Текст книги "Riposte"

Автор книги: Michael A. Stackpole

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Текущая страница: 20 (всего у книги 24 страниц)

Typing hurriedly onto his command console's keypad, Andrew labeled the 'Mech's image with a digital ID tag, then sent the information out to his command. "Archer and Demon Lances, that's Colonel Fiona Cochraine. Hit that Goliathwith everything you've got!"

At his command, the two lances unleashed a hundred LRMs at the Liao commander's Goliath.Explosions saturated the 'Mech, flaying ribbons of ceramic armor from its surface. One flight wreathed the turret in flames, crumpling previously unmarred slabs of armor. The Goliathstaggered as the pilot fought against the detonation's Shockwave. Smoke poured from a hole in the 'Mech's chest.

With the range and hurried timing of the assault, the accuracy of the long-range lances' laser fire suffered. Somehow, though, the shots that did hit the target made up in quality for the deficiencies of the other attacks. One beam carved more armor from the Goliath'schest, leaving the 'Mech with only a pitifully small amount of protection against future assaults. Most important, one coruscating beam stabbed straight through the Goliath'shead.

Andrew saw the Goliathshudder. It wavered, and for a moment, he imagined that the laser had hit the cockpit, killing the pilot, but the 'Mech's continued activity dashed those hopes. Sending thundering Shockwaves through the ground, the Goliathplanted its feet widely enough apart to steady itself. Its PPC moved like an eye on a stalk, then locked onto one of the offending 'Mechs with the callousness of a child stomping on a cockroach.

"Craon, move! It's got you in its sights!" Almost reflexively, Andrew stabbed both feet down, igniting the ion jets on the Firestarter'sback. Inertia slammed him back into his command couch as his 'Mech rocketed up and out toward Cochraine's Goliath. No free shots on my command!Both arm-mounted flamers blazing, Redburn brought his 'Mech down on the Goliath.

Blood gushed from his nose and filled his mouth with a salty-sweet thickness as the impact's Shockwave jolted up through his cockpit. Andrew felt tooth chips grind beneath his molars. Lights flared everywhere in his cockpit and alarms rang with brain-numbing intensity, but failed to cover the scream of metal and the sharp cracking of ceramic armor. Static filled his holoscreens and sparks shot from behind his command couch.

Waves of heat washed up and over him as dazzling white fire flashed around the Firestarter.Again, he felt himself slammed down into the couch, but his legs had fallen from their positions on the jump jet controls. Some titanic force grabbed his Firestarterat the feet, whipping the 35-ton 'Mech into the air like a doll.

Andrew clawed desperately for the eject button, but gravity pinned his arms into place on the command couch's arms. Spots flashed before his eyes and a dim, horrifying realization crawled up from the place where his nightmares hid. Out of control! ...G-forces too much. Can't black out!Gritting his teeth, he forced his right hand to punch again at the eject button, but consciousness had already drained away before he could hit it.

42

Outbound, Terra

21 August 3028

Daniel Allard started so violently as Morgan Kell's low laughter filled his JumpShip cabin that he nearly dropped the green strip of silk hanging from his fingers. Dan whirled to face the narrow cabin's hatchway. "I'm sorry, Colonel. Is there something you need from me?"

Morgan smiled broadly and shook his head. "You've got it bad for that woman, haven't you, Daniel?" He folded his arms across the chest of his dark blue jumpsuit. "You've been preoccupied since we saw the Archon and her daughter off on their JumpShip earlier today. I'm sure your lady love would have been there, but she probably had many things to do."

Dan narrowed his eyes until they were little more than sapphire crescents. How much do you really know, Morgan? The Archon trusts you, but would she trust you with this ?Dan glanced down at the silk strip. "The Archon-Designate said as much to me when we saw them off. That's when she gave me this ... Said it was from Jeana."

Morgan held out his hand, and Dan reluctantly passed the cloth to him. "Well, Dan, this lets you know she shares your feelings." Morgan turned the cloth over in his big hands. "If Slangmore cadets successfully complete their final training run in a 'Mech, the graduates receive one of these headbands." Morgan smiled, the expression in his brown eyes growing distant. "I've heard stories about mortal wounds healing when bound with one of these things, and other superstitious tales that go around in MechWarrior circles. I do know of one Mech Warrior who used his Slangmore Sash to strangle the Draconian who captured him after he ejected."

Dan nodded slowly. "I've heard the same sort of thing about Albion grads and their damned 'Mech charms."

Morgan chuckled evilly. "Yeah, at Nagelring, we always thought the idea of keeping a piece of your first 'Mech with you was kind of silly. Why would anyone willingly carry around evidence that they'd been shot out of a 'Mech?"

His expression brightening briefly, Dan smiled. "Well, it proves you survived."

Morgan shrugged. "As they say at Nagelring, that's why the body forms scars . . ." Morgan handed the meter-long strip of cloth back to Dan. "Slangmore grads usually wear these things as headbands in combat. They only give them up when dead, or when they want to ensure someone else's survival. Pretty powerful stuff."

That's not the half of it, Morgan . . .Dan looked back up at his commander. His gaze swept over Morgan's strong features, but failed to pierce the man's emotional mask. "I suppose part of my distraction comes from seeing the Archon-Designate head back to the Commonwealth with her mother." Dan shrugged. "I mean, well, one night isn't much of a honeymoon, is it?"

Morgan shook his head. "I'd hope for more, I think. But you have to remember that no matter what Hanse and Melissa feel for one another, their marriage was political. Declaring war on Liao, Marik, and Kurita on the day of the wedding points that up in no uncertain terms. As a political marriage, it had to be consummated, but staying together any longer than they did was impossible for them at this time."

Dan nodded slowly. "The war's not likely to be popular in the Commonwealth, is it?"

Morgan smiled coldly. "All wars are popular as long as your side is winning, but your point is well taken. Aldo Lestrade will have to do something to counteract whatever popularity the Archon will pick up in this exchange. Because of the advantage of surprise, the LCAF will have several early victories. After that, things will bog down, or Kurita will counterstrike hard and things may go badly."

Do you know the truth, Morgan?Dan nodded. "The Archon couldn't afford to have her daughter stay with Hanse Davion because that could be made to look as though she'd sold out the entire Commonwealth." As Morgan nodded slowly in reply, Dan sprang his trap. "Still, it must have been hard for the Archon to keep her daughter away from the man she loves."

Morgan stiffened almost imperceptibly, then studied Dan with a harsh gaze. The Colonel unfolded his arms and slowly closed the cabin's hatch. From a pocket in his jacket, he took a small cylindrical device no larger than his thumb, held it up, then nodded in satisfaction. In a cold, dangerous voice, he asked, "How did you know?"

Not what, buthow do I know . . .Dan suddenly felt sweat beading on his brow. He swallowed hard because his mouth had gone dry, then nodded. "That thing ... it tells you the room is secure?"

Morgan nodded. "How do you know, Captain?"

The fearful menace in Morgan's voice obliterated the joy Dan had felt in drawing his conclusion. He's afraid Melissa might be in some jeopardy.Dan held up his hands. "No, Colonel, don't worry. It's no leak. A lucky break . . . only one in a zillion people might have noticed, but I've told no one." Dan looked down at the green sash. "Until your question confirmed it, I could barely believe it myself."

Morgan's dark visage eased a bit. "Tell me, Dan. I'll not have Melissa endangered."

Dan nodded. "You will recall that when we saw the Archon and Melissa off, you hugged both of them? I bid them farewell in a bit more restrained manner. I shook hands with the Archon, then I kissed Melissa's hand."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"Melissa was wearing a perfume called Nocturne.She'd dabbed some of it on her wrist." Dan smiled as he remembered the day on the beach. "Jeana told me it was a fragrance created especially for Melissa, but that the Archon-Designate hated it and never wore it. In fact, Jeana said, Melissa had given the entire supply to her because she liked it."

Dan met Morgan's dark gaze. "Now I know why Jeana was so secretive about herself. And that's why she made a play for me. Melissa is traveling back to New Avalon as Jeana, pretending to get to know my family." Dan's mouth dropped open as he numbly swung his head side to side. "What could be more perfectly secure and natural?"

As his hand crushed the silk, Dan turned from Morgan to stare at the bulkhead. "Now I know how Justin felt when he found himself on trial." Dan slammed his fist on the desk. "How could my father do that to me?"

Morgan settled both of his strong hands on Dan's shoulders. Dan wanted to fight him, to pull away and let his anger flash out like a PPC blast, but Morgan held him firmly. "You've hit on pieces of the plan, my friend, but you've not got it straight."

Morgan released Dan, then moved back to his place by the door. "No one had expected me to bring you to the wedding as my aide. Katrina believed I'd bring Salome, but as you'll recall, Salome insisted on remaining to complete training with the First 'Mech Battalion. I chose you to accompany me because I knew your parents would be there."

Morgan looked down at the JumpShip deck. "Jeana was supposed to strike up a friendship with your sister. She already had papers showing her to be a transfer student to the New Avalon Institute of Science. Because your sister attends classes and teaches there, the friendship would have seemed natural." Morgan grinned. "Your friendship with her seemed yet more natural."

Dan turned slowly. "Why didn't my father tell me?"

Morgan shrugged. "I don't know. I only found this out when Katrina and I spoke the night of the wedding. She explained it to me so I'd not betray anything when we saw them off. I suspect your father would have told you on Friday night but. . ."

Dan nodded. "He never got the chance."

Dan opened his mouth to ask a question, but Morgan waved it away. "Don't ask. If it were all a lie, she'd never have given you that sash." Morgan pointed at the shiny green ribbon threaded through Dan's knotted fists. "There's your proof."

Dan grinned sheepishly. "Point taken." He looked up. "Thanks. This has been eating me alive. I didn't know if Jeana was part of some plot by Lestrade, or something even more strange."

Morgan smiled openly. "I need you sane and clear, Dan, so I thought I'd try to reassure you. I didn't expect the conversation to take this turn, but I'm glad it did. In this war, I can't afford to have a company commander preoccupied with anything but his people."

"Roger that, Colonel." Dan smiled as he recalled the pandemonium following the Prince's announcement concerning the Capellan Confederation. "I'll be more concerned about my people than old Max Liao was about grabbing dessert dishes."

Morgan threw back his head and laughed heartily. "It must have been a full five seconds of dead and utter shocked silence after Prince Hanse made the announcement. Takashi Kurita looked as if he'd been slapped with a cold squid."

"And I thought old Janos Marik was going to have a stroke," Dan said. "His face turned red, and then purple when he saw his consort looking at the Prince with her lusty eyes. Still, Maximilian Liao's reaction had to be the best..."

The Kell Hound Colonel nodded in agreement. "When he shot from his seat, I thought he was going to launch straight away for his JumpShip. He croaked a couple of times, then clutched his dessert plate to his chest as though it were solid gold! Then he starts shouting at his wife and daughters to gather up the plates because they're military intelligence! 'They show the worlds he means to conquer!' Max bellowed. I hope the Liao defenses are more organized than their leader."

Dan chewed his lower lip. "I think they will be. Did you see Justin's reaction? He just stood there, rock still, and glared at the Prince while all hell broke loose around him. He took absolutely no notice of nobles and Mech Warriors fighting over plates, cake flying everywhere, and the ComStar Acolytes trying to calm things down. Justin raised his champagne glass in that steel hand of his and waited for the Prince to return the salute. When the Prince did so, they both drank and then Justin crushed his glass..."

Morgan narrowed his dark eyes. "Very bad blood there. You may well be right to suggest that Liao's forces will be well-organized if Justin has any say in the matter. I actually think Hanse Davion has more to fear from him than he does from Max Liao."

Dan nodded, then deflected the conversation away from thoughts of his brother. "What is really happening out there, Colonel, if I may ask?"

Morgan half-closed his eyes. "If things are going according to plan, Davion forces have landed—or will soon be landing—on nine different Liao worlds. The initial invasion hits all the worlds on the Tikonov-Sarna border ..."

Dan dredged a map out of his memory. "At the narrow point, choking Tikonov off from the rest of the Capellan Confederation?"

Morgan nodded. "The Federated Suns had their troops gathered up for the Galahad exercises, but launched deep into Liao space. They grossly outnumber and outclass the troops they're going against, but nothing is certain in war." Morgan pressed his lips together into a thin, grim line. "That said, Liao troops would have to fight far better than they have in the past to avoid being overwhelmed."

Dan frowned. "Won't Kurita attack the Federated Suns to help Liao?"

Morgan opened his hands. "Wolf's Dragoons left the Draconis Combine in a hostile fashion. Lots of troops got ripped up in the Galedon Military District, and Wolf's set his people up to hammer any and all comers House Kurita wants to send to him. The war's gotten personal there . . . It's less House Davion versus House Kurita than it is Jaime Wolf versus the Draconis Combine."

The mercenary Captain winced. "The Draconis March is larger than just the Galedon Military District. The Combine could attack down and shut off the Terran corridor."

Morgan shook his head. "No time. Lyran forces hit all along the border. The Combine had been moving troops toward the Galedon District to shore up their defenses, so the attack will catch them with their zubondown. The LCAF slammed Marfik hard and, with any luck, caught Theodore Kurita in their trap. Eliminate the Coordinator's heir, and internal struggles could rip the Combine apart."

"So, what does all this mean for the Kell Hounds? What are we going to do?"

Morgan smiled grimly. "I've sent word to Salome to bring the regiment to Thorin, and Katrina is lending us DropShips and a JumpShip to do it. Then we wait."

Dan shifted uneasily in his chair. He already knew the answer to his question, but he had to hear the answer from Morgan's lips. "Wait for what?"

Morgan Kell looked away, as though seeing far away, down some corridor in time. "We wait for someone to determine which is the Genyoshahomeworld, and then we bring the war home to Yorinaga Kurita."

43

New Avalon

Cruris March, Federated Suns

25 September 3028

The air hung heavy in the underground command center known as the Fox's Den. Acrid with the scent of nervous sweat and filled with tension, it defied all attempts of the air conditioning system to do more than swirl into a turgid breeze. Hardly anyone looked up when Prince Hanse Davion appeared in the darkened doorway, while those who did merely nodded, too weary for more. Studying the tired faces, the Prince smiled to himself. Here, now, we are equals, and that familiarity pleases me in this setting. Here I need men and women who will tell me the truth, not courtiers who will falsify reality to gain their own ends.

An orderly handed the Prince a wireless headset. He slipped it onto his head, then adjusted the microphone to hover just at the corner of his mouth. Radio chatter filled the earphone clapped against his right ear, but by lightly touching the back of the ear piece, he cut the volume to little more than a light whisper.

Moving through the darkened command post built deep beneath his palace, the Prince approached the holographic wartable through a crowd of milling bodies. Surrounding the rectangular room and extending down into the massive amphitheatre to his left were giant computer screens that displayed scrolling lines of data or recorded battlefield vids assembled from the 'Mechs fighting light years away.

The Prince saw Quintus Allard hunched over the wartable. The holograph's phosphorescent greens and reds overlaid Quintus's face like a topographical map, etching dark valleys onto the Minister's face.

Quintus looked up as Hanse reached the table's edge. The Minister greeted the Prince with a smile and a nod, then pointed to the battle unfolding on the massive wartable. "It worked, my Prince. Redfield's Renegades landed successfully in the Liao family estate on Liao. It placed them directly behind the Capellan Hussars. The word we have now is that the Hussars have left the world."

Hanse Davion nodded. "Excellent. Liao surprised us by having the Hussars on the world, and we return the favor by having the Renegades pull off a dangerous assault." The Prince tapped two fingers against his chin. "We shall reward Redfield and his people for their effort." Hanse narrowed his eyes. "Have you discovered how the Hussars happened to be on Liao without our knowledge?"

A sour expression washed over Quintus's face. "It turns out a clerk in the Quartermaster Corps had been collecting pay for a halfdozen phantom troopers. He delayed recording the Hussars' shift in station until he could clean up his files, which is why our people didn't spot the move initially. Our agents on Liao knew the Hussars performed exercises there each summer, so they routed their reports via the normal channels. We'd expected the Hussars to end up on Liao, but we thought it would be later. Without the payroll confirmation, we just didn't have them on-planet yet."

Hanse nodded. "They got offworld?"

Quintus nodded. "And they took one battalion from the House LuSann unit and one badly damaged battalion from the Confederation Reserve Cavalry's First Regiment. That unit, for all intents and purposes, is destroyed. The officer corps and command structure is gone."

The Prince touched a glowing stud on the table's edge. The holographic projection changed away from the battles on Liao to a representation of the planet Aldebaran. "Any more trouble here?"

Quintus shook his head. "House Ijori got a company and a half off the world. Since their departure, trouble has dropped to a minimum. The Fourth Guards have a good handle on things, and per your instructions, have opened a number of temporary relief centers for refugees. The Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry has regrouped and is ready for the next wave of strikes."

Quintus typed a short command into a computer console off to his right. "Liao got one battalion of the First Ariana Fusiliers off Algol and one and a half battalions of New Hessen's First Irregulars regiment off New Hessen." He looked up with a grim smile. "Liao's salvaged two weakened regiments from the garrison forces on nine worlds. We've been hurt in a couple of places, but we're still strong. In fact, the units scheduled for participation in the next wave of attacks are virtually intact."

Hanse nodded thoughtfully. "On Algol, did we pick up the prize?"

Quintus nodded. "Half alive, but we have him. He ejected from a damaged 'Mech and headed into the wilderness. Infection almost cost him his leg, and his broken ankle will never heal quite right, but we've got him."

Hanse smiled to himself. Excellent. A son is such an effective tool to use against the father."No one is to know his true identity. Have him brought here." Accepting Quintus's nod as a reply, Hanse shifted subjects. "Has an evaluation of the close assault company's activity on St. Andre been completed?"

Quintus again typed a command into the computer console, then touched a button on the table's edge. Aldebaran's image faded, to be replaced with a data display. Projected in bold blues and greens, the column indicating the tonnage destroyed by Redburn's company towered over the column representing tonnage lost by the same group.

The Prince smiled broadly. "This is better than expected."

Quintus nodded. "You should remember, my Prince, that the Goliath'Mech is notorious for its lack of close-in weaponry. The Delta company was fighting a Liao force singularly susceptible to their configuration. That said, the most important thing to remember about the Delta company is how well they fought when they believed Redburn had died."

Quintus shifted the wartable's display. It went from the graphics breakdown to holographic battle footage. "We captured this from one of the Goliaths."Quintus pointed to a Goliathslowly turning after being hammered by a series of LRM explosions. "That's Colonel Cochraine's 'Mech."

Lasers blasted into the 'Mech, scouring the remaining armor from the turret, but failed to stop the war machine. Its turret slowly turned, then focused on a Jenner.Off to the Goliath'sright, a Firestartershot into the sky on silver jets of ion flame, then landed, feet first, on the Goliath'shead.

The resulting fusion engine explosion filled the war-room with a blinding white fire. As the light died, the Prince saw the legless torso of the Firestarterwhirl up and away from the ruined Goliath.The broken 'Mech spun through the air like a discarded toy, then slammed into the shoulder of another previously damaged Goliath.That assault 'Mech's shoulder collapsed, sending it crashing to the ground, while the Firestarterbounced off and lay face up. It did not move.

Quintus stopped the display, leaving the 'Mechs frozen in the midst of battle. "Redburn suffered a concussion and remained unconscious for the rest of the battle. Leftenant Craon immediately directed his Valkyriefireteams to keep Goliathsoff the Captain's position, then drove the three other lances deeper into the Goliathformation. He even radioed Colonel Stone and told him that the rest of the First Battalion could, quoting now, 'join in any time they wished.' "

That drew a chuckle from the Prince. Stone must have loved to hear that!"Imagine that, Quintus. A unit built from one of my training battalions inviting an academy unit to join them. Mech-Warriors like Craon would never have had a chance if we'd not started that program. Let us hope this kind of thing will help kill criticism of that program."

"Yes, Highness, let us hope." Quintus summoned the data display back to the wartable. "The Delta company is still at full strength. Redburn is fine, and his Firestarterhas been replaced with a Centurioncaptured from Liao forces. It occurred to me that the Delta company could be used for tactical drops similar to the way we used Redfield's Renegades on Liao. I can allocate a DropShip to them if you think it wise."

The Prince nodded. "Do it. It appears that everything is under control. All the preparations for the second wave are proceeding apace?"

Quintus smiled. "We could go early in some cases."

The Prince shook his head slowly. "No, we stick with the plans. I want each wave to land hard—hard enough for Maximilian Liao hear his doom in every step."

Quintus narrowed his eyes. "And the data going to Michael?"

The Prince clapped Quintus on the back. "Focus the spotlight on our weak points, as we've discussed. We don't want to make the Maskirovka's job any easier for them, but we can't have them miss the obvious weaknesses in our strategy. If they do, our plans will not fulfill their potential."

Quintus nodded solemnly. "It will be done as you direct."

"Good." The Prince gave Quintus's shoulder a squeeze, then removed the headset and placed it on the wartable. He strode from the command center, and after giving his eyes a chance to adjust to the hallway's somewhat brighter light, he marched on past the bank of elevators. Turning the corner at the far end of the passage, he nodded to the two CID guards posted beside the entrance to his private elevator. He entered the open carriage, then leaned back against its oak-paneled walls as it silently carried him aloft.

The invasion had gone well, very well. It had, in fact, exceeded his wildest dreams of success. His forces had suffered no major losses and their attacks truly appeared to have been surprises. Liao salvaged even less in the way of troops and materiel than the Prince and his advisors had calculated.

As the elevator slowed, Hanse Davion stood away from the wall, straightened his military style tunic, and composed his face with a smile. The next wave is in place and goes off in October. I hope its harvest will be equally bountiful.

The elevator door opened into the Prince's private apartments. "Hello Melissa . . . Morgan. How are you?"

Melissa, her golden hair framing her face, smiled. She set her teacup and saucer on a white marble table before her, then rose to greet her husband. She slipped her hands into his and kissed him lightly on the lips. Pivoting to her left, she pointed at the holodiscs on the table, then smiled at Morgan. "Your nephew brought me discs of the latest episodes of the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmesholovid series. They've not yet reached the Commonwealth for rebroadcast." Holding his left hand within the folds of her pale blue skirt, Melissa squeezed it a bit more than necessary.

Hanse smiled. "That's very considerate of you, Morgan."

Morgan stood, folding his hands behind his back. "I need to speak with you, Uncle." The look of concern on his face echoed the emotion in his voice. "I did not come here only to bring Melissa those discs, and we both know it. Again, I ask you to let me rejoin my unit."

Hanse slipped his hand from Melissa's and drifted over to a small desk as his wife again took her seat near Morgan. "I cannot, Morgan. You know that." Hanse turned toward his flame-haired nephew. "Your unit is performing successfully—perhaps not as well as it would with you leading your battalion—but I need you here."

Morgan shook his head angrily. "You told me I'm too valuable because I am your heir, but that never prevented me from participating in combat operations before."

Irritation settled over the Prince's face like a thundercloud. "Before was different, Morgan."

"No, Uncle, it was not. Before, I became a rallying point. The Heavy Guards knew you were confident of them because you let them fight with me in their midst." Morgan pointed angrily toward the ceiling, but his gesture encompassed the sky and the universe beyond it. "They knew you knew they'd win because, otherwise, you'd not have sent me out with them. You would never risk losing me."

Hanse shook his head slowly. "I have Ardan Sortek leading them. They can take the same confidence in the fact that I have entrusted my best friend to them."

Morgan snarled. "No, Uncle, it's not the same. Ardan has no blood tie to you. As much as I like him and believe in him as a commander, he is little more than a pawn in this battle." Morgan jabbed a thumb into the middle of his broad chest. "I'm a prize, Uncle, and we both know it. Were I to be captured, Maximilian Liao could use me against my father. He could bargain my father's neutrality in return for my life."

Hanse's head came up. "There. You yourself have given me the perfect reason to keep you here."

Morgan's shoulder slumped forward, pain showing on his face. "No, it's not a good reason. You should have me out there, in the field. It would say to everyone that you know our victory is inevitable."

Hanse's eyes narrowed. "And, if it isn't? What happens if you are killed in battle? Your father will accuse me of having bungled my plans. He'll say that I needlessly thrust you into danger, just to get at him. Instead of fighting Liao, I'll end up fighting him."

Morgan shook his head. "No, Uncle, you don't know him as I do. He would rally to your side if I died. He would commit his troops and crush Liao." Morgan allowed himself a wry smile. "You and I both know that as good as are the troops we've committed to the invasion, we will need the Capellan March forces if we are to succeed."

Hanse raised one eyebrow. Does your facility for planning extend beyond military matters, Morgan? Are you equally insightful and careful when it comes to politics?Hanse's voice sank to the whisper of a boneyard breeze. "If it is as you say, perhaps I should just arrange for a Maskirovka assassin to kill you here on New Avalon. It would galvanize the Capellan March, yet save me the demoralizing effect your death in combat would have on the Heavy Guards ..."

Melissa gasped and Morgan stiffened. Morgan drew himself up to his full height. "All I've ever asked is to serve as you see fit, my Prince. If my death would suit your needs, I only need time to settle my affairs . . ."

Hanse waved off that suggestion with both hands. "No, dammit, I'm not Takashi Kurita and you're not one of his fanatical samurai. Your death will not serve me at all! Your presence, your insight, your support is what I need, and I need it here, on New Avalon." Hanse swallowed hard, then met Morgan's emerald stare unflinchingly.

"Here, Morgan, untouchable on New Avalon, you are the future. Your presence, your life, irritates Maximilian Liao to no end. He knows he cannot defeat my troops. And if by some fluke, he kills me, he knows you, my young lion, are waiting in the wings to take my place."