Текст книги "Coupe"

Автор книги: Michael A. Stackpole

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BOOK IV

HONOR

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.

–Mark Twain

35

New Avalon

Cruris March, Federated Suns

15 August 3029

 

The frustrated look on Riva Allard's face melted as Kym Sorenson entered the office. "Kym, can I use you as a character reference?"

Kym set a small stack of disks down on her desk, then turned to look suspiciously at Riva. "What do you need references for?" She grinned and dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're not going to take that job with Biotron Industries, are you?"

Riva glanced at the data terminal in her desk. "No, no. Nothing like that. I just need to get an increase in my security clearance to be able to look at that Star League library memory core. The MHO investigators have to hear it from you that I'm not going to sell what I learn to the Draconis Combine."

Kym raised an eyebrow. "You tend to eat lots of sushiwhen we order lunch out. .."

Riva's shoulders slumped. "Don't even joke about that, Kym. This Star League library data is the hottest find in the past two hundred years. A mercenary company, the Gray Death Legion, apparently recovered it from an old Star League depot in the Free Worlds League two years ago. Copies have been slowly working their way through the Successor States and finally made it here to the NAIS."

Kym shrugged nonchalantly. "Probably just a romantic literature storehouse."

Riva shook her head resolutely. "That's not the word down in Advanced Research. They think it's chock-full of technical data on scientific discoveries and experiments. I've even heard a rumor that it has 750 kilobytes on Kearny-Fuchida drive theory alone." She smiled hopefully. "It could have all sorts of stuff that would help with my doctoral thesis."

"Hmmm, that's interesting." Kym pulled out her chair to sit down at her desk. "Why do you need to fill out a security report form? I mean, with your father being the Minister, can't he just clear you?"

Riva looked down. "Look, with Justin going over to the Maskirovka, I'm considered a worse risk than a Kurita prisoner of war." She tugged the sleeves of her blue sweater up to her elbows, then held her hands out, wrists next to each other. "Maybe I should just have them cuff me and cart me off to detention."

"Can't let that happen," Kim said mock-seriously. "Prison grays are just not your color." She laughed as Riva smiled. "Sure, put me down. Have you asked Dr. Banzai for a recommendation yet?"

Riva hesitated. "I was going to wait. .."

"For what? He's agreed to teach next trimester, and he's expressed interest in your thesis." Kym looked mystified. "There are times I don't understand you at all, Riva Allard. Dr. Banzai has been nothing but helpful and encouraging with your studies, yet you shy way from him as though he's got the plague."

Riva stood and came around to the side of Kym's desk. Leaning heavily against the wall, she crossed her arms. "I find him scary, Kym. He's so brilliant he makes me feel like a child again. And he knows all sorts of diverse things. I never know when he's going to offer a non sequitur that will throw me for a loop."

Kym sat back in her chair, light flashing from the silver neckpiece she wore. "For example?"

Riva shrugged, wracking her brain for an example, then a spark flashed through her eyes. "Well, he was in a coma when they brought him from Northwind to the NAIS. I assisted with the myomer quadricep replacement on his left thigh. When he came out of it, I went up to see him. He took one look at my name tag and said, 'Don't worry about your brother Dan. He's in a good machine.'"

"What!" Kym's blue eyes grew wide with amazement. "He told you about your brother's 'Mech?"

Riva nodded in exasperation. "His mind works so fast. He placed me as Quintus Allard's daughter, knew Quintus had a son Dan who was with the Kell Hounds, and he knew Morgan Kell had given my brother a Wolfhound."Riva opened her hands and shrugged. "That's the simplest of his deductive chains, and the only one I understand fully. Banzai has done everything, from fighting in 'Mechs to helping heal those who've been hurt by the wars. He's just a bit scary."

Kym nodded thoughtfully. "I know how you feel." She smiled weakly as she remembered. "I recall Morgan watching news reports about the war and predicting how things would work out in any particular battle. At first, I thought he already knew the outcome, and accused him of tricking me. He denied it and took me by the hand to his computer. He quickly ran up a simulation of the battle in question and showed how it would go. At the same time, he noted what variations he would have thrown at the Liao commanders. Whenever the computer ran his variants, the battle always turned out worse for Liao than it did in real life."

Riva reached out and squeezed Kym's shoulder. "Have you heard from him since he left?"

Kym's hand strayed to the neckpiece. "Yes and no." She forced herself to smile bravely. "Morgan told me he'd be running under complete silence for this mission, so 'no news is good news.' On the other hand, he had this neckpiece delivered to me yesterday. It's the ceremonial gorget he wore at the Prince's wedding."

Riva kept a reassuring smile on her lips as her mind raced. Morgan must be mixed up in whatever has my father worried. Morgan leaves the morning after my father gets as jumpy as a cat at the dog pound. Something big is going on. I know it.She glanced out the window toward the darkening evening sky. I'm just glad it's out there. The last thing I want to see is the war coming to New Avalon . . .

36

ComStar First Circuit Compound

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

19 August 3029

 

ComStar Primus Julian Tiepolo half-closed his eyes as Precentor Myndo Waterly stepped to the center of the circle. She planted her feet defiantly in the middle of the gold ComStar insignia worked into the floor. The wood-paneled chamber's recessed lights flashed from her long, golden hair and burned highlights into her scarlet robe. The look in her dark eyes pierced his heart like a dagger.

"I, Myndo Waterly, Precentor Dieron for these past ten years, call for a Vote of Expulsion against you, Primus."

So this is it, eh, Myndo? You believe you have me?Tiepolo folded his hands into the voluminous sleeves of his tan robe, relishing the roughness of the simple woolen fabric. "Such a call need not be seconded, Precentor Dieron."

The Primus looked around at the other Precentors and read shock on half their faces. You've not laid enough groundwork, Myndo. You always were overconfident.He nodded patronizingly. "I see that no one challenges your right to speak first on this subject."

Myndo's eager smile irritated the Primus, but he set it aside as she began to speak. "I realize, fellow Precentors, that my action may seem rash, ill-mannered, and poorly timed. We are, I acknowledge, in the midst of a great crisis, yet I feel that unless ComStar gets a new pilot at the helm, we will no longer be the flagship of human destiny."

The Primus watched her move elegantly within the circle of podia. You always were an excellent orator, Myndo. I saw that long ago, which is why I made you my protege. Not only did you understand the Word of Blake, but you expressed it so eloquently. If only you had accepted the true wisdom I tried to share with you. Instead of embracing the new philosophy and greatness, you have consigned yourself to fight a reactionary war. It will destroy you.

Myndo gestured toward the Primus. "This man, and Adrienne Sims before him, represent a rogue twist in the philosophy of ComStar. His actions are a perversion of the Word of Blake, yet his mastery of that sacred document has allowed him to quote it to justify his position and to punish opposition. This renegade school of thought will destroy us if we do not root it out now."

She drew her outflung hands back to her chest, then let them drop to her sides as she looked down contritely. "We all remember the changes Adrienne Sims made in the service. She created the Explorer Corps of ComStar, which has made discoveries of incalculable worth in recovering technology from the Star League era and before. We cannot doubt the usefulness of this service, or its vital part in bringing us closer to our destiny."

The Primus curled his hands into fists to stop their trembling. Is this part of it, Myndo? I once predicted great things for you, even that you would one day become Primus. How your eyes lit up at my confidence... But not now, not this way. Aslow burning began in his chest. Damn, my ulcer is coming back.

Myndo glanced at the Primus like a wolf watching a sheep pen. "Had Julian Tiepolo remained as nothing but a caretaker for his predecessor's programs, ComStar would have been blessed with his election. His thirty-year reign would have been heralded as an age of unprecedented stability during which we could have gained more information and strength. Unfortunately, Julian Tiepolo began to think of his place in our history, and after twenty years, moved to create fame for himself.

"He gambled. He looked at the Word of Blake and read only of the good times in which ComStar would share technology with a united Humanity. He thought that he could unite the Successor States quickly and be the Primus who finally led mankind out of the dark ages. Wanting to be a new Prometheus, he attempted to accomplish in a decade what it will take centuries to bring about."

The flesh around the Primus's eyes tightened at the jolt of pain her words gave him. Excellent use of a mythical reference! Yes, I would be thelight-bringer, but I am not so guileless as to proceed in the manner you suggest. Yes, I combine our foes, but only to more easily direct them at each other.A trickle of sweat rolled down his right temple. Quickly, Precentor, finish your speech so I may pull it apart!

Myndo opened her hands wide as though to embrace the whole chamber. "We all know the list of things Julian Tiepolo has tried to do in the last ten years, and many of you have been present when I opposed his wild machinations in this very chamber. I steadfastly fought against the alliance between the Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns. The Primus believed that uniting these two nations would spur the fall of the other states. That was his reason for forcing me to negotiate a treaty between Houses Kurita, Marik, and Liao. It may appear that he created two strong foes out of five smaller enemies—a formula to bring about the destruction we have long awaited—it did nothing of the sort."

Myndo lifted her chin. "All this time, I was seeing the true danger within the Successor States: Prince Hanse Davion. Other shortsighted rulers before him believed they could force their enemies to elect them as new First Lord of a new Star League, but this man is different. Someone like Maximilian Liao dreamed of being elevated by his peers and given free rein to create a new League. He imagined that he could reform, in months or years, what centuries of war and hatred had torn asunder.

"Hanse Davion suffers no such illusion. He does not seek personal glory and gain. What he plans is the founding of a dynasty. Already he has united the two economically strongest realms with his marriage to Melissa Steiner. His armies have gobbled up the most productive parts of the Capellan Confederation, and our Interdiction has not slowed those troops in any measurable way. It is as though Hanse Davion knows our true purpose and uses that knowledge against us."

A wave of heat passed over the Primus, beading sweat on his shaven head. The burning in his chest increased and with it, so did his fury at Precentor Dieron. Full retribution... is that what you want, Myndo? Did it so pain you ten years ago when I did not take you as my consort? I refused to take you to my bed because it would have forced me to chose between you and my great mission as Primus and guide of ComStar. You would have seduced me with your physical charms and then, intellectually, accomplished the same thing. We would have still reached this place, you and I, because I would not have moved quickly or ruthlessly enough for you. You have never understood how this office hobbles even the boldest of those who attain it.

Myndo ticked off points on her fingers as her voice rose to fill the chamber. "The Primus failed when he said there would be no change in the Liao-Davion border in our lifetime. He failed to maintain security during the Davion-Steiner wedding. Jaime Wolf appeared with two swords. Three ComStar ROM agents died. A Liao assassin made an attempt on the life of Quintus Allard. When I pressed for an Interdiction of House Liao for this violation, the Primus blocked it. When I asked for an Interdiction of House Davion to cut off their invasion in the early stages, again he blocked it. Now that Ardan Sortek has stepped in to run the Tikonov Free Republic until 'free' elections can be held, the Primus will not allow us to interdict Tikonov, which is no more than a Davion puppet-state!"

Her hands tightened into fists. "Every time I suggest action that could slow the unification that is anathema to our goals, Primus Julian Tiepolo opposes me and puts into place a program that assists our enemies. He is a heretic! We must remove him before he has a chance to block our reponse to a most serious situation."

The Primus's left arm jerked slightly as a sharp pain jolted from shoulder to fist. What is she talking about? These cryptic references will be the death of me.He pulled his right hand from his left sleeve and rubbed it against his chest. Damn. Why does my ulcer have to flare up now?For a moment, his attention wandered to the trivial thought of another year of bland food and foul concoctions.

Myndo's face hardened with contempt. "We all recall the gross failure of the Primus's personal aide, Precentor Emilio Rachan. Under the Primus's watchful eye, Rachan tried to carve himself a little kingdom and compromised security by allying with renegade Marik lords. Rachan located but failed to recover a Star League library memory core. In fact, he allowed it to fall into the hands of civilians who have treated it as a storehouse of lostech."

Her arctic gaze swept around the room. "For two years, we have hunted down every copy of the core we could find. To destroy these cores, we sponsored terrorism and let the blame fall to Davion or Kurita. Until now, we have kept the information in the copies from reaching people skilled enough to realize what they have. But that is no longer true because the New Avalon Institute of Science now has a copy of the core!"

More pain wracked the Primus's chest, again clawing down his left arm. No, that's not possible! She must be lying. How could Myndo have such information? We have no ROM agents in the NAIS. . . . If it is true . . . By the Blood of Blake, we are undone!

Myndo smiled cruelly at her shocked compatriots. "Yes, the core has reached the NAIS. Their experts are studying it, but their enthusiasm has let hints of their great find leak through the security net. How do I know?" Her eyes glowed with triumph. "I have placed an agent in the area and she managed to seduce the son of the military research chief. He told her just enough to communicate to me what is really happening in the NAIS."

Myndo turned and pointed at the Primus. "We must take action . .. action that this man will not sanction. Otherwise, this core will provide the NAIS with data that will allow them to take quantum leaps in technology. We must strike and destroy the NAIS!"

No! Such a naked display of power is impossible!Julian Tiepolo glowered at Myndo and opened his mouth to bellow at her, but no words escaped his throat. A bolt of pain exploded in his chest and engulfed his left arm in agony. The world swam out of focus as it spun away.

He tore at his chest with his right hand and collapsed in a heap. His breath, coming in ragged gasps, stoked the fire in his chest.

Myndo watched the paramedics wheel Julian Tiepolo away to the infirmary. As the chamber's door slid shut behind them, she faced her peers. "We must vote."

Still pale, Precentor Tharkad stared at her, unbelieving. "I, for one, will not sanction removing the Primus's title and office while he lies fighting for his life!"

Even before the others could voice agreement, Myndo cut them off. "Not that, you fool! Do you think me so heartless and cruel that I would take that from him? I may have opposed him, but I would not strip him of his dignity on his deathbed." She shook her head slowly. "No, I would not do that. Still, we must vote on whether or not to take action against the NAIS."

Villius Tejh watched her with the eyes of an eagle. "We cannot openly strike at the school."

Myndo laughed, wondering what sort of a fool he took her for. "Point well taken. Since our impersonation of a Davion unit was so successful in creating the holovid for the Federated Suns Interdiction, I have prepared a 'Mech battalion that in every detail matches that of the Liao Death Commandos. As far as anyone will know, Liao has launched an attack on the NAIS."

Precentor Tharkad rubbed his chin. "When?"

"They can be there in three weeks," she said. "Infantry will scour the research center to recover information that we do not have while the 'Mech battalion destroys whatever we don't need. Finally, they raze the whole research facility to cover our tracks."

Slowly, Precentor Tharkad raised his hand to signal agreement. Following his lead, in fits and starts, the other Precentors also voted in favor of the attack. Savoring her victory, Myndo made the vote unanimous by being the last one to raise her hand.

She smiled at her fellows, knowing herself the strongest among them. Thus begins a new age for ComStar. The Word of Blake be done!

37

Kathil

Capellan March, Federated Suns

29 August 3029

 

Captain Andrew Redburn hunched his neck into his shoulders as cold, hard rain slashed at his face. This Fredek Vebber may think Kathil is his own fief, but he's wearing on me.The Mech Warrior shot a glance at Morgan Hasek-Davion, admiring the look of calm nobility on the other man's face. His ability to stay cool even under less-than-ideal conditions is why he and not you is in charge of this operation, Andy.

The main doors to Kearny-Fuchida Yare Industries sprang open, releasing a flood of harsh white lights that blinded the quartet of officers walking toward the building. The lights, mounted on holovid cameras, reduced Fredek Vebber to a corpulent silhouette. Andrew smiled despite the lash of windblown rain. Vebber's not a complete fool. He, at least, is out of this downpour.

The crowd melted back as Morgan Hasek-Davion passed through the door. Tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, Morgan moved with a grace that was almost feline. Without looking back, he continued far enough into the lobby for his compatriots to follow, then slid back the hood and doffed his rain-cloak.

Andrew read Morgan's tension in the way his hands curled into fists and the intentness with which he studied those around him. I remember when we first met at Warrior's Hall, pitted against one another in a plebe boxing tournament. When he looked at me just that way, I knew I was done for. Two minutes later, I was kissing canvas. I hope you’re up to it, Mr. Vebber.

Vebber stepped forward as KFYI staffers whisked away the MechWarriors' sopping raingear. He offered Morgan his hand, making sure to hold the pose long enough for the holovid cameras to shoot everything they needed for a promotional film.

The two men contrasted with one another in almost every way. Younger, healthier, and more physically imposing, Morgan bore himself with a strength Vebber would have lacked even in his youth. Morgan's black fatigues and the pistol riding in a hip holster also marked him as a military man, but it was more than that. Morgan is so vital and powerful,Andy thought. He is the predator and Vebber the prey.

Fredek Vebber, swathed in a gray business suit, looked old, soft, and heavy. "It is an honor, Highness, to have you tour our facilities," he said. "I am Fredek Vebber and at your service."

Morgan let a thin smile form on his lips, but his green eyes gave Vebber no quarter. "We found the visit to your antenna facility most instructive."

Andrew shared a smile with the other two officers who had accompanied Morgan to the microwave antenna dish plantation. "Instructive" had not been one of the words that came to mind while they stood out in the rain looking at those dishes.

Morgan turned to introduce his entourage. "Mr. Vebber, these are my staff officers." He smiled genuinely as he gestured to the MechWarriors. "This is Captain Andrew Redburn."

Vebber pasted a smile on his face that almost fell off when Andrew half-crushed the plant owner's fleshy hand in a solid grip. "I've heard of you, Captain, You're a hero—this is a thrill for me."

Andrew nodded politely. "Indeed. I'll not soon forget our meeting."

Vebber pried his hand free as Morgan introduced the beautiful black-skinned officer standing next to Andy. "This is Captain Alanna Damu." Vebber took her hand and would have kissed it, but Alanna shifted her palm around for a more appropriate greeting. Her ebon eyes flashed with irritation, prompting Vebber to nod silently and move to the last officer.

Vebber smiled warmly as he shook hands with Colonel Geraldo de Velez. "Highness, I know Gerry. I've known him since he was a kid. We sponsored his childhood soccer team." Vebber winked at the Prince. "Yare always takes great care of its employees and their little ones."

"I am certain, Mr. Vebber, that Colonel de Velez was chosen to command the Kathil militia's third battalion because of his maturity and skill at tactics." Morgan's voice took on a sharp edge. "He is young, it's true, but woe to any who mistake him for a child."

Vebber straightened his double-breasted gray coat. "I see." He waved them forward toward a long corridor. "Please, let me conduct you on the tour."

Morgan nodded slowly. "Do proceed, sir. We have come a long way for this." He glanced back at his aides, silently communicating his intentions to them. Andrew nodded understanding. Morgan wants to be in and out. We only want one thing from a visit to Yare, and now we’ll get it.Andrew smiled as one of the cameramen moved ahead to catch the party as it turned a corner. This is one vid no one is ever going to see.

Ahead, Vebber's tenor voice filled the corridor. "This is only a small part of KF Yare Industries, but the most important part. You saw the KF drive manufacturing plant in orbit as you came insystem, and you saw one of our many energy broadcast stations this morning. What you didn't see were the numerous smaller factories circling this world at high speed. With the computers here in our command center, we track all of them and supply their energy needs by beaming microwaves up to them."

Vebber pushed open a door and waved his guests into the dark, cavernous command center. In the backlight from hundreds of display terminals, Andrew saw a legion of technicians moving around the room. He whistled involuntarily. "This looks like the cockpit on a JumpShip, only a hundred times larger."

Vebber smiled and pointed down over rows and rows of technicians seated at command modules. They sat facing a wall on which was projected a map of the whole planet, with the trajectories of various satellite factories plotted over it in glowing detail. "On that map, we track all factories, communication satellites, and incoming ships. We know where everything is at any time."

Morgan moved to the nearest station, smiling down at the friendly looking man at the post. "From here, you track factories and feed them power?"

Vebber nodded, patting his hair into place. "We make sure each plant gets the power it needs. This requires delicate work as it passes from energy zone to energy zone. We power down one feed at a rate inverse to the powering up of the next feed so there's not an overload."

Andrew frowned. "Why track satellites? They all have their own reactors on board, don't they?"

Vebber smiled condescendingly but massaged his right hand nervously. "True, Captain. They do not require our power. If, however, they got caught in one of our energy feeds, well,"—he made his hands fly away from each other in a mock explosion– "our insurance carriers would be upset with us."

Morgan turned toward Vebber. "Your equipment is good enough to track a satellite? I mean, you could hit it with a microwave beam if you wanted to?"

Vebber glowed under Morgan's attention. "Yes, Highness. Easily. In fact, our equipment is good enough to hit a dinner plate up to 400,000 kilometers away with no focal distortion or waver."

Morgan smiled. '"Then you could hit a DropShip running into the atmosphere on a raid."

Vebber stiffened. "No, Highness. That could never happen."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Even if I wanted it to happen, Mr. Vebber?"

The plant owner shook his head. "No, Highness. I would not permit it."

Morgan smile slowly and cruelly. "Even if I gave you an order, Mr. Vebber?"

Vebber's jowls trembled as he shook his head. "No, Highness. This is a privately held firm, and you cannot give orders here."

Morgan's smile died, replaced by a darkening look of anger. "If I order it, Mr. Vebber, you will do it!" Morgan pointed back at the map. "If Liao invaders are burning their way into this atmosphere, you will do it!"

Vebber's jaw dropped and, for a moment, Andrew thought the administrator had seen the light. The hope died at Vebber's derisive reply. "You're not Hanse Davion, and you're certainly not your father. I take no orders from you."

Morgan looked down at the man sitting at the command station. "What's your name?"

Swiveling his chair about to face Vebber, the operator adjusted his glasses. "Lyekiz, Highness. Tim Lyekiz."

Morgan unholstered his pistol and charged it with a metallic snap. "You could use your station here to hit a Liao ship coming insystem, right?"

Lyekiz nodded.

Morgan looked up at Vebber. "And you'd do it if I told you to, right?”

“Yes, sir."

Morgan raised the gun and aimed at Vebber. "Then we have no need for Mr. Vebber, do we?" Lyekiz grinned. "No, sir."

Vebber's eyes popped wide open as he stared down the bore of Morgan's pistol. Sweat beaded on his brow, then coursed down his face. Strands of hair splayed down over his forehead as Vebber's mouth opened and closed like a fish trying to breathe air. For a moment, Vebber looked as though he might faint, then some color returned to his ashen face and a low, slightly mad laughter rolled from his throat.

"Oh, Highness, I misunderstood." He glanced back at Andrew, eyes begging for someone to confirm the lie he was about to tell. "I thought you meant one of ourDropShips. Rainstorms always affect my hearing . . . you know, Liao . . . our—the words sound so similar. I thought you were testing my loyalty to the Prince, Highness."

While Vebber was pleading for his life, Andrew noticed that the expressions on the faces of a number of the operators showed hope that Morgan would pull the trigger. Hell, it looks like a Maskirovka hit team could get directions to Vebber's office from just about anyone in this company.

Morgan held the gun on Vebber, letting the man blubber on until he realized no one believed his outlandish story. "I understand your confusion, Mr. Vebber," Morgan said, pointing the pistol toward the ceiling. "You were correct that I am not Prince Hanse Davion, nor am I my father. I was sent here to do a job. No one and nothing will stop me."

With those words still echoing through the command center, Morgan Hasek-Davion turned on his heel and left to accomplish more important work.

* * *

Though the Kathil Militia Reserve auditorium was less than half-full, Andrew felt as though it were packed to bursting. It's the anticipation and fear. It radiates off all these MechWarriors like heat from a BattleMech.Seated in the front row, Andrew felt the pressure increase as Morgan Hasek-Davion stepped behind the podium to address the crowd.

Morgan's green eyes swept over the assembled MechWarriors. Hanse Davion's heir nodded slightly, his smile communicating his approval to those gathered in the room. He glanced at the sheaf of notes on the podium, then set them aside. When Morgan looked up, his red hair framed his head like a mane. He gripped the edges of the podium with strong hands and leaned forward to speak. "This is a meeting that historians without number will study and remember. We are the metal to be heated in the crucible of battle and shaped into something incredible—or desiroyed on a cold anvil named Kathil. Our old lives end here and now, shed like a snake sloughs its skin, to give birth to a legend."

Morgan straighted up, head high. "Many of you may believe that glory and fame can only be won on the front with the Capellan Confederation. You may be thinking that your failures in that theatre are the reason you've been transferred to a backwater like Kathil. You wonder if this is a kind of punishment, as history marches past you, leaving you in the dust of obscurity. This, my friends, is an error of the greatest magnitude because everything, everything,in this war hinges upon what we do here on Kathil."

Morgan opened his hands to encompass his whole audience. "We know from impeccable sources that Maximilian Liao has sent a force to destroy this world. Liao, like an animal blinded by mortal pain, is striking out in desperation. He does not realize that in hitting Kathil, he will repeat the gross errors of the First Succession War.

"That war, as everyone knows, resulted in destruction so widespread that mankind has not yet recovered from it. Kathil, this jewel of lostech,is a prime example of the pitiful consequences of such intemperate assaults. One of the jewels of the Star League because of its JumpShip production, the planet was nearly destroyed by successive Liao attacks. Only with great effort and expense has the Federated Suns been able to enhance production in the past few years. Orbiting overhead are factories that produce JumpShips, yet nowhere within the Succession States do we have the knowledge of how and why JumpShips work. We are children assembling kits, with no idea how to improve the parts we use. Because of the First Succession War and the slaughter of the intelligentsia that accompanied it, mankind has been in decline for 250 years."