as more advanced units were hoarded by the frontline galaxies.

“Both of you have proven yourselves as exceptional warriors of Clan Wolf,” announced John Ward from where his Ice Ferret was perched on the rim of the crater. Directly opposite the Oathmaster’s position, a small group of Spheroids held cameras to record the Trial for posterity and for the enlightenment of the Clan’s new subjects. While the thought had irritated Vlad at first, he accepted the merit in Ulric’s argument: the spheroids would only become part of Clan Wolf by learning their ways and there was no better teacher than example.

“Either you Vlad or you, Nygel, would be a fine addition to the Bloodnamed of House Ward and to our Clan’s Council. But only one of you, the best of you, will win that honour. And only combat can decide who is superior.”

“Seyla,” they both whispered from their cockpits.

“Skill, warriors! Let battle commence!”

The distance between the two Panthers was six hundred metres, just barely over the maximum effective range of the PPCs they both carried. Nygel closed in as rapidly as his ‘Mech’s engine could manage, bringing the range down immediately. Vlad instead moved along the side of the caldera to where his ‘Mech’s legs would be covered by a boulder that had tumbled down from the rim at some point in the past.

When they fired, Nygel’s shot clipped the top of the boulder and scattered shards of rock across Vlad’s armour, which was a negligible counter to the attenuated strength of the particle beam once it reached Vlad, searing armour above the missile launcher in the Panther’s chest.

For his part, Vlad’s shot would have scored directly on Nygel’s missile launcher if the other warrior hadn’t shielded it with his left arm. The shot stripped away all protection on the limb but it was of no real significance – there were no weapons in the arm to be damaged.

He’s good, conceded the leader of the Wolf Hunters. But he substitutes aggression for cunning.

Vlad ducked his Panther to the left, waited for Nygel to adjust his aim and then fired his jump-jets right before the other warrior fired. The PPC’s bolt crashed against the side of the caldera and the SRMs that Nygel had fired – somewhat optimistically – also missed.

Rather than firing back, Vlad continued to move from cover to cover along the edge of the caldera, a course that would take him under John Ward’s position before much longer.

“Have you lost your courage!” challenged Nygel as he turned his ‘Mech towards Vlad’s new position. His PPC spoke again and this time it slashed into the right leg of Vlad’s Panther, tearing away armour from knee down to ankle.

Vlad didn’t reply verbally. He returned fire judiciously and his shot caught the other Panther squarely in the triangle between missile launcher, cockpit and the ‘Mech’s right shoulder. The shot didn’t quite penetrate but it came close and any strike there now could cause crippling damage.

The two ‘Mechs were now well within SRM range – little more than a hundred metres between them. Nygel closed the distance although he was proceeding more slowly now.

Has he remembered caution? No, I think not. Vlad broke from cover suddenly, charging into point-blank range before his opponent could adjust.

Nygel’s PPC lashed out in what could have been a lethally effective shot with the weapon’s he was used to – but Inner Sphere PPCs had focusing issues inside one hundred metres and significantly less powerful. Although the shot caught Vlad’s faceplate, it barely scratched the armour and the worst damage he took was sparks and a secondary monitor failing as the fuse blew.

Vlad fired his jump jets, too close to really clear Nygel’s Panther, and one knee crashed against the overhanging armour above the other ‘Mech’s missile launcher.

The targeted Panther crashed backwards onto the caldera’s floor while Vlad, expecting the collision, was able to land upright, although he had to drop his left arm to brace off.

At a range of less than ten metres he launched his SRMs into Nygel’s Panther.

One missed entirely. Two crashed against the remaining armour and fire wreathed the Panther as the inferno SRMs splashed napalm across the already overheating ‘Mech.

The final SRM hit the breach created by Vlad’s earlier shot and spread the burning gel into the shoulder joint, the coolant system – and all too near to the missile launcher and reactor.

Nygel kicked the legs of the Panther, trying to get a foothold so he could brace to stand. One heel cracked the ground beneath it.

“You might want to refrain from doing that,” Vlad warned darkly. “It seems you’ve found a weak spot in the caldera floor.” He fired his SRMs again, sparing himself the heat build-up of the PPC which would cripple his own ‘Mech as easily as it might Nygel’s.

Crossing the central caldera, where the temperature was highest, firing his PPC constantly without realising that the ancient design of heatsinks would have barely coped with that in a more temperate environment. And now soaked in blazing napalm.

Nygel was a good warrior – but he was not a great warrior. And Vlad was more than merely a warrior. He was a leader. Now all he needed was the acclamation of his rights to Conal Ward’s bloodname.

He received it as Nygel ejected, the canopy exploding outwards and the ejection seat arcing out across the caldera.

Vlad was tempted to raise his PPC and fire a snapshot to remove Nygel before the other warrior could become a problem. But he refrained. It would, perhaps, be problematic to have that deed be Clan Wolf’s image towards their new subjects.

Besides, if Nygel kept being so reckless, the AFFC would undoubtedly take care of him for Vlad.


Forbidden City, Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
18 March 3051

Kuan-Yin had her ‘Mech moving a few seconds before her fiancé did – although he did have to get Sun-Tzu settled, which might explain it.

A warning light lit up and she glanced down, seeing two men entering through the palace entrance. Both carried what were evidently SRM launchers. So the alarm had been sounded – either that or someone was alerted by the slow opening of the doors that would allow their ‘Mechs out into the palace grounds.

For a moment, Kuan-Yin wished she was in an older model of the Victor, the one with the anti-infantry machine guns. Still, if wishes were being granted she would have had others to take priority. The massive autocannon in her arm roared – that would alert anyone in the area but there was no more time – and the two men and their weapons simply disappeared under the brutal hammering of a weapon that would have eradicated even a Clan elemental.

Victor’s red-white-and-blue Victor moved past her and out the door of the hanger. “You’d better talk to the Lancers,” he advised over the channel still set up from their last training session. “I’ll cover our position from here.”

 â€œThat seems prudent,” she agreed and switched to the local military net. House Imarra would likely be aware already of the problem since their infantry had been supposedly securing the palace. “Colonel Elias, this is Kuan-Yin Liao. Do you read me?”

“Your Excellency, I do. What is the situation at the palace?”

This could be ticklish. “Colonel, my mother is out of communications, possibly dead. In my brother’s absence I hold the regency for St Ives, and thus for the Confederation as a whole. Rebel infantry and BattleMechs are inside the palace perimeter. We require the Red Heart Guards to subdue the rebels before they make further progress.”

“My regiment are mobilizing now,” he responded. “May I ask who is responsible for this rebellion?”

“According to my cousin, Sun-Tzu, his sister Kali has been implicated. It appears she has inherited her mother’s ties to certain religious sects and to surviving elements of the Death Commando battalion.”

“Thank you, your… Celestial Ladyship.”

Kuan-Yin felt the tension in her shoulders relax, if only slightly. Being formally addressed by one of titles associated with the Chancellorship strongly suggested that Colonel Elias would be bringing the Red Lancers regiment, sometimes known as the Red Heart Guards for their role in defending the Chancellor, in on her side of this developing crisis.

“Will the St Ives Lancers be moving as well?”

“Yes, Colonel. To avoid confusion, I am ordering them to secure the city and the drop port. The palace itself is your objective.”

“Thank you. Our first BattleMechs are on their way now.”

“Carry on.” She checked her surroundings again and then used the hand of her Victor to push a stack of spare armour plating across to block most of the door. Alright, the St Ives Lancers channel should be this one…

On her third attempt to reach the command post she managed to make contact with Major Bothel of the First Battalion. “Colonel Seng’s quarters burned down this evening,” he reported grimly. “No doubt part of the plot. Don’t worry, your Excellency. We’re on our way to the palace now.”

“That is appreciated, however the Red Lancers are already on their way. I need the St Ives Lancers to secure the drop port and the rest of the city. It’s likely that -”

“With all respect, your Excellency, it isn’t clear that your mother is dead. Her safety, and yours, is our first priority.”

“Our first priority is ensuring that the government of the Confederation doesn’t fall into the hands of Kali Liao,” she snapped. “If mother is alive she can reprimand me later. If she is not then Kai is the heir and I am simply a spare.”

Bothel sighed. “Ma’am, the Red Lancers worked for Romano until just a few months ago.”

“They also know the palace best. Major, we need to keep this matter from escalating. Kali will be moving to take control of other government buildings and she won’t be limited by what she can smuggle through palace security. The St Ives Lancer’s responsibility is to make sure her forces inside the Forbidden City don’t deprive us of the instruments of government.”

“This isn’t a matter of St Ives against Sian any more, it is a matter of Capellans working together. Now, can I count on you for this?”

There was a hesitant silence and Kuan-Yin tried to recall the names of the other battalion commanders in the St Ives Lancers.

“Very well, Chancellor. Please remember that if we’re spread out to secure the government buildings, we could be engaged piecemeal by… rogue elements.”

“Since my fiancé and I have the only confirmed loyal ‘Mechs in the palace at this time, I think you may presume that I am sensitive to the possibility of betrayal, Major Bothel. We shall all have to play our part. Out.”

Speaking of other ‘Mechs… Kuan-Yin eyed the two Vindicators and the Warhammer currently occupying bays inside the hanger. It really would be unfortunate if someone was to turn them against she and Victor. She placed her crosshairs across the knee of one Vindicator and triggered both lasers. The beams pulverised the protection on the limb but she had to shoot again before she was sure it was severed, crippling the medium ‘Mech.

Deliberately, Kuan-Yin did the same to the other Vindicator and then turned her lasers on the Warhammer in the same way. “Victor, the Red Lancers are moving to join us and the St Ives Lancers are going to secure the other government buildings.”

“I suppose that’s politically sound, although I’d have preferred the other way around.” She heard his autocannon firing.

Somewhat more faintly, she heard Sun-Tzu comment: “Be glad that there are two loyal regiments on hand.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong,” Victor admitted. “Now… sonofabitch, this guy’s good.”

“I’m on my way.”

Kuan-Yin spared a kick for the Warhammer, finishing the job of breaking its leg, and then brought her Victor out onto the palace grounds.

Victor’s ‘Mech was soot-stained and parts of the armour had been fractured but it stood over a broken Phoenix Hawk and she could see a Raven, the core of the chest torn open by lasers and autocannon fire, fallen into one of the small ornamental lakes.

The current problem though was a Hermes II that was darting back and forth, sniping at Victor with its chest mounted autocannon. The much smaller ‘Mech relatively little threat to the towering assault ‘Mech but it was an irritant and diversion from the more serious threat posed by a pair of Ostsol heavy ‘Mechs tramping towards them with careless disregard for the carefully tended trees and shrubbery of the garden.

Kuan-Yin moved up to shield Victor’s flank. “Ignore him for now,” she advised. “He can’t get around behind us now I’m here.” Then she triggered everything she had at the leftmost Ostsol.

The lasers bit into the thick armour off the ‘Mech’s egg-like torso but didn’t penetrate. Her autocannon chewed one arm apart entirely and while one of her missile launchers didn’t lock, thus sparing her some of the heat build-up from her alpha strike, the other marked the Ostsol with four SRMs. The machine kept standing though – Ostsols were notoriously tough – and returned fire, concentrating its lasers on Victor.

She grimaced – that decision might be because Victor’s ‘Mech was nearest, or already damaged, or in the colours of a Davion Guards regiment… but it might also be orders to capture her alive. Which, judging by what she knew of Kali Liao, would mean a death full of torment.

“Be careful, Victor, you seem to be their main target.”

“Well, it’s a knight’s job to protect his lady.”

Kuan-Yin flushed but she kept her voice light as she fired again at the Ostsol, this time withholding one laser to let her ‘Mech cool. “Oh, have you been knighted since we last met?”

“It’s just a minor detail.” Victor targeted the same Ostsol and between them they were finally breaching the thick armour. It wasn’t stopping the Ostsol though and it was even moving to screen its comrade from any fire they threw at it, deliberately soaking up the hits to let the other Ostsol close in.

The Hermes II was moving around and if it got much further, Kuan-Yin wasn’t going to be effectively screening Victor’s rear armour any more. “I think we’d better go back-to-back. We’re surrounded.”

Victor angled his ‘Mech obediently. “Uncle Morgan told me once that all that meant was having a really wide target selection.”

“Well, he would know.” This was the same ‘Uncle Morgan’ who had stormed this very palace in 3029, rescuing two Davion spies – Kuan-Yin’s father and a man called Alex Mallory – and unexpectedly also allowing Candace Liao to escape to St Ives with Justin, leading indirectly to their current predicament.

Since backed against Victor she couldn’t see the Ostsols, Kuan-Yin instead aimed her lasers at the Hermes II. Both missed as the ‘Mech smoothly ducked. “Oh, I see what you mean.”

This MechWarrior was willing to fire at her although the medium autocannon would have a hard job penetrating the Victor’s armour.

“He must be one of the Death Commandos.”

“Could be.” All the enemy ‘Mechs had a mix of black and green camouflage, which wasn’t all that effective in palace grounds but also didn’t betray any particular affiliation. She fired again and missed with one shot although a second slashed away one of the ‘wings’ on the head of the Hermes II, wrecking the sensor and communications systems that it contained.

Behind her, the first Ostsol finally fell. The second had worked its way close enough to open fire with its medium lasers as well as the two large ones. That would push its heat dangerously but in the short term it could do a lot of damage. “Switch?”

“Okay.”

They both hit their jump jets in a move they’d practised in the simulators – each spinning up and to the right, landing where the other had been standing. Besides looking pretty, as Quintus had derisively described the move, Kuan-Yin and Victor had sufficiently different ‘Mech handling styles to confuse an opponent – and of course, it let them shift a more damaged ‘Mech like Victor’s in this case, out of the heaviest fire.

Landing almost exactly where Victor had taken off from – exhaust from their jump-jets mingled between them – Kuan-Yin stabbed her autocannon out at the Ostsol and fired cluster rounds at it, following up with SRMs. None of the shots did very much damage but they all did some and it was also distracting.

The targeting computer picked out that the damage was slightly heavier on the right side of the Ostsol so she shifted her shots slight to that flank before firing her lasers. It was pleasantly effective and armour shattered under the shots - it really was like cracking open an egg, she thought wryly.

“Got him!” Victor hadn’t dropped the Hermes II – she could still see it was upright, but he had managed to land some more shots at least and the lasers on a Victor were far more damaging than the autocannon that the other MechWarrior was working with.

Finally overcoming whatever reluctance it had to firing on her ‘Mech, the Ostsol dragged Kuan-Yin’s attention back to him with all four of its forward lasers. The salvo left it relatively sluggish but in general it was more agile than her Victor anyway.

She opened up with high-explosive rounds in her autocannon and the shells ripped open the already damaged right flank of the Ostsol, depriving it of half its lasers. The ‘Mech fell but it clearly wasn’t a kill – it was still trying to right itself.

Checking for more targets before she advanced to finish it off, Kuan-Yin saw an indicator coming in from above.

“Fighters!” she shouted, backing up –

- and then lasers lanced down and stabbed the left side of the Ostsol. If that hadn’t finished it off, the barrage of autocannon fire that eviscerated the centre chest certainly managed to.

Two Transit aerospace fighters in the colours of the Red Lancers swept across the sky, the powerful ground-attack fighters breaking formation to sweep outwards and look for more targets.

“Oh no you don’t!”

She looked around and saw the Hermes II had broken into a run for the edge of the palace, clearly recognising that this cause was lost. Victor’s shots tore into its rear and Kuan-Yin added her own to the barrage.

The explosion of the ‘Mech’s ammunition bins punctuated the moment, as Red Lancer ‘Mechs started to spread out through the palace grounds.


Wolf Hunters Headquarters, Radstadt
Wolf Occupation Zone
21 March 3051

“Star Colonel Ward.”

There was a childish part of Vlad that he suspected would never be tired of hearing himself be called that – well, the last part anyway. He certainly would have no complaint if… no, when… the time came to be addressed as Galaxy Commander or Khan.

“Star Captain Ranna,” he greeted her. “I do not recall any scheduled business this morning.”

“There has been a shipment, sir. One that requires your personal attention.”

Vlad eyed her ill-concealed smile and then closed down the files he was working on. Honestly, there was relatively little for him to do at the moment – the Wolf Hunters were in reserve while elements of Alpha and Gamma Galaxies fought on Kandis and every material need that was likely to be actually provided had arrived while he was fighting his Trial of Bloodright.

That only left only training and preparation to be done so his work had been nothing more earth-shaking than the latest Watch reports on the strength of the Federated Commonwealth’s touman. He suspected, reading between the lines, that the interrogators were still wringing more details out of Marshal Richard Steiner.

“Alright, Ranna, where is this shipment?”

She led him down to the ‘Mech hangers where a disproportionate number of the Cluster appeared to have gathered, including more than half the Elementals who would usually have little or no business in this part of the base.

Was the shipment going to be the target of some informal Trial of Possession between his subordinates? Vlad’s pace quickened. The last thing he needed was to spoil his ascent by having to report a melee between his warriors had reduced the Wolf Hunter’s readiness…

Then he saw what had arrived and came to an abrupt halt, eyes widening.

Ranna turned as she realised he’d stopped. She wasn’t even trying to hide a proud smile. “Star Colonel Vladimir Ward, I have been instructed to inform you that this BattleMech is assigned specifically to you with the compliments of Khan Ulric Kerensky and saKhan Charles Dinour.”

There was only one type of BattleMech that merited that sort of formal assignment.

The Great Father, Aleksandr Kerensky, the last commanding general of the SLDF and the father of the Founder of the Clans, had through his long career chosen to pilot an Orion BattleMech. Early in their history, Clan Wolf had developed an upgraded model of the Orion, one scrupulously kept abreast of all technological developments and defended from all attempts by the other Clans at any cost necessary.

The Orion was no longer just a BattleMech, it was a symbol of Clan Wolf’s special ties to the Founder. Not even Clan Coyote, who could boast the right to use genetic material from the Founder’s brother Andery, were permitted access to an Orion BattleMech. Only a tiny number existed and they were only ever assigned to warriors who had been deemed worthy of promotion to serve in a firstline unit.

Given to the commander of a unit, particularly one that had been derided for its personnel and second-hand equipment…

“Was there any other message?” Vlad asked in an almost reverent voice.

Ranna nodded. “The Wolf Hunters cluster is hereby assigned to Beta Galaxy, under the command of Galaxy Commander Erik Kerensky…”

“There is more, quiaff?”

“Aff.” Her voice almost trembled. “We are advised that Beta Galaxy will be returning to Skokie, to complete what Khan Radick began: the conquest of that world and the defeat of the Black Widow.”

The hanger exploded in cheers. Vlad himself clenched his fists in anticipation although he also cautioned himself a moment later. With Charles Dinour at their head, Delta Galaxy was no longer the centre of Crusader sentiment within Clan Wolf – or perhaps given Ulric’s earlier words to him about the end of that particular issue, the centre of opposition to Ulric’s rather liberal policies towards the Inner Sphere.

Beta Galaxy, rebuilt after earlier losses and under the command of a sibko-rival to Ulric was the other stronghold of loyal opposition to the Khan… and a bloody campaign on Skokie could thin their ranks before that became a problem. Once again, Ulric was bargaining sharply to make maximum use of every development.

“That is good news,” he declared loudly once the initial wave of excitement had died down. “However, it does not defer this afternoon’s drills. Star Captain Carew, are your pilots ready?”

“Ready and hungry, Vlad.” Carew caught the irritated look and added: “Ward,” slightly belatedly.

“Good. We’ll be running air defence drills and I want two of your stars to course us as we cross the mountains and then loop back to launch a simulated attack on this base. The third star will be handling our air defence and I want this to be an endurance event – each fighter killed in simulation from each side will return and refuel here – and then re-join the battle. Any BattleMech or Elemental logged as destroyed on the march will rally here and then reactivate to serve as the defence force.”

“So the more of you we kill, the better the defence at the end of the day. I like it. We’re going to burn a lot of fuel though.”

“Hydrogen is one thing we do not need to ship from the Home Worlds, Carew.”

“True. When do you want to begin?”

“Just about the same moment I have my data loaded onto my new ‘Mech,” Vlad informed him and beckoned to the chief technician.

Carew whistled for attention and then gestured to those of his Trinary that were in the hanger. “Flight suits on and head for the ready room. We have an unexpectedly heavy day ahead of us.”


Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
22 March 3051

“When I drew up that treaty with Sun-Tzu, I didn’t expect we’d be activating it in less than a year.” Hanse drained the contents of the crystal tumbler in his hand and then looked back out the window to where an official limousine was carrying Justin Allard away from the Castle – and temporarily away from his duties as Minister of Intelligence – so he could tend to his grieving family.

Melissa was merely sipping from her own tumbler, although the contents were from the same bottle of Valencian Bourbon that Hanse’s did. “Mother told me when I was a child how dangerous politics could get. I don’t think I understood that until Patrick Kell died for me.”

“I had the luxury of ignoring it until Ian died.” Hanse walked away from the window and refilled his glass. “I was lucky. At least Victor and Kuan-Yin are a little older than you were.”

“And they have each other.” She saw her husband’s eyebrow twitch. “Not that you did a bad job supporting me, dear, but you were on Northwind – it was at least a week before you could offer me a shoulder to cry on.”

“I’m very sorry I didn’t warp the laws of time and space to be there for you immediately.”

“I know you would have if you could – and that does matter, Hanse. There wasn’t really anyone there for you, was there?”

The First Prince looked at her steadily in answer before putting his glass down untouched. It was sufficient reply. “We may have dodged a bullet with Sun-Tzu too. That young man is very sharp.”

“That’s my own impression too. I’m not sure we’re out of the woods there though – it was very wise of Kuan-Yin to insist he accompany her to St Ives to assist in integrating the two governments. Leaving him on Sian would have been a recipe for trouble – with his sister dead, he’s now the sole heir to Romano’s political legacy if he wants it.”

“You could be right there. But that same potential could make him immensely valuable to the Federated Commonwealth. We both know that Victor’s more soldier than he is statesman, at least at this point. He’s proven he can handle himself in a crisis but he’s only going to benefit by having a strong political ally at his left hand. I know we’ve been looking at Kathy to support him and Kuan-Yin is evidently good for him, but…”

“But they’re both women?”

“I’m not a misogynist, dear.”

“No, but there are some things that men find it easier to handle with other men than they do with women. And vice versa, of course.”

Hanse rolled his eyes. “Is Kathy bringing her schoolwork home with her again? Last time we had a chat, she was practically trying to diagnose my mental state.”

“I’m glad she’s found a course she likes, and serving in the medical corps is a good compromise between the need for her to serve in the AFFC and not wishing to serve in one of the combat arms.”

“Yes, but psychiatry?”

His wife was evidently laughing at him. “You just don’t like the idea of her earnestly asking young soldiers about their feelings.”

“I know it would have done a lot for my morale when I was that age.” Hanse went back to his glass. “You’re set on going to St Ives as well?”

“Yes. I can’t leave immediately or I’d arrange to travel with Justin, but I think we owe it to their family that one of us should be at the funeral. And since I need to go back to Tharkad to deal with the Estates General it only makes sense for me to be the one travelling.”

“It feels odd for you to be the one heading towards a warzone.”

“Oh Hanse.” She hugged him. “You know the Clans aren’t within a hundred light years of Tharkad. There’s as little risk to me as there would have been from the Combine or the League. And someone has to sell the Estates General on disbanding in favour of this new… are we calling it a Senate now?”

Hanse nodded. “It’s got some good historical precedents to it and lets the members call themselves Senators, which should be bolstering for their egos.”

“I haven’t generally found that the Estates General need their egos pandered to.”

“No, but they can still be led by it. Democracy, it’s a great idea in theory…”

“You, my dear, are a cynic.”

“I’m also a historian.”

“Are you planning on abdicating in Victor’s favour and teaching? Because otherwise politics take precedence and we really need the public behind us. The Clans may have been slowed but the war has been going on for more than a year and for all we’ve slowed them, they haven’t been stopped.”

Hanse sighed. “I thought we might have a reprieve but I have to agree. Ardan’s informed me that we may be able to hold onto Tamar and a connecting salient, but that it’s only a matter of time until otherwise we’re forced back to Defence Line Delta.” He clenched the fist not wrapped around his glass. “I can practically feel their supply lines stretching but it’s not time to counterattack yet.”

“You’re sure? It would really help if we could show the Estates General a cheap victory or two.” She met his eyes. “And I do mean cheap – you know I don’t intend to risk a bloodbath just to score a point, but if we could take even one world back it could make a significant difference.”

Her husband hesitated. “I’m not going to lie. We could take a world back, at least temporarily. I don’t think it’s the right move but we do have the reserve regiments in Donegal March. They don’t have many upgraded ‘Mechs yet, but tanks and aerospace are easier. It would be possible to put a task force on somewhere like Blackjack – reasonably important world politically but our intel suggests the Jade Falcons haven’t garrisoned it all that heavily.”

“The trouble is, they would be able to move troops back to retake it. Worse, we’d be poking them in the nose with the fact we have significant troops in the Donegal March. That might provoke them to shift their axis of advance towards Tharkad and around our current defensive line – which we’ve got the troops for but perhaps not the supply lines. I doubt they’d make it a major push, but even a couple of clusters running serious raids would have a dozen worlds demanding support – and we don’t have the sort of defensive preparations in the Donegal March that we do in Tamar.”

Melissa sighed. “I suppose you’re right. But when the time comes?”

“When the time comes, I want to smash them once and for all. We’ll want to teach the Clans a lesson they can’t possibly forget about the consequences of striking at the Federated Commonwealth. If possible, I want to cripple their military potential to the point their rivals in the Clan home worlds tear them to pieces.”

“Good.” The resolve on Melissa’s face would have startled many foreign analysts who considered her less militant than her husband. “I just hope that happens before we have to start fortifying the Draconis March.”

“The Draconis March has been fortified for generations. Preparing them for the Clans was relatively easy – the hard part was convincing the Sandovals that we shouldn’t launch our own invasion of the Combine while they were distracted.”

“And have they accepted that?” she asked.

“The argument that ‘whoever loses on Luthien, we win’ carried a certain amount of weight.”

“It’s only a matter of time – the Smoke Jaguars landed on Cyrenaica last week and it won’t hold out much longer. That puts them only one jump away from Luthien.”

“Within a month then?”

“If the Jaguars have received the same level of reinforcements as the other Clans and assuming they’re not planning on bypassing Luthien for some reason – it would be odd but they are odd at times – then yes.”

“And will it fall?”

“That, my dear, is the million kroner question. The DCMS will fight like devils to defend it – and Theodore’s moved some significant regiments there. I think it’ll be the largest battle so far in the entire invasion.”

“I hear a ‘but’.”

“Put Theodore in charge and I’d give them slightly better than average odds of repelling the Clans. I strongly suspect we’ve underestimated him all along. But at the same time, I can’t see Takashi not insisting on taking the lead. And our last report on Theodore don’t even have him on Luthien yet – he’s visited Dieron, Benjamin and Galedon V to get the Warlords in line but after leaving Galedon…”

“We don’t know where he is?”

“I don’t think a war with the Combine back in the thirties would have gone as well as most of us assumed. And given his last back-channel message, I’m very glad he’s alive right now. He has a flexibility that Takashi has. If anyone can save the Combine then he can.”

“And if he can’t?”

Hanse shrugged. “Then James Sandoval will be racing the Clans to devour what’s left.”

Can you post the Loyalty's design?

Warlord’s Palace, Enzo
Pesht, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone
30 April 3051

The archaic timbers and wooden floors of the great hall were a sharp contrast to the last few Grand Council meetings, much less to the stark marble of the Council Hall on Strana Mechty.

To celebrate the recent string of victories – not least the fall of this world to the Smoke Jaguars but also of Alshain to the Ghost Bears and what appeared to be the end of the deadlock against the Federated Commonwealth, the ilKhan had decreed two days of festivities before the formal meeting of the Clans.

With the warriors of seven Clans – for the leading elements of both Clan Nova Cat and Clan Diamond Shark had reached the Inner Sphere – gathered in one place, it was certainly an unrivalled venue for the Invaders to let off steam, exchange boasts and no doubt indulge in unofficial couplings and trials of grievance.

So long as the latter didn’t reach the point of undermining their readiness to fight against the Inner Sphere, Ulric didn’t really mind it. In fact, he rather expected his escort to give better than they received.

“I’m sure this place has seen no end of back-door dealings over the centuries,” he told Charles Dinour as they sat opposite each other in one of the side-chambers, waiting for their fellow guest to arrive. “But deliberately setting aside time for it seems almost decadent of the ilKhan.”

“It is not as if we have not been indulging in that ourselves. What else are we here for?”

“Aff. But all the groundwork has been laid already. Showers would usually have everything already lined up for his gambit – this is unusual.”

There was a discreet knock and one of the on duty warriors ushered Lynn McKenna into chamber. At least the Smoke Jaguars were taking no chances with the security of the site – all the existing staff had been replaced with unarmoured infantry from a garrison cluster.

“Khan McKenna.” Ulric rose and greeted the slim, white-haired Khan warmly.

She smiled, with a shrewd glint in her eyes. “Ulric, I see that your vigorous campaign has not exhausted you any more than the demanded revels have.”

“We Wolves breed for stamina, among other things.”

She laughed. “And you are Charles Dinour. Interesting that you have risen so far despite your Goliath Scorpion blood.”

“After so many surprises here in the Inner Sphere, the Clan Council favoured a new perspective,” he replied. “You have spent much time with the Jade Falcons, perhaps you have seen the same with their new saKhan?”

“Vandervahn Chistu does not innovate in any fashion I care for.” McKenna took a seat. “You have a bargain in mind, Ulric. But what do you think you can offer us when Elias Crichell has already offered us access to much of his Clan’s wealth in return for our shipping supporting their supply-lines.”

“And without that assistance, I suspect they would be faring less well,” Ulric agreed calmly. “Given our commitments here in the Inner Sphere and the end of the implicit ban on Trials of Possession involving invading Clans, our Clan Council are open to discussing the consolidation of our holdings in the Home Worlds to more defensible enclaves.”

“I can understand why you might feel, with dozens of rich worlds here, that some of your enclaves are less valuable, but why would the Snow Ravens want your leavings?”

“My specific consideration is to the portion of Circe we hold.”

McKenna blinked – as well she might. The five Pentagon worlds – Arcadia, Babylon, Circe, Dagda and Eden – were somewhat inhospitable but they were also the original worlds settled by the SLDF after their Exodus and as such they had a disproportionately large share of the Clans’ industry and population. Clan Wolf’s enclaves there were formidable and neighboured some of the oldest of the Snow Ravens’. “You would expect much in return for such a prize, Ulric.”

“I will take the liberty of reminding you of the investment that you and two of the previous Ghost Bear Khans made into certain warship hulls – before it became clear that the Inner Sphere had no fleets worthy of such investment. As I understand it, the vessels remain incomplete and the resources spent on them are effectively wasted.”

“Your point, Ulric?”

“I am ordering a substantial shipment from our home enclaves – including thousands of our civilian castes to help administer our new holdings here in the Inner Sphere. And yes, some will come from Circe – although hardly a drop in the well compared to the millions who will remain there. However, such a large convoy will stretch our shipping – and our ability to defend it from Clans who might consider those personnel and the material goods to be an asset to enclaves in the Home Worlds or in other occupation zones.” He spread his hands. “I could devote a large portion of our naval forces to escort them, but I could also acquire four very large vessels that can be adapted to carry some of those goods and contract the defence to the finest aerospace warriors among the Clans.”

“Your flattery is as golden as your Keshik, but remember, those four ships are also in part the property of Clan Ghost Bear.”

“The Ghost Bears are the clan that legitimised Trials of Possession against – and therefore by – the invading Clans.” Dinour grinned toothily. “They have very little grounds for protest and since there will be some excess capacity if we add these ships to our intended convoy, we are prepared to offer them the use of it for their own supplies to soften the blow – if we have to.”

McKenna nodded. “You should not underestimate how deep the investment we have both made in these vessels.”

“Some return on that is better than no return – certainly you or the Ghost Bears could complete the ships as transports now that we have proposed the idea... but that will take more of your resources and then demand crews that I doubt either of you can spare.”

“You make a convincing argument. Do not hold me accountable, however, if the Ghost Bears wish to deal more frugally with you.”

“I have bargained with Bjorn Jorgenssen before. I am confident that he will bargain more shrewdly now that he has more experience as a Khan.”

She chuckled. “Yes, and no doubt you have something in mind to sweeten the taste of this for him. Very well. In principle I am amenable to bargaining for a Trial of Possession for your holdings on Circe and separately a Trial of Possession for you to take over our claims on the four vessels in question – so long as you undertake to complete them in your own shipyards and at your own expense. Three bouts between Stars in each case, with the winner of the most bouts being deemed victorious?”

“On the tenth day of May perhaps?” Ulric suggested. “I am sure you can send a trinary across Circe on short notice but we will need to ship a suitable force to your shipyards at Lum.”

“Not to mention evacuating your best personnel and equipment from Circe. The tenth for Lum, but the fifth on Circe.”

Ulric met her gaze for a moment. “That is acceptable.” He offered his hand. “Bargained well and done.”

“Aff.” Mckenna took his hand. “I take it that your removal of key assets from Circe is already well underway, that being the case.”

“Some, but not all. Your Clan will be enriched, I promise you.”

The slightly younger Khan shook her head and looked around. “We lay claim to part of a world, Khan Ulric, but you are carving out an entire empire for your Clan.”

Charles Dinour scowled. “And now we must fight to retain it.”


Warlord’s Palace, Enzo
Pesht, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone
1 May 3051

Anastasius Focht paused at the entrance to Ulric’s suite of rooms in the palace, seeing that the Khan already had a guest. “Khan Carns.”

“Please enter.” The dark-skinned junior Khan of the Nova Cats remained seated. “Our Loremaster may have been precipitous in his greeting to you, but if you are destined to be our nemesis then I can at least offer you the respect due a fellow warrior.”

“If it’s... it is all the same to you, I hope that I am not the subject of these visions.”

Carns smiled. “Our ways disturb you?”

“I wasted much of my youth chasing dreams that led me nowhere.”

Ulric gestured for the Precentor-Martial to take another of the chairs. “If you would like refreshments, you can call for them,” he advised. “I have one small matter further to discuss with Khan Carns before we are both ready for the conversation we want to have with you.”

“Should I leave the room?”

“It is not confidential.” Ulric turned to Lucien. “Marshal Richard is of some value to us. I feel that asking you stake the genetic legacy of your gene-sire for paternal use is a reasonable stake for you to offer as forfeit if your champions fail the trial.”

“Would that be Marshal Richard Steiner?”

Both Khans turned their heads to look at Focht. “Aff. The officer captured on Tamar by the Wolf Hunter Cluster.”

Focht nodded. “Ah. I was merely curious, as he was once an initiate of my Order. His vocation lay elsewhere, however.”

The Nova Cat leant forwards. “Interesting. I was unaware of that.”

“It is interesting that you claim that reason for being curious, Precentor Martial.” Ulric’s eyes were mischievous. “After all, according to the blood sample we took from you in case of medical emergency, you and Marshal Steiner are directly related through the maternal line.”

It took considerable self-control for Anastasius Focht to refrain from cursing. “My entry into ComStar was much like being taken as a bondsman and then adopted into a Clan. My past before that had no value and I rarely think of it.”

Carns eyed Focht for a moment and then nodded. “Bargained well, Ulric Kerensky. I agree to your proposed terms. I will send my forces to Rasalhague to contend for the prize of Marshal Richard of the Steiners.”

“Done.” The Wolf Khan leant back in his chair, seemingly amused at having ruffled Focht’s feathers with his earlier revelation. “On to the matter I invited you here for, Precentor Martial. I believe you have had some meetings recently with ilKhan Showers and Khan Osis of Clan Smoke Jaguar?”

“That is correct.”

Carns frowned. “And Khan Ian Hawker of the Diamond Sharks was also present.”

Focht nodded slowly.

“Damn them.” Carns hammered one hand down on the arm of his chair. “They know we have precedence here.”

“They also know that there is bad blood between the Jaguars and your Clan.” Ulric steepled his fingers. “The topic of your conversations with the Khans was Luthien, was it not?”

“Yes. Given their recent conquests it is no surprise that Khan Osis intends to seize the Black Pearl of the Draconis Combine. The defences are formidable, however.”

“We have faced formidable defences before.” Ulric paused. “Which have given us some difficulty, I concede. The DCMS lack the technological parity that the AFFC can sometimes bring to bear.”

“They do have considerable numbers and with the Luthien Armor Works located on the capital, logistics is not a problem.” Focht didn’t need to consult any other sources, the information was still fresh in his mind. “Luthien is always guarded by two Sword of Light Regiments and the Otomo. In addition, six District Regular regiments have been assembled in the defence of the capital and Luthien is also the fall back location of many regiments which have been fighting the Smoke Jaguars over the last year – the Yurei regiments are consolidating their forces into two full-strength brigades and a third brigade from the Ryuken regiments is assembling.”

“I don’t recall any world in my lifetime that has needed such a formidable defensive army but Khan Osis is facing the prospect of having to defeat at least eighteen regular BattleMech regiments along conventional support and probably a considerable number of militia units assembled from the nobility of the Combine – there are hundreds of ‘MechWarrior families on Luthien who may be called on as a last resort. And it is entirely possible that the Kanrei has additional forces on the way.”

“I see why you consider this force formidable,” admitted Lucien Carns. “And why Khan Osis would want reinforcements.”

“Reinforcements yes, a rival in his invasion corridor is another matter, quiaff?”

“Aff. Ian Hawker is very much influenced by Khan Crichell. I had envisaged that we would be activated to support Clan Smoke Jaguar and the Diamond Sharks to fight alongside the Jade Falcons.”

“Hawker is Crichell’s creature but their Clans are commercial rivals. Besides, Vandervahn Chistu already has to share their invasion corridor with the Steel Vipers. He would be opposed to a third Clan joining them.”

“And do you anticipate needing a reserve Clan?”

“If I thought we did, I would be honoured to fight alongside Clan Nova Cat. However, we have our Invasion Corridor well in hand. If you were activated to join us, the only opportunity for you would be to crash headlong into the AFFC’s best defences and much as it might please Khan Osis, I do not feel that is in the best interests of the Clans.”

“And the Ghost Bears, of course, are the closest to Terra. They certainly will claim no need for us except to bolster their garrisons – at best!” Carns scowled. “I will not stand for this, Ulric. The Nova Cats will not be slighted in this fashion.”

Ulric nodded. “I agree, Khan Carns. Clan Nova Cat has the right to be activated prior to Clan Diamond Shark for the invasion. On any vote to alter that, my vote and Khan Dinour’s will be in support of you. If the Smoke Jaguars are so determined to buy the Diamond Sharks aid instead though, why not consider what price they – and the ilKhan – may be willing to offer you for your consent?”

The Nova Cat’s eyes narrowed and then he swung sharply to Focht. “Tell me, what do the Smoke Jaguars offer the Sharks for their support on Luthien?”

Focht considered. None of the other Khans had asked for his silence on the matter and thinking back… perhaps that was intentional on Leo Showers’ part. He was an adept politician and if he thought that Khan Ulric would use the information to obtain the Nova Cat’s agreement for him…

“Firstly, what I understand to be very generous commercial access to Smoke Jaguar worlds within their invasion corridor. Secondly, temporary staging areas within Smoke Jaguar territory for the attack on Luthien. Thirdly, a division of the Invasion Corridor onwards from Luthien…” he began to detail crisply.


Warlord’s Palace, Enzo
Pesht, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone
2 May 3051

“This will be a most glorious battle,” Lincoln Osis completed his detailing of Luthien’s defences. “The finest warriors in the most warlike of the Successor States are gathered to face us and it is entirely probable that we will also encounter a hostile warship for the first time in the invasion.”

“It must be recognised that Clan Smoke Jaguar must also retain control over our occupation zone and therefore, devoting the full force of our touman to this would be impractical. Therefore I request that the ilKhan activate Clan Diamond Shark from reserve to participate in this operation.”

Sevren Leroux rose to his feet. “Khan Hawker,” he interjected. “Does your Clan stand prepared to come to the Smoke Jaguar’s aid?”

“You are out of order,” called the Smoke Jaguar’s new saKhan, Kincaid Furey. “Khan Osis addressed the ilKhan.”

“And in doing so he insults my Clan and seeks to circumvent a ruling of this Council.” The Nova Cat leader’s voice was unruffled. “You may decide for yourself which you find more offensive. Do you have an answer for me, Khan Hawker… or should I allow you time to consult with Khan Crichell?”

“We are ready willing and able to join this battle, Leroux!”

“If,” Barbara Sennet added sharply from her seat next to the senior Khan of the Diamond Sharks, “The Grand Council approves, of course.”

“Of course.” Leroux smiled thinly. “The ilKhan is - of course - wise enough to know that he may not overrule the Grand Council. And the Grand Council recognised following a Trial of Refusal by my own Clan and Khan Sennet’s, that of the three Reserve Clans for the invasion the Steel Vipers had won the first right to be activated and after that, Clan Nova Cat. Clan Diamond Shark may be activated only if both the other reserve Clans have already been called on.”

“Do you then wish to fight on Luthien alongside Clan Smoke Jaguar?” asked Showers from his throne.

Carns chuckled, a deep and dangerous sound deep in his throat. “After they insult us by seeking the Diamond Sharks first? Not even if they begged us on bended knee.”

“But nor will we allow our rights and honour to be slighted,” added Leroux. “If you grant Khan Osis the Sharks then the Cats must also be activated.”

Showers nodded. “You make a strong point. Yet where will you serve? Khan Jorgenssen, do you seek the support of the Nova Cats?”

Jorgenssen stood and bowed to the Nova Cats. “Of all the invading Clans, we stand the nearest to Terra. If there was a need, you would be welcome, but there is no such need and I will not insult you by offering you service as garrisons.” He looked over at Osis and Furey. “They speak truly though – to activate Clan Diamond Shark before them would be to break the dictates of this Council.”

“Khan Ulric?”

“I have discussed this with Khan Carns,” Ulric confirmed. “We are not seeking the activation of any reserve Clan at this time. And the law supports the Nova Cat’s position.”

“I am aware of the law.” The ilKhan glared. “Are you sure you would not give them the opportunity to strike at Tamar, at Laurent? I see a gap forming between you and Clan Steel Viper.”

“That matter is well in hand. If Clan Steel Viper are concerned, they may challenge us to the right to those worlds. Otherwise we shall take them when we find it convenient.”

“And if I order their activation for that purpose?”

“Then we will demand a Trial of Refusal,” shouted Lucien Carns. “To be fought in the Smoke Jaguar Corridor – the full might of our Clan against theirs. We will not be your dagger against Kerensky’s Clan! We would rather seize our own corridor and expel those that hold it than be used in such a fashion.”

“Peace!” called Cassius N’Buta from the Star Adder desk. “Is this what our invasion has come to? Petty squabbles between the leaders of our Clans?”

“Khan Crichell, Khan Breen.” Leo Showers turned to the leaders of the final Invasion Corridor. “Do you seek the support of Clan Nova Cat?”

“The corridor is already crammed with our existing forces,” Vandervahn Chistu spoke up. “When we move forward for the next wave of attacks, Clan Jade Falcon will already have to extend our corridor’s limits or be penned behind the Vipers. I would not deny the Nova Cats the opportunity for honourable battle, but two Clans is all that a Corridor can accommodate.”

Unspoken was that if the Nova Cats did join the Steel Vipers and Jade Falcons, by default they would have to bypass both Clans placing them in the lead.

“Then let them have their own corridor,” suggested Charles Dinour quietly, before the ilKhan could make any further move.

“What do you propose?” asked Leroux.

“The Federated Commonwealth is by any measure the most dangerous adversary we face. They have a depth of resources and reserves unmatched in the Inner Sphere. I propose that Clan Nova Cat be activated with a special mission beyond the Invasion Corridors. Tharkad and the industrial heartlands of the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth are less than two hundred light years from the edge of the Jade Falcon occupation zone. A concerted campaign towards those worlds would force them to thin their defences in front of Clan Wolf, Clan Steel Viper and Clan Jade Falcon.”

“The goal of our invasion is Terra,” protested Kincaid Furey. “That takes the Nova Cats away from the motherworld.”

“I was under the impression that your Clan did not want the Nova Cats near them?” jabbed Perigard Zalman. “I like this plan.”

The ilKhan rose to his feet. “Be silent,” he ordered. “This proposal has merit. Let us example a map of the Inner Sphere.”

A holographic display sprang to life before them, marking out the realms of the Successor Lords and the zones liberated from them by the Clans.

“Khan Dinour, show us in more detail what you have in mind.”

The Khan activated controls on one of the terminals provided when the Grand Council gathered. “Let the Nova Cats make temporary use of Alyina, here in the Jade Falcon zone,” he proposed. “From here they can strike through the thin line of Tamar March worlds along our flank and into the Donegal March. Their objective would be the triangle of worlds defined by Coventry, Donegal and Alarion – a triangle that includes Tharkad – a prize equal to Luthien.”

Sevren Leroux nodded. “Subject to two conditions, this is acceptable to my Clan.”

“Conditions?”

“Firstly, so long as we do not impede any of your invasion corridors, we retain the right to make our way to Terra. There has been discussion of the Clan to first arrive becoming the ilClan and that is not a prize we would relinquish.”

“I have no objection to this,” agreed Ulric and the other Khans nodded wisely. After all, the Nova Cats would have to carve their way through the densely populated Isle of Skye to reach Terra from Tharkad.

“Secondly, I will have no question that Clan Nova Cat was activated first. We will make our first assault on the Inner Sphere before the end of the month. But Clan Diamond Shark may make no attack until the beginning of June.”

“Outrageous!” shouted Ian Hawker. “You have no say in another Clan’s military operations!”

“This is not a matter of your military operations. This is a matter of the date your Clan is activated.”

“Since both Clans will need most of this month simply to reach their initial objectives, this seems a small detail – a matter of only a few days delay at most” Bjorn Jorgensson gestured to the ilKhan. “If Khan Leroux agrees that any failure by his Clan to meet their intended date to begin operations need not delay any action by Clan Smoke Jaguar or Clan Diamond Shark then I also support this measure.”

Leo Showers nodded, smiling thinly. “I call the Council to vote on this matter. Let a vote of aye be approval of Khan Dinour’s proposal, as modified by Khan Leroux and Khan Jorgenssen. Let a vote of nay be rejection of that plan.”

The vote in favour was overwhelming.

“Khan Leroux, your Clan is activated from the reserve. Please present your preliminary operations plan to the Grand Council tomorrow. Khan Hawker, your Clan will be activated on the first day of June. Coordinate your plans with Khan Osis and be ready to present a joint operations plan after Khan Leroux.”


The Triad, Tharkad
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
24 May 3051

“Your highness, Defensive Line Gamma has fallen.”

Melissa Steiner-Davion looked up from her breakfast. “Good morning, Aunt Nondi.” She raised her glass and sipped from it. “Ardan, you look like you’ve both been up all night. Why don’t you both take seats and have something to eat. It won’t do morale any good if two Marshals of the Armies are walking around like zombies.”

The two Marshals in question exchanged looks and accepted seats. The discreet staff served up plates of food before withdrawing out of earshot.

“Very well now.” Melissa pointed her fork at Nondi. “Are you suggesting Tamar is under threat?

Ardan poured out two large cups of coffee from the carafe and passed one, unsweetened, to Nondi. “Let me.” He sipped from his own cup. “We’ve received two updates from the Clan front overnight. Firstly, a sixth Clan has made an appearance – Clan Nova Cat has elements of three Galaxies inbound over Mkuranga.”

“Alright, that is concerning. We knew they were in reserve and that some of their forces were expected to arrive in the Inner Sphere, but throwing them directly in battle suggests the Clans are rather desperate, wouldn’t you say?”

“Possibly, but it also means that they’re digging deep into reserves – they aren’t backing down. Melissa… Mkuranga is technically part of Defence Line Gamma but since it wasn’t attacked last year we’ve stripped it to bolster other parts of the line – it won’t withstand the Nova Cats for long.”

“I assume that we’ll be withdrawing those troops as expeditiously as possible?”

“That’s correct. We’ve already pulled off Moritz and Skokie is only holding on because Natasha Kerensky is playing bait and pulling every Wolf unit that gets a sniff of her after her like dogs in heat.”

The Archon raised her eyebrows. “In other words, Natasha’s usual relationship with the opposite gender?”

There wasn’t even the slightest quirk of humour in Ardan’s face. “Usually they aren’t shooting at her.”

“That isn’t the way I hear it. Never mind. I understand you’re taking the opportunity to withdraw everything possible from Skokie while the Wolves are distracted. Do try to evacuate Natasha’s command if possible.”

“I’ll do what I can. That only really leaves Sevren and Tamar of the original defence line and Sevren has also been stripped of troops to prop up other worlds. There’s a strong garrison on Tamar but if the Wolves are willing to pay the price then they can take it.”

“You don’t think they’ll take that bait though?”

Nondi re-entered the conversation, cup empty. “Unfortunately, the Wolf Khan is this Ulric Kerensky and he has more brains than practically all of the Steel Vipers combined. He’s moving at Volders and Kobe, striking out of the old Rasalhague worlds. If he keeps that up then he’ll link up with the Vipers and Tamar will be cut off.”

“Tamar is largely self-sufficient.”

“But it doesn’t have any major military production. Without shipments from the rest of the Commonwealth, the garrison will slowly lose effectiveness. We’ve got six regiments there now – and as long as the Wolves decline to attack they’re effectively out of the war.”

“So are the garrisons that Ulric will need to place on worlds around Tamar in case we use them as the base for a counter-attack. If it looks like the supply lines will be cut then I agree, reducing Tamar’s garrison would make sense – but for now, leave them there. You need the shipping for evacuating Skokie anyway.”

Ardan nodded. “And we’ll need more here.”

“Oh?”

“That’s the second piece of news. The Jade Falcons are on the move – they’re striking at Babaeski and Antares. That means they’re – at least for now – not following their original axis advance. If they do keep going then they and the Nova Cats are going to enter the Donegal March within the next month or two – and we don’t have a defensive line to stop them, the way we have in the Tamar March.”

“We knew we could never be strong everywhere, Ardan. So what do we have?”

Nondi pulled out a map of the Commonwealth. “The danger zone is a breakthrough of Coventry or Summit PDZ. Either of them would give them a route through to Tharkad. We’ve been building up an army group in the area to act as support if we went on the offensive, but they haven’t received a lot of the upgraded equipment – we’ve been prioritizing units positioned on factory worlds and in the Tamar March.”

“Also we’ve been trying not to move RCTs since they take up so much shipping, so a lot of the army group is made up of mercenaries and independent regiments,” warned Ardan.

“Such as?”

Ardan pointed at the tip of Summit PDZ, the worlds nearest to the Jade Falcons. “The backbone of our forces here are the Illician Lancers. Four ‘Mech regiments, concentrated here on Bountiful Harvest. There are another four regiments on Esteros but that’s a shakier brigade – the Fourth Skye Rangers, the Second Albion Cadet Cadre, the Aragon Borderers and Warrior House Hiritsu. Without conventional troops or upgrades, they’re going to have real trouble if the Clans hit there – and it’s very likely that they will.”

“Coventry PDZ – and possibly Neerabup PDZ if for some reason they go in that direction aren’t much better although we might be able to pull in more units from near the Periphery.” Nondi took over the map. “There’s another Albion Cadet Cadre on Zhongshan and a mercenary regiment on Blumenort but that’s a very thin line of defence if they turn back. If they go straight for Coventry – which seems more likely, we have only the Argyle Lancers, the Third Republicans and a short regiment of mercenaries, the Armored Horde, as our first line of defence. And no, I hadn’t heard of them either. Newly formed, newly hired, no idea how good they’ll turn out to be.”

“What about Coventry itself? That’s a factory world so the garrison should have been getting a share of modern equipment.”

Nondi nodded. “The local March Militia is there and the Twelfth Donegal Guards. Also the Seventeenth Recon Regiment – mercenaries but they have been getting upgrades.”

“They were the ones who gave us our first warning that the invasion was coming,” Melissa reminded her aunt. “They earned that and if the Clans reach Coventry then I think we can rely on Colonel Camacho to fight hard against them.”

She sat back and started buttering a slice of toast. “So now that you’ve spoiled my appetite, what do you suggest?”

“Essentially we’ll need to look for the existing units to buy time for us to position reinforcements.” Nondi moved her finger on the map from Coventry up to Chahar PDZ. “We can move most of the forces here down to set up defences on a line from Summit, through Arc-Royal to New Capetown. Morgan Kell’s regiments have been withdrawn already so we can send them, as well as any other units that can be spared from Tamar.”

“It means losing Chahar if the Clans go for it but that’s better than losing Tharkad,” agreed Ardan. “I also want to prioritise these regiments for equipment coming from Coventry and Tharkad – they’re the closest factories so it’s our best shot at building up the capacity to fight the Clans.”

“That will include giving the new technology to mercenaries and to some of the more fanatical Capellan regiments,” warned Nondi. “At the very least, two of the Warrior Houses.”

“If they’re willing to fight for Lyran worlds then I’m willing to arm them,” the Archon instructed. “I approve those plans. And send additional fighter wings to those worlds – if the Nova Cats and Jade Falcons bring their warships into play I’m issuing a pre-emptive authorisation to engage them with nuclear warheads.”

Warlord’s Palace, Enzo
Pesht, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone
9 June 3051

Theodore Kurita had visited Pesht more than once in his career with the DCMS.

It was the first time he’d arrived there to carry out a raid.

Pillars of smoke arose from around the city as the Eighth Sword of Light swept through Enzo. The ISF had been very thorough in identifying Smoke Jaguar supply dumps.

Tomoe’s Grand Dragon took the lead as Theodore’s command lance and that of the Eighth Sword of Light crossed into the plaza outside the palace. A Star of Smoke Jaguar garrison ‘Mechs were exiting the palace, two through the gates and the other three using their jump-jets to clear the apparently ornamental but actually heavily reinforced wall that surrounded the palace.

With their massive cloven hooves and low-slung bodies, the design reminded Theodore of the Marauder II that had been developed for the Wolf Dragoons, long before they had ever crossed paths – and swords -with the Draconis Combine. The warbook data from the Federated Commonwealth identified them as Stone Rhinos, highlighting the two barrels rising up from the sloped chest sections as gauss rifles, and the muzzles that capped each arm as large pulse lasers.

Collectively the enemy ‘Mechs massed five hundred tons, almost a fifth of that being armour. In a simple slugging match, the Grand Dragons driven by every one of Theodore’s force would lose despite outnumbering them eight to five.

The answer was simple – don’t allow this to become a slugging match. Moving almost twice as swiftly due to the extra-light Hermes reactors built into them, the DCMS ‘Mechs ducked and weaved around the plaza, raking at the lumbering behemoths with their extended-range PPCs and missile launchers. Refitting the Grand Dragons with weapons from the shipment he’d been given by Hanse Davion gave them 50% more firepower - at least – and saved the weight to add another ton and a half of armour.

The buildings around the square were quickly the worse for wear as missed shots crashed against them – unlike the palace wall, the formal hotels and government buildings weren’t reinforced to absorb the impact of supersonic gauss rifle slugs or 10cm laser pulses.

Not all of the hammer blows of the Smoke Jaguar weapons went astray, but enough did. These weren’t the best of the Clans’ warriors or they would have been sent to Luthien. In contrast, both Tai-san Boutri and Theodore were escorted by the best MechWarriors from one of the most elite regiments in the Inner Sphere.

Tomoe darted her Grand Dragon behind one of the Stone Rhinos and unleashed her every weapon. Astoundingly, the thick armour plating was able to absorb that punishment, at least briefly, but as the MechWarrior inside spun his ‘Mech around to respond to the attack, he brought the damaged armour into line of sight for two Sword of Light veterans.

The crimson Grand Dragons responded smoothly, whiplashing the remaining armour protection away with their PPCs and then exploiting the breach with a combined salvo of thirty LRMs.

The Stone Rhino staggered but didn’t fall, firing all weapons at Tomoe’s Grand Dragon. One gauss rifle shot went between the sixty-ton ‘Mech’s legs, a second skipped off the pavement and crashed against the calf of the right leg, shattering armour plates. Pulse lasers raked across the left arm and shoulder but the reinforced protection held.

Theodore didn’t have the time to line up a perfect shot – there were still four other Stone Rhinos firing at his force, but he and the rest of the unit all saw the limping Stone Rhino as an easy shot.

Five PPCs crashed into the ‘Mech from all directions and one of them found the cockpit. One down.

The other Smoke Jaguars moved back to back, to deny the Sword of Light the chance to score on their rear armour again. Outnumbered and outmatched, they still retained the ferocious determination that had become their hallmark. The closed formation prevented them from concentrating their fire though and as three or four of the circling Grand Dragons could engage a single target, rents and vulnerabilities were becoming visible even in their frontal protection.

A Sword of Light ‘Mech blew apart as multiple shots to the left torso finally punched through into the LRM bins.

Then a Stone Rhino crashed down, the combined fire of Tai-sa Boutri’s entire lance finally penetrating the chest and blasting the gyro to pieces.

Tomoe’s Grand Dragon could no longer stay standing after a pair of pulse lasers ripped apart what was left of her right leg. She used what was left of her momentum to throw her ‘Mech into the side of an office building shielding it from at least some incoming fire with the bricks and concrete.

The Smoke Jaguar who had disabled Tomoe’s ‘Mech had no opportunity to enjoy the victory through, the right side of his ‘Mech caved in a moment later after multiple PPC hits and a LRM from Theodore’s vengeful salvo must have found some weak-spot in the left flank because the gauss rifle ceased to fire and the left arm went slack, reducing the massive Stone Rhino to fighting with only the anti-infantry laser built into its chin.

Another Stone Rhino disappeared in a blaze of fire as the reactor shielding collapsed. The MechWarrior was hurled upwards by his ejection-seat, barely ahead of the wave of super-heated air that melted much of the ‘Mech like a blowtorch through cheap plastic.

Seeing their opportunity, two Sword of Light ‘MechWarriors surged in on the last combat-worthy Stone Rhino and dragged its arms back and down pinning the ‘Mech in place with both lasers aimed uselessly at the ground and the shoulders well beyond the intended angles of operation.

Both the ‘Mech’s gauss rifles cracked defiantly, one shot spiking through the cockpit of Tai-sa Boutri, but then the cockpit of the Stone Rhino was simply carved away from the rest of the ‘Mech by a salvo of PPC and laser fire that tore away so much of the torso that the nose-like cockpit simply crashed to the ground, intact but useless. (Although the MechWarrior inside probably didn’t enjoy the experience.)

“Tomoe?”

“I’m fine,” Theodore’s wife replied. “But my ‘Mech isn’t going anywhere without a recovery vehicle.”

And since the handful available to this mission were encumbered with material looted from the Smoke Jaguar stockpiles, that wasn’t going to be forthcoming.

“Alright, get out of there.” Theodore moved his own ‘Mech to stand it in front of the gate. “Check for more of them and bring up the infantry.”

Personnel carriers that had been lurking in the streets of Enzo as the titans clashed could now arrive safely and disembark their on-board infantry. One battalion spread out to secure the area while the others surged into the palace grounds.

“Remember, I want prisoners,” barked Theodore. He unbuckled his safety harness, removed his neurohelmet and popped the hatch of his cockpit. Behind his seat were the daisho swords he had been given by his father upon graduating from Sun Zhang academy, more than half his life ago. A kimono was wrapped around them and he shrugged it on over his cooling vest before clambering up onto the broad shoulders of his Grand Dragon.

The Gunji no Kanrei... no. That was wrong, he reminded himself. I am no longer my father’s deputy in military affairs, just as I am no longer the headstrong general leading the Legions of Vega. The Coordinator of the Draconis Combine wrapped his obi twice around his waist and knotted it, thrusting both swords through the belt.

Behind him was the distinctive castle that had looked down on Pesht for generations, one of the most prominent landmarks of the Combine. He pointed at the banners showing the leaping jaguar of the Clan that had conquered Pesht. “Bring down those banners when I give the signal.”

“Hai!” One of the Sword of Light MechWarriors called commands down to the ground and an infantry platoon rushed to take control of the flags in question.

“One sniper and you’re dead.”

He looked down and saw Tomoe now standing on the hand of one of the Sword of Light ‘Mechs, low and out of sight of the cameras being set up.

“Yes. But this is not Kentares IV and for all their sins, the Jaguars lack the pragmatism of the Federated Suns. Still, we should complete this before one of them considers the opportunity.”

 Theodore Kurita faced towards the camera, one hand on the hilt of his katana, the wind blowing at his sweat-soaked hair. “People of the Draconis Combine! Luthien burns!”

He gestured with his free hand for the Smoke Jaguar banners to be removed. “Yes, it burns – with the desire for vengeance on its despoilers. My father fell in battle, but the Dragon lives on. It burns within me as it does within all who strike back at the invaders!”

“Today we have defeated the Smoke Jaguars on Pesht.” He turned and pointed, realising with delight that the soldiers had found Combine banners and were, on their own initiative, hoisting them in place of the Jaguar banners. “Here in this very castle, the ilKhan and his officers plotted the invasion of Luthien. Here the Khans of all the Clans gathered to scheme our undoing.”

“But when I came here, was the ilKhan waiting with sword in hand to face me?”

Theodore laughed derisively. “The vaunted ilKhan of the Clans has fled our wrath, seeking shelter with the Ghost Bears or perhaps the Wolves.” He tapped his sword. “Today the Dragon has seized the Jaguar between its jaws and shaken it until it yowled. My people, this cur has plagued us overlong. The time has come for us to drive it back to its kennel in the outer dark!”

There were cheers from below and around him as Sword of Light infantry and MechWarriors waved their weapons in salute.

With the cameras off, Tomoe was lifted up so she could join him on top of the ‘Mech. “You’re not planning to spearhead more raids like this, are you?”

Theodore shook his head. “No,” he reassured her in a low voice. “I must go to New Samarkand and reassemble our government. Prosecuting the war falls to my Tai-shu now.” Now I must hope that this theatre gives us enough appearance of strength that the Sandovals refrain from too much adventurism.


Dropship Oktoberfest, Outbound from Sudeten
Steel Viper Occupation Zone
4 July 3051

Kai Allard-Liao was laid out on his bunk, trying to sleep, when knuckles rapped against the compartment hatch.

“Give me a minute,” he groaned. Sleep had been fairly elusive anyway. Unzipping his sleeping bag he swung his legs off the bunk and found the previous day’s jumpsuit. It only took a moment to pull it on and zip himself up.

Opening the hatch he blinked as the bright lights of the passageway outside lit the small bunkroom. “‘Doc? Is there an emergency?”

He looked past Leftenant Colonel Trevana and saw Diana, glaring defiantly from between two burly infantrymen at a vaguely familiar woman who was escorted by a third infantryman.

“Kind of a disciplinary issue.” The colonel glanced down at Kai’s bare feet. “Put some shoes on, Kai, I don’t want the ladies to lose control at the sight of your ducal toes or something.”

“I don’t think that’s a thing.” Kai stepped back and found his boots.

Caradoc shrugged. “Well I’m not an expert on noble courting rights. Anyway, MechWarrior Diana and Doctor Lear here managed to bust up a mess hall fighting over you. That’s kind of disruptive so Hauptmann Scott of this lovely rust bucket we’re riding on asked me to stop it from happening again. Clever fellow that I am, I remember that I have people I can delegate chores to so this is now your problem.”

“Fighting over me?” Kai looked over at Diana and then the other woman, who he now vaguely recalled was one of the Tenth Lyran Guards medical staff. Field surgeon? Something like that, which would fit with Doctor. “I’m going to assume you’re just making vague insinuations because you think it’s funny, ‘Doc.”

“Whatever gets you to sleep at night. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again, okay?”
   
“I’ll, um, do what I can.”

“I can always count on you, Kai.”

“Right.” Kai rubbed his face. “Diana. Are you going to start another fight?”

“Only if she -”

“Diana, the proper answer here is ‘sir, no sir’. Try that again?”

She slumped. “Sir, no sir.”

“Good. Doctor Lear?”

She humphed. “I didn’t start this one. That was...” The woman scowled at his look. “I am not a violent woman.”

Kai tried to ignore the infantryman behind the doctor miming a right hook. “Since we’re notionally the same rank, I don’t insist on you calling me sir, but could I have a clear yes or no?”

“No, Hauptman, I will not start another fight.”

“Thank you. Alright, soldiers, you can move along then.” Kai backed into his room – at least he wasn’t sharing it – and found a flask of cold coffee. It probably wouldn’t have tasted great when it was warm, but even cold it had caffeine in it. “Sit down, both of you.” He gestured towards the bunk opposite his.

“I’d rather stand.”

“Noted, but sit anyway.” He sighed. “Okay. The two of you, fighting in the messhall. Over me, of all topics.”

“Hauptmann Kai, she said you were a murderer and the son of a murderer.”

Kai closed his eyes and counted to ten. “I’ve heard worse. Is that basically correct, Doctor Lear.”

“Largely, yes.” There wasn’t an ounce of apology in those two words.

“I assume, Doctor, that in my case you are referring to my military career? I’ve hardly had any other opportunities to kill, even if I was so inclined. You entered the AFFC for the sponsorship to cover your medical training, didn’t you?”

Lear nodded.

“My father can defend himself, Doctor, and he’s been called far worse than a murderer. However, your position here is to support the combatant personnel of the Guards. As much stress as you’ve been under, patching up our wounded when that’s possible, it’s largely been worse for them. They don’t need the hit to morale of you calling us murderers, hired killers or whatever. If that’s your personal opinion then save it until you’ve finished your AFFC obligations.”

He turned to Diana. “I’m fairly sure I recall explaining the code of military justice to you. Remind me, what’s the penalty for striking a superior officer?”

The ex-Jade Falcon thought. “Court martial may decree penalties ranging from imprisonment of not less than five years to execution.”

“Yes. You do have a choice though – Colonel Trevana has referred this to me so I can either refer this back to him for court martial or apply summary judgement now.”

“Don’t I have a choice in whether or not to press charges?”

“You should have paid more attention to your orientation briefing, Doctor. In civilian life, your rights not to be assaulted would take precedence. As a soldier, those rights are superseded by the fact that the assault is prejudicial to good order. Of course, so were your remarks...”

“But you won’t be able to throw her in a cell or execute her.”

“Do you think she deserves that, Doctor?”

Doctor Lear made a pained look. “Not execution, no.”

“Summary punishments can also be what a formal court martial would refrain from as cruel and unusual.” Kai looked over at Diana. “Well?”

“Your judgement, Hauptmann Kai.”

He nodded. “Fine.” Rummaging around inside his bag he pulled out a worn toothbrush. “Diana, since you have all this excess energy, you can put it to use cleaning the deck of every passageway on the troop deck, using this. You’ll have to fit this in around your other responsibilities, which shouldn’t be so bad while we’re in transit. You’ll also have to fit in with Doctor Lear’s schedule since she’ll be overseeing this.”

“I’m too busy for that, Hauptmann.”

“I’m sure you’ll find time for it, Doctor. Think of it as an exercise in getting used to your fellow soldiers. Diana, you’re only to do your punishment while Doctor Lear is present. Oh, and by the way, you both owe each other a public apology – in the mess hall, while the Colonel is there, if you please. Just to let him know that this is finished and dealt with.”

Kai waited until both women had left and then slumped back onto his bunk. Morale was shaky enough after having to evacuate Sudeten and now troops still keyed up for action would be jammed into transports all the way to Coventry. Brawling inside the dropship wasn’t going to help unless he could find a mud-pit and bikinis for Lear and Diana to fight in.

He shook his head to try to banish the mental image. “Get out of the gutter, Kai,” he muttered. Oh, and now he needed a new toothbrush.


Katyusha, Strana Mechty
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Home worlds
20 July 3051

Cyrilla Ward rubbed her face, feeling every one of her more than seventy years. The annual trials of position to allow her to retain her warrior status were getting harder and harder. And it seemed that Natasha Kerensky would not be returning so they could fulfil their pact to end their lives fighting Clan Smoke Jaguar together.

“More reports?” she asked out loud.

“Yes, from Eden now.”

The holographic display in the middle of the circular chamber added a fourth globe to those already rotating slowly. Blue and red markers with identifying dagger-stars for composition and alpha-numeric strings to show unit names marked out where Clan Wolf’s remaining forces on each world were stationed and where they were coming under attack.

Tiber, Glory and Grant’s Station were all worlds here in the Kerensky Cluster but Eden was Clan Wolf’s main stronghold in the Pentagon Worlds.

“It seems that Clan Hells Horses have decided that sending their forces all the way to the Inner Sphere is less immediately profitable than striking at us here.” The two Clans were not on particularly bad terms and except for the Crusader-Warden split they could even have been considered allies at times. Obviously this was not one of these times.

“We aren’t going to be able to hold them with just the forces here,” Cyrilla decided. “They’ve despatched serious forces and we are badly out-numbered on all fronts. The most we can hope for is to hold them back long enough to pull our most critical resources off those worlds and consolidate.”

“You are talking about almost half of our enclaves!”

“I am talking about parts of four worlds when we control dozens in the Inner Sphere.” Cynthia leant over and looked at the technicians feeding data to the holodisplay. “Update with the resources of each enclave. Military, economic, scientific...”

The display grew rapidly more complex as the data being shown multiplied.

Cyrilla nodded. “Alright, start here on Tiber. The Horses are converging on our military strongholds and that will give them access to the sibkos in the west-central plateaus. All those facilities need to be evacuated.” She highlighted them and then de-selected a pair of scientific research facilities. “Agronomy research is useful but not vital to the survival of the Clan. On the other hand we have mines here – most of the equipment is too large to move easily but key tooling and the operators can be removed – we’ll need dropship space but taking the assigned technicians, their families and a few thousand tons of equipment will cut the prize that the Horses take from us.”

The process of winnowing down what could be taken or evacuated from each world went on. Swampy Glory had surprisingly little – it had always been a resource-sink, Cyrilla thought. On the other hand Eden was going to a major loss. Fortunately the garrison had been reinforced with the units previously stationed on Circe but even so, the two Hells Horses galaxies were going to overwhelm them.

“Is there anywhere else we can pull forces from to buy time on Eden?”

“Our only other Clusters in the Pentagon are defending the Dagda enclaves.”

Cyrilla pulled up Dagda on the holographic display. It was still a wealthy world but it had only ever been of secondary importance to Clan Wolf, despite a population of over seven million. Most of the most vital resources in their enclaves, such as the W-9 assembly plant, had already been removed for shipment to the Inner Sphere.

“Just one secondline Cluster wouldn’t make a difference.” Then she spun the globe and saw the Goliath Scorpion garrison on their neighbouring enclaves. “Hmm.”

The younger – much younger – officers and technicians manning the command centre watched as she spun Dagda back and forth.

Then she wheeled away, suddenly energized. “Send word to Dagda – the garrison is to board dropships and make best speed to Eden to reinforce our clusters. Notify Star Colonel Fetladral to slow the Hells Horses down – assure him reinforcements are on the way.”

Cyrilla crossed the floor to another console. “Contact the senior Goliath Scorpion officer on Dagda and arrange a real-time conversation with him.”

“When?”

“Now, if not sooner.” The years fell away from Cyrilla’s face as she went back to the centre. “Grant’s Station, tell the warriors on the ground to see if they can draw the Horses into violating Steel Viper territory. They don’t know the ground and if we can confuse the situation then we might turn this into a three way confrontation.”

She expanded the display to cover all of the Clan home worlds and then nodded. With the Hells Horses making this much progress it was only a matter of time before other Clans decided there was an opportunity. The only chance without the forces that were now unavailable was to muddle the situation.

“Galaxy Commander Eleanor Djerassi is on the line,” one of her aides reported.

Cyrilla nodded. Any other Clan would have been harder to make contact with like this but Clan Goliath Scorpion had held themselves to be indebted to Nicholas Kerensky and to his chosen Clan ever since the original campaigns to liberate the Pentagon worlds.

She crossed to the necessary console and took over the seat. “Thank you for speaking to me on short notice, Galaxy Commander. Djerassi There is an opportunity for your Clan if you are interested. I could offer it to other Clans, but as our stalwart allies it would be only right to give you the first refusal.”

“You have my attention, Galaxy Commander Ward.” Eleanor Djerassi was a generation Cyrilla’s junior, and since the Goliath Scorpions could field only three frontline galaxies, each led by a Khan or the Loremaster, she was primarily a garrison commander and would have few opportunities for personal glory unless someone attacked the Scorpions for their scant resources.

Cyrilla’s plan lay in part in that with the two Khans in the Inner Sphere, the Goliath Scorpion would jump at the chance to bring those units notionally under her control even for just a limited operation. After all, victory could make her a contender to rise to the Khanship.

“I have a military operation underway which could require additional forces beyond those immediately available in the Pentagon worlds,” she explained. “I would be interested in contracting four Clusters of Clan Goliath Scorpion to fight alongside our units on Eden.”

“Respectfully, Galaxy Commander, I do not see how this would be an opportunity for my Clan.”

Cyrilla grinned. “In addition to the opportunity for your warriors to win glory, Eleanor Djerassi, should we be victorious over Clan Hells Horses, we would divide any gains to our territory on Eden with you proportionately to the forces involved.” Then she closed the trap. “Of course, as your forces will be assuming risks on our Clan’s behalf, should our forces suffer a defeat we will share with you a similar proportion of our holdings on Dagda.”

Djerassi’s eyes widened. “A considerable offer. I gather that forces have already been bid on Eden however, so this would seem to be an unusual tactic.”

“We are engaged in a succession of Trials rather than one overall Trial,” replied Cyrilla. “As such it is entirely reasonable for new forces to become available for bidding.”

“A valid point.” The other Galaxy Commander checked something off-screen. “I can dispatch three Clusters within twenty-four hours and a fourth within seventy-two hours. However, by the time they reach the jump points…”

“As it happens we have several jumpships scheduled to depart from an in-system jump point for Dagda in the next six hours. I will arrange to cancel their intended cargos and they can deliver your dropships deep inside the Eden system. By the time your fourth Cluster is en route, our warriors will be striking together at the Hells Horses.”

“Bargained well and done.” The Goliath Scorpion bowed her head. “I look forward to displaying the skills of my Clan alongside the heirs of Kerensky.”

“It is our glory to fight alongside the students of Moreau,” replied Cyrilla respectfully.

Once the connection was broken she returned to the main floor. “We will have three additional Clusters arriving by 22 July and a fourth by 27 July. Plan on how to employ them to slow the Horses until we’ve evacuated our personnel and the critical tooling from the Wolf Armorworks and the W-5 facility. Prioritise the first if necessary – the aerospace losses in the Inner Sphere have been steep so the Jaghatai production lines are probably more important to the Clan than the BattleMech assembly tooling.”

“You do not expect that the addition of these Clusters will turn the tide?”

Cyrilla shook her head. “The Goliath Scorpions train excellent warriors and in a straightforward duel they perform well. But they are too resource-poor to equip garrison units like those Djerassi can send with modern BattleMechs, much less with OmniMechs. Also, they are inexperienced in large scale operations. Against the Hells Horses’ Beta and Epsilon Galaxies, they can only buy us time… but time is what we need and if they do that then they will have more than earned half of our Dagda holdings.”

“Respectfully, Galaxy Commander, I would not wish to be the one to explain that to Khan Ulric – or to Khan Dinour.”

“Our Khans understand the priorities we are working under.” Cyrilla scanned the displays of the rest of the Clan’s holdings. “Besides, if the Goliath Scorpions are bloodied fighting on Eden they may be more willing to help us if someone makes a move for the enclaves on Roche and Dagda.”

“We are beginning to run out of enclaves to defend.”

Cyrilla looked over at the source of the complaint. “To an extent. By the end of the month, barring any further attacks, we will have enclaves on six worlds – five if the Hells Horses make a push for the enclave on Hoard but that is of minimal value in any case. But bring up a display of our invasion corridor in the Inner Sphere.”

The projector buzzed and then the Clan Home worlds were replaced by a broad sector of space, stretching from what had once been bandit kingdoms in the Periphery almost half the way to Terra.

“Sixty-eight worlds and we are contesting four more as we speak. The domain of Clan Wolf now encompasses more worlds than the entire Kerensky Cluster and our new capital on Rasalhague has a population of almost five billion – more than all the enclaves of all the Home Clans combined. That is the future of our Clan – taking those people under our protection and winning them to our banner. For two hundred years we have been a powerful fish in a very shallow pond. But now we are in the deep ocean and we must grow to be worthy of it.”

There was a muffled “Seyla,” from the warriors in the room.

“Now, we have some convoys to reroute so let us be about it.”


Dove Costoso, Alyina
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
3 August 3051

Although it was no longer a staging area for Clan Nova Cat, there remained significant activity on Alyina as troops and supplies moved through it to support the renewed advance of the Jade Falcons.

The ilKhan had called a council of the available Khans when he arrived as part of a general inspection tour, visiting all of the invading Clans. Given military necessity and the dispersal of Khans from the home Clans, only a few Clans were represented in person and Showers had declined requests to attend via HPG. The warriors sitting on couches that most found far too soft and yielding, a loose circle with the ilKhan sat behind a heavy desk rather than on a throne.

“I am beginning to lose patience with ComStar,” Leo Showers rumbled. “They claim that they have cut our occupied worlds off from the rest of the Inner Sphere, but who else can be spreading this bandit Kurita’s bragging all across our worlds?”

“No one of consequence takes it seriously,” pointed out Charles Dinour, the sole representative of Clan Wolf at the gathering. “All our warriors know that your visits to the other invading Clans were agreed well before Theodore Kurita raided Pesht.”

“That does not change my point. ComStar are spreading sedition among the civilian population – clearly we have extended them far too much trust.”

“Equally, they have proven useful as an interface on many worlds. It would hardly seem in their overall interests to take such action. Perhaps we are dealing with a disaffected minority amongst their number. They do recruit from all across the Inner Sphere, after all.”

The ilKhan shook off Elias Crichell’s moderation. “Whether their leaders are complicit or not, they cannot be trusted. Khan Osis is in agreement with me and has ordered all HPGs in his corridor taken under the direct control of his Clan. Khan Sennet has also informed me that she will be expelling ComStar from all worlds taken by Clan Diamond Shark.”

“I suspect that has more to do with their wish to institute their ChatterWeb here in the Inner Sphere than any distrust of ComStar,” observed Natalie Breen. “Still, as useful as they are in handling the lower castes I have never allowed their ComGuards to remain on worlds we have taken. They flee us now, showing their cowardice.”

How much impact removing the ComGuards from only eight worlds would impact on ComStar was a topic that none of the other Khans chose to explore. The Steel Vipers had become increasingly testy as it became apparent they were unable to make the sweeping advances that the other Clans had managed earlier in the invasion.

“You Wolves are ComStar’s greatest advocates in this Council. What do you say, Dinour?” asked Chistu.

“We have several thousand HPG-trained technicians on their way from the Home Worlds,” he replied candidly. “Once they have arrived I expect that our relationship with ComStar’s leaders will change rapidly.”

“A startling change of position?”

“I find Anastasius Focht quite admirable in his way, and ComStar’s personnel are very useful. The more I learn of their leadership on Terra, however, the more I feel that they have fallen away from the principles of the Star League. Since the goal of our invasion is Terra, we have never intended to leave the mother world in their hands so…”

“Sound arguments.” Crichell spread his hands. “I will discuss the matter with my Clan Council. Removing the ComGuards from our worlds will ensure we can take control of the rest of their organisation with ease once more of our people have arrived.”

“I believe we have a general consensus. I will discuss this with the Nova Cat Khans when I visit their Occupation Zone.” Showers leant back in his chair. “The Ghost Bears remain somewhat dependent upon ComStar as an intermediary so I suppose they will also wish to take their time, as usual.”

“Another matter for concern is the spreading conflict in the Home Worlds.” Perigard Zalman shifted in his seat, trying to find a way to sit firmly. The cushions made it difficult for him. “Clan Hells Horses have been hammering at our sources of supplies.”

“And ours as well – right as we have pulled forces out of the Home Worlds to bolster the invasion.” Elias Crichell folded his arms somewhat petulantly. “I would have expected Malavai Fletcher to lead his Clan against old enemies like the Ghost Bears.”

“Perhaps he is grateful for the Ghost Bears giving him this opportunity.”

“Your Wolves have taken the brunt of this, Dinour – and they have failed to withstand the Hells Horses anywhere in the Home Worlds, leaving them free to strike at us.”

“I do not recall ever pledging to be your shield, Zalman.” Dinour leant forwards. “Like yourselves, we have cut our home enclave garrisons to support this invasion – an invasion we voted against, I remind you. With so many of the major Clans sending their best forces away is it any surprise that the balance of power has been disrupted? I was astonished something like this did not follow from the Hellion’s temper tantrum.”

“I understand your concerns.” Leo Showers planted his hands on the desk. “Your Clans are not the only ones under attack. Clan Coyote have seized a Clan Smoke Jaguar enclave on Tranquil, for example. However, since the Grand Council voted to permit the other Clans to carry out Trials of Possession, we have limited options. I can hardly censure them for doing something the Grand Council approved in advance.”

“But the loss of supplies will severely hamper our operations,” protested Natalie Breen. “That makes this an operational concern.”

“The only way to stop the attacks would have been to convincingly repel the initial attempts.” Chistu looked at Dinour a little smugly. “Alas, with Clan Wolf so evidently… not weak, but perhaps distracted, the other Clans now believe that we Invaders can no longer defend our home enclaves.”

Dinour met the Jade Falcon’s glare derisively. “Judging by how rapidly your enclave on Glory fell, it is a belief that may be well founded.”

“Enough. We are here to address these concerns, not to bicker amongst ourselves.” Showers worked his jaw. “Khan Breen’s point may allow us some remedy. The invasion itself is sanctioned by the Grand Council so supplying it could in theory be considered an obligation upon all of the Clans.”

“I’m not sure I see where you’re going with this.”

“As the ilKhan I will demand that all Clans contribute one-tenth of their munitions production in the Home Worlds to a central stockpile for me to allocate towards whichever parts of the invasion require additional supplies. By levying all the Clans for this there can be no argument of favourtism and it will address some of the supply issues. It will also reduce the supplies available to Clans such as the Hells Horses and the Coyotes for further operations.”

“It’s likely to be challenged in the Grand Council,” warned Dinour. “Still… all the Invading Clans will approve. The Blood Spirits and Star Adders may be swayed by appealing to the unity of the Clans. We Wolves have some influence over the Goliath Scorpions and the Ghost Bears will be strongly in favour which could sway the Snow Ravens. That should yield a majority of the Council.”

Crichell nodded. “It will help. And with the precedent in place, it may be possible to extend this to other areas – armour production, for example.”

“One step at a time, Khan Crichell.” Leo Showers smiled darkly. “One step at a time.”


Leitnerton, Coventry
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
9 August 3051

The arrival on Coventry reminded Kai of the parade thrown when his survivors from Maxie’s Planet arrived on Baker 3.

Marshal Mark Kostic, commander of the Coventry Operations Area, attended in person along with his staff. More importantly to Kai, so did the Jewell family, Dave evidently still getting used to his prosthetic leg.

“Thank you for seeing that he was sent back to me,” Kathy said and kissed Kai on the cheek – something that got wolf-whistles from some of the other disembarking troops.

“Believe me, after months of his so-called humour, I was glad to send him.”

“Oh I know what you mean.”

“Hey, standing right here,” Dave protested with a laugh. “Who’s that walking off in a snit?”

Kai looked around. “I’m not sure who you mean.”

“Dark hair, about half as cute as Kathy, looks like she bit into an apple and found half a worm…”

That cut it down a bit. “Doctor Lear, perhaps? You might have run into her when you were in the field hospital.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell, but I was sedated for a lot of that.”

“Are you still up for command training?”

Kathy beamed. “He is, but not until he finishes his rehab. Another three months, almost.”

“Unless the needs of the service get in the way, Kathy. There is a war on after all.”

“You’ve more than done your part, Dave.”

Sensing an obvious landmine, Kai and Dave exchanged glances. “Uh, so did you hear about Marshal Necker?”

“What, no?”

“The poor ba-uh-blighter broke his back in a car smash. Marshal Kostic’s been covering for the PDZ as well as the OA, but the talk is that Al Kimmel will be completing his Steiner’s Cross.”

From the rank of Leutenant-General upwards, rank insignia were made up of several diamond-shaped pins which gradually formed what was called the ‘Steiner Cross’. The fourth pin, completing the cross, was conferred on promotion to Marshal. “He’s a good commander, he deserves a promotion but I’m not sure he needs another big job like that.”

“There’s a lot of that going around. Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to the Guards?”

“Hopefully time to rebuild. General Kimmel was talking about organising into three combat commands, one for each of the original RCTs, but I don’t think we could form even two commands at full strength right now.”

“Three? Oh yes, you’ve got the Tenth Donegal in the ranks now, don’t you?”

Kai nodded. “The lines were pretty blurred with the Capellan regiments and the Gray Death Legion by the end, although they’re not with us now.”

“Yeah, I heard something about your sister…”

“Cassandra has a company in Ishara’s Grenadiers. They’re on their way to Donegal or I’d introduce you.”

“Oh!” Kathy gasped. “I should have said earlier. Kai, I’m sorry about your mother.”

He closed his eyes at the reminder. “It’s… okay, Kathy. It’s not something I’ve been able to make time to think about much.”

“Well I hope you should at least be able to attend your sister’s wedding!”

“Rank hath its privileges.” Kai shrugged. “But also responsibilities. As far as I know, I’ll still be here on Coventry.”

Dave and Kathy exchanged glances. “You look tired, LT,” Dave told him. “Look, you’re all going to have some leave time. Maybe you can go diving or something. You said something about doing that at NAIS.”

He frowned. “Well, yeah. Hadn’t thought about it, there’s been so much to do.”

“Well you need a rest too. Listen to your Feldwebel.”

“I’ll keep it mind, I promise. I’ve got to go…” Kai tried to put the promise out of mind as he went back to the lines of troops who were filtering through the welcoming troops towards the barracks and the formal meal. There was a lot of work to do in getting the Guards ready to fight again. Somehow it didn’t quite work.

“Was that Feldwebel Dave?” asked Diana as he found the rest of the company.

“Yeah. His family evacuated to Coventry before the Falcons hit Maxie’s Planet.” Kai raked back his hair. Definitely time for a haircut. Hmm. Diana was probably going to be at something of a loose end on Coventry. Active military service was one thing but she’d have to get used to civilians too…

“Have you ever been diving, Diana?”


Reyhavik, Rasalhague
Wolf Occupation Zone
14 August 3051

Nikolai Djerassi didn’t wear the finery of a Khan as he entered the repurposed Riksdag building. On formal occasions he could represent his Clan’s strength and power as well as any, despite the knowledge it would be hard to justify treating the Goliath Scorpions as even a second-tier Clan. On other occasions he preferred plain dress and as he was ushered into Ulric’s office he wore a simple grey jumpsuit with no rank insignia.

His first words indicated that plain-speaking was another preference of his: “My Clan has lost most of a Galaxy for the sake of yours, Khan Ulric. Do not expect me to offer you more. Our debt to you has limits.”

“It does.” Ulric rose and bowed. “Your warriors fought well. They were outmatched in equipment and numbers, but never in skill or valour. I did not bring you here to make demands, only to make an offer from one Khan to another.”

“That is an attitude the Wolves have rarely shown towards the Scorpion.”

“Aye. We took your Elemental suits and made them a weapon honoured by all of the Clans. We took from you Vlad Dinour, and made of his bloodline a Khan.” The Wolf Khan shrugged. “Tell me that your Clan could have done as well with them.”

“Perhaps not. But for all the respect we have shown you and your predecessors, having one of our Galaxies used as a sacrifice has roused anger among my people.”

“It was a desperate situation and our commander in the Home Worlds is aged and perhaps out of touch with certain realities.” Hopefully none of House Ward would hear of those words until Ulric was safely dead. “But she is of my Clan and I speak for her and all those who fought alongside Eleanor Djerassi on Eden when I say that it we who owe your Clan a debt.”

“Cyrilla Ward’s word alone is binding on us and since four Clusters of Goliath Scorpions fought with four Clusters of Wolves against the Hells Horses, half of our enclaves on Dagda are now the property of Clan Goliath Scorpion.”

“Which is no more than the original promise she made. Is that all you invited me here for?”

“No.” Ulric rose and walked to the discreetly armoured window. “I think you realise how our paths are diverging. This invasion has divided the Clans even more deeply than the Warden-Crusader split. Those of us who have come to the Inner Sphere cannot return. But we do not have the capacity to remove millions of our civilian castes to the Inner Sphere.”

“I doubt I’m the only one who sees that you are abandoning your enclaves deliberately, not as a matter of weakness.”

“While we did not orchestrate the Hells Horses invasion, at least we can be reasonably sure our former clansmen will not be abused under their rule. There are other Clans who we have less faith in. And since before long there could be very few ties left between our Clans, I would end our debts to each other in an honourable fashion.”

Djerassi eyed him. “You consider our long surkai complete, quiaff?”

“Aff. In token of this, I propose to ransom to Clan Goliath Scorpion all of our remaining enclaves on Dagda and also the Roche enclaves. While they have no military production of note, that will make them less desirable targets in the current wave of Trials sweeping the Home Worlds and hopefully give you breathing space to integrate the population into your Clan. You’ll be increasing your population by fifteen percent and these are wealthy, largely self-sufficient enclaves. Build wisely from that and your Clan may be able to address its historical difficulties.”

“Delicately put. And just defending those enclaves will strain our depleted forces for some time to come – a strategy to deter me from allowing our Seekers to bring substantial forces into the Inner Sphere?”

“If your Seekers come in peace, simply seeking the lore of the past, then we will welcome them. It may not be our way, but it is an honourable path. If they come to take, by Trial… well we shall offer them a different welcome.” Ulric steepled his fingers. “Your Clan, your decision, Khan Djerassi. If it helps, the changes to our shipping mean that we will not be able to evacuate as much equipment as I had hoped. The Brian Caches on Dagda will accommodate what we cannot take with us. Not the newest and best, I admit, but functional and sufficient in quantity to go some way towards replacing the equipment lost on Eden.”

The other Khan nodded. “Beware of Wolves bearing gifts. Where is the sting in this? I am a Scorpion, it is my nature to recognise when such a thing is being hidden.”

Ulric scratched at his bearded chin. “It may be wise, Nikolai to ensure that your Clan has a Khan – or both Khans - in the Home Worlds. Indeed I would recommend this to many of the Khans who have accompanied us to the Inner Sphere. It seems to me that when the schism breaks out between the Invading Clans and the Home Clans, that the leaders of each faction would be wise to be with the heart of their Clan.”

That brought Djerassi’s eyebrows up. “You do not think it will go that far, quineg?”

“Aff. It will.”

“Our people have little tolerance for those who break the unity.”

The Wolf Khan shrugged. “I did not choose this invasion, Nikolai. I fought against it, as well you know. But once it was begun it could not be undone and the consequences are inevitable.”

“Who else knows this?”

“That is a very good question. If any of them do, then they are keeping it well hidden.”

“Have you considered that it might be your Wolves against all the other Clans? Again?”

“They will find us better prepared then.” Ulric smiled slightly. “If so, then from one Khan to another, I advise you to do the smart thing.”

“Let someone else go first?” Djerassi, for the first time, smiled. “We are a small and poor Clan. Surely we could not possibly bid successfully for such a role.”


Old Connaught, Arc-Royal
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
9 September 3051

Natasha Kerensky entered the command centre with Phelan at her side, electrifying the room as ever. Only the towering shape of Morgan Kell didn’t seem moved by her presence. “Good of you to join us, General Kerensky.”

“It’s always a pleasure, Morgan.” She walked over to look at the strategic display. It was relatively low-tech – a simple map of Arc Royal’s three continents spread across the main briefing table with flags indicating the defenders and sightings of the Nova Cats. Thus far all of the latter were on Gutheim, the principal continent.

“Looks as if Colonel Dripe isn’t under any immediate threat,” she noted. Dripe’s command, the First Capellan Dragoons were stationed on the other inhabited continent, Gerechtland.

Morgan nodded. “If that remains the case then we can move them across to strike at the rear of the Nova Cat positions.”

“It’s a possibility.” Natasha lifted a flag and then put it down in the same location. “179th Striker Cluster – we’re dealing with Beta Galaxy then.”

“That Cluster is the one we’ve seen the most of. We think they’re acting as a recon screen for the rest of the galaxy.”

“Yes, they aren’t going to be like the Falcons you fought on Dell. The Nova Cats respect tradition but they aren’t half as hidebound – it’s why they don’t get along with the Smoke Jaguars, they don’t substitute ferocity for thought.”

“A thinking foe is a dangerous foe,” Morgan quoted.

“Precisely. My guess is that they’re holding the other two Clusters back to utilise once they find specific targets.”

“At this rate they’re getting close to New Hanover. The MechWorks there are critical to our logistics – if we hold onto them we can probably put our damaged ‘Mechs back in service just as fast as the Nova Cats can, even without this omnitechnology.”

“Are you planning to give them the initiative?”

Morgan shook his head. “You’re the senior officer…”

“This is your home world, Morgan, and you control the largest troop contingent. I’ll tell you if I think you’re making a mistake but this is your show.”

“Your courtesy is appreciated. In that case, we’ll move up and block them from New Hanover. The Kell Hounds will take the direct route; that should let us put five battalions between the Cats and their target. Not enough to stop a full Galaxy, but from what you’re saying, the Strikers won’t try to take us alone.”

“No, they might try to outflank you but they’ll want the heavier ‘Mechs’ support rather than try to bull through your positions.”

“Once we have their attention…” Morgan traced another road. “Move the Dragoons down here and take their flank. You only have eight companies, but if you can throw up an effective screen of your own then maybe we can convince them that three full regiments of Dragoons are about to roll them up – unless you think they’ll go right for your throat.”

“Probably not. It’s not personal for the Nova Cats, and they know they have lots of fighting ahead of them. They won’t want to get clawed up by any surprises and if we’re on one flank, they’ll have to at least consider that there could be someone on their other flank too.”

“Then let’s keep them cautious, at least until the Capellan Dragoons have moved across.”

“They will get serious sooner or later.”

Morgan nodded. “I know – but let that be on ground we choose, not them.”


Beta Galaxy Headquarters, Dell
Wolf Occupation Zone
14 September 3051

“We will not be launching any further strikes into the Federated Commonwealth at this time,” declared Erik Kerensky.

“Sir, we have fully rebuilt our forces after the operations of the last few months. We are ready for action.”

Vlad fully agreed with Star Colonel Ramon Sender’s position but he kept silent. After failing to capture the Black Widow on Skokie, he wasn’t the Galaxy Commander’s favourite officer.

Kerensky shook his head. “Unfortunately our supply stockpiles are insufficient for another major offensive, at least until the next convoy of jumpships arrives from the Home Worlds. Alpha Galaxy and Delta Galaxy are maintaining a threatening posture further coreward and our role is to present a similar presence near Tamar, along with Gamma. For now, Epsilon Galaxy will be receiving what reserve of supplies are available.”

“Why does a garrison galaxy need priority over frontline formations?” demanded Darren Fetladral.

“Has one of the home Clans made a move?” asked Vlad thoughtfully.

“That is correct.” The Galaxy Commander put his hands behind his back. “Khan Cassius N’Buta has delivered a batchall – an entire Galaxy of Clan Star Adder has arrived and he is delegating their command to Khan Paik so she can strike at worlds along the coreward edge of our Occupation Zone. Thus far they have designated The Rock and Placida as targets so Khan Ulric has had to shift Epsilon Galaxy to contest their advance.”

“Stravag! Those snakes have no business involving themselves in the invasion. They barely even participated in the bidding.”

“Blame the Ghost Bears if you wish to. It was their poor bargaining that opened the gates to this. The Watch report that contingents from Clan Burrock and Clan Fire Mandrill are also on their way to the Inner Sphere. It isn’t clear where they’ll want to bite us, but we have a war on two fronts to fight now.”

“Three fronts.”

Kerensky scowled but yielded Vlad’s point. “Yes, the Hells Horses have swept up several of our enclaves in the Home Worlds. Fortunately additional garrison forces are on their way but until our existing holdings are secured, Ulric is unwilling to expend more of our strength against the Federated Commonwealth.”

“We’ve only just caught up with the Ghost Bears!” protested Fetladral. “Are we to let them spring ahead again?”

“Our touman has caught up with the Ghost Bears and we can do so again. With the supplies and reinforcements on the way our position will be far superior while they are struggling to keep their existing invasion force up to strength. Besides, it would not surprise me if the Mandrills or the Burrocks were chasing their tails. We are not the only Clan with thinly guarded worlds at the trailing edge of our occupation zone.”

Turning back to the holo-display, Kerensky brought up a new map, one that haloed several worlds in red. “In the meantime, we can use our time productively. Ridderkerk, Basiliano, Hohenems and Feltre are all infested with a multi-world insurgency group who call themselves Ragnarok. While the majority of our Clusters are on the border, I intend to detach trinary strength detachments to support our garrisons and root out these bandits.”

He held up his hand. “I know it is tempting to suggest brute force solutions but for once I am in agreement with the Khan. We must be precise and punish only the actual insurgents. Where possible, demonstrate publically that they are more of a threat to the other lower castes than to us, and that we are merely defending the spheroids from their renegade kin. I am sure you can all think of… discriminating officers suitable for these commands.”

Ranna, thought Vlad.

“That will leave us understrength if the FedCom decide to launch a counter attack,” pointed out Sender. “After all, they actually repelled the Jade Falcons from this world.”

“That speaks more of the Falcon’s weakness than of their strength. We will also be integrating replacement personnel while we have the opportunity.”

“I thought you said that replacement warriors were in short supply until the next convoy from the Home Worlds, quiaff”

“Aff.” Kerensky drew back his lips in what might charitably be called a smile. “We do have quite a number of bondsmen from our invasion, however, and almost a hundred of them have been accepted into the Clan as abtakha. Most are joining garrison units, however a handful have qualified for frontline service.”

“Most of them have been among the Clans for less than a year!”

“We have welcomed abtakha into our ranks after less time,” Kerensky instructed Fetladral firmly. “Yes, those were warriors from other Clans, but…”

“How can they know of our ways after so little time?”

“It will be your job – and those of your subordinates – to instruct them in our ways, Star Colonel. And keep your attitude under control. I do not expect you to cosset these new Wolves, but nor are they to be ostracised or victimised. These warriors are the fruits of our crusade, as much as the worlds themselves are.”

“Seyla.”

Darren Fetladral bowed his head. “My words were impudent, Galaxy Commander. I offer surkai.”

“I accept your contrition, Star Colonel. As penance, I deny you the right to bid yourself as part of your Cluster when we next enter battle. You may watch your warriors – including these Rasalhague-born warriors and judge their performance without the distraction of seeing combat in person.”