The girl relaxed and stood up, her face equal parts caution and question.

"Rianna," he said. "It's me, Jeremiah." Rose stood still, his hands at his sides.

Rianna looked him over as if the name did not register, then she realized what he was saying.

"Jeremiah!" Without warning the girl jumped from the porch into Rose's arms. Nearly thrown off balance in his surprise, Rose recovered quickly and braced himself for the impact. Rianna was heavier than he expected, but he wrapped her up in his arms as she hugged him about the neck.

"I knew you'd come home. I just knew it." Rose remained still, hugging the sister he hadn't seen in fifteen years. He tried several times to set her down, but she wouldn't let go of his neck. Eventually he had to settle for half-dragging her to the porch and sitting down on the steps with Rianna in his lap.

"Just like old times, eh, Ria?" His sister nodded.

"I found out yesterday that you'd come back to Northwind, but didn't know how to find you. I had no idea you'd come looking for me." She hugged him again. "Let's go inside where we can talk. The neighbors have already seen enough to last them."

"Is the old man inside?"

Rianna hesitated. "No, he's still back at the repair bay. After missing a day of work, he said he'd have to stay late tonight."

Rianna ushered Rose inside. Standing in the living room he marveled that so few things had changed since his departure. Maybe a few new pictures on the walls, and the colors seemed subtly different, but the mood was still the same.

"I was just fixing some tea. Want some?"

"Sounds good." Rianna disappeared around the corner and into the kitchen. Rose followed at a more leisurely pace, absorbing all the sights and sounds of the house. As he reached the dining area Rianna reappeared with a pitcher and two tall, ice-filled glasses. She set the trio on the hardwood table and pulled out a chair.

"Something to eat?" Rose shook his head and continued to look around the room. Rianna watched him as she poured two glasses, then sat down facing him.

"Does it seem the same?" Rose stared at his sister for a moment, thinking about the question. Her tone made the query seem more important than it should.

"Yes, exactly the same. I know some little things are different, but the feel hasn't changed. Your handiwork?"

Rianna nodded and smiled.

"You've done a wonderful job." Rose reached for his glass and smiled sheepishly at his sister. "You know, I didn't recognize you on the porch."

Rianna laughed lightly. "And I was sure you were some real estate broker, the way you just stood there staring at the house. You really had me going when you started running at me.

"Will you stay the night? Your room is mostly the same. We'd love to have you." Rose regarded his sister from under lowered eyebrows. "All right, I'dlove to have you," she said. "Papa can deal with it as he sees fit."

Rose considered the offer. He'd expected it, had even planned a response, but now that he was actually seeing his sister, the resolve was slipping away. "I wish I could, but I can't."

Rianna looked crushed. She began to speak, then stopped and stared at her frosty glass with sudden interest.

"How long will you be on Northwind?" she asked the glass.

"Two, maybe three more days." Rose stared at his glass too. He had known the conversation would reach this point, but hadn't expected it to come so soon.

"Then where?"

"Solaris ... or maybe Outreach," he said, referring to two of the most famous planets in the Inner Sphere.

From far and wide MechWarriors traveled to Solaris, seeking fame and fortune in the 'Mech duels for which the world had become renowned. As for Outreach, it had in recent years become the center for mercenary hiring throughout the Inner Sphere. The planet was also the home of Wolfs Dragoons, a crack mercenary unit in their own right.

"But tell me what you know about the outcome of the Assembly," Rose said.

"Well, I know that the High Assembly decided against you. I'm sure it must have looked like they were swayed mainly by Papa's words, but most likely they turned you down because of the Clans."

Rose held up a hand. "How's that?"

"The High Assembly has decided that the Clans will continue to be a major threat for the next fifteen years, no matter what the Treaty of Tukayyid says."

"Smart guess."

"They've proposed that the Assembly of Warriors restrict the sale and transfer of all 'Mechs outside the Highlanders except in case of emergency." She paused to let the words sink in.

"So, even if Papa hadn't spoken against you, one of the unit commanders would have been forced to echo the High Assembly's decision."

"So I never really had a chance with the Assembly of Warriors, did I?"

Rianna refilled the two glasses and thought for a moment. "Not really. But the family assembly was another matter.

"Since the personal 'Mechs of Highlander warriors are excluded from the High Assembly's decision, anybody not currently under contract could have signed up with you. Unfortunately, Papa axed that idea.

"I don't know how, but he managed to learn that you were coming back before anyone else in the family knew about it. Most of the warriors on Mama's side are currently under contract and the few that aren't weren't told of the meeting. As you saw, there were plenty of available pilots from Papa's side of the family, but he, as patriarch, pretty much controlled their votes. Some of the younger ones might have gone against him if you could have spoken with them one on one, but in an open meeting like that ..." Rianna let the words trail away. Rose knew that none of the younger pilots would risk earning a reputation as a troublemaker by speaking against the family elder in open assembly. It was too quick a method of killing a career.

"I would have signed up on the spot, but I got stuck with maintenance duty over at the 'Mech bay, and had to spend the entire day with my head in the elbow of a Phoenix Hawk.I didn't even know about the meeting— or your arrival—until the entire business was already over."

Rose rapped the table in frustration. Had he not come to the house today, he would have left Northwind convinced that his entire family hated him, instead of just his father.

"It really hurt him when I left, didn't it?" Rose knew the answer by the solemn expression his sister took.

"I don't think you have any idea. Mama had only been gone six months and you were so outspoken against Hanse Davion and the Federated Commonwealth. With the pressure of the war and his increased duties, Papa was on the edge. When you joined ComStar, he just snapped." Rose winced at the thought. He'd never really gotten along with his father, but neither had he wished him any harm.

"The outward anger went away pretty fast, but the rest he's held inside all these years." Rianna let the silence hang. "You can see the results."

"Yes, I can," Rose said softly. "So, where does that leave me, the family, you?" He looked up at his sister, who was biting her lip in concentration.

"Well, you're probably still out of luck when it comes to the family. At least as far as putting together a mercenary unit. There are only two warriors with 'Mechs who would even consider joining you." Rose nodded and gestured for her to continue.

"Angus Lochart is the first. He pilots his father's Valkyrie."