The Wolf called out orders, making the most of our depleted forces. He sent the Elementals' zoomers scurrying around the battlefield to collect armored infantry into effective Points and Stars. With an uncanny eye for the strength of positions, he positioned BattleMechs across Zeta's probable line of advance.

Then we waited.

As always on an arid battlefield, we saw the dust before we saw the approaching 'Mechs. Zeta was spread wide. Besides providing a broad sensor scan range, the formation let them hide their main force behind a screen of dust. If we'd had access to aerial recon or satellite telemetry, we would have known their disposition, as they might have known ours.

Zeta's Jamison and the Colonel were old friends, well familiar with each other's style. I had no doubt that each was trying to outguess the other, trying to pit his force's strength against the other's weakness. In such a contest, I had no doubt the Wolf would come out on top, but even so, the battle would not be a sure thing. We were tired, our machines damaged and low on expendables.

Do you remember what I said about fear? My cockpit was very crowded on that late summer afternoon.

The leading 'Mechs of Zeta resolved out of the dust clouds. They advanced at a steady pace, well below their maximum. I didn't see a single machine below seventy tons. They advanced slowly, as if reluctant to begin the battle. Maybe they'd heard about the breakup of Gamma Regiment. Maybe they were having second thoughts.

I hoped so.

The only thing in our favor was that Zeta was as understrength as we were. But machine for machine, they outmassed and outgunned us. Maeve's success against Gamma Regiment would go for naught if we were defeated here and Jaime Wolf was killed. Our whole cause would be lost.

"Hold your positions," the Wolf ordered as he moved his Archerforward.

I objected, as did other Dragoon officers, but Jaime Wolf ordered us to silence. We watched as his BattleMech moved through our forward positions and into the open space between us and Zeta Battalion.

I had heard it said that a wolf will win every fight but one, and in that fight, it dies. I suddenly wondered if this was what the Wolf intended. Did he hope to stake it all on a single combat, a duel in the style of the Clans? Was this going to be the Wolf's last fight? I hoped, I prayed, that it wasn't.

Across that open area a single BattleMech of Zeta Battalion began to move. A Stalker.Though the machine was more battered than the Colonel's 'Mech, it outmassed Wolf's 'Mech by fifteen tons, a formidable opponent. An open channel broadcast from the advancing Stalkertold me who the pilot was. J. Elliot Jamison, commander of Zeta Battalion.

"Is it really you this time, Jaime?" he asked

"It's me," the Wolf replied

"Single combat won't settle it, Jaime. This is a Trial of Refusal."

Jamison's referring to the conflict as a Trial of Refusal told us where he stood. As the Wolf had predicted from the time he learned that Zeta had gone to Alpin's side, Jamison saw this as a battle of honor.

"If you didn't think we could settle it, J. Elliot, why'd you come out alone? Did you think I was coming to surrender?"

"I had considered the possibility." Jamison said nothing for a moment, then, "But I thought it unlikely. You never really give up, Jaime."

"I'm not giving up now. Alpin is dead. Elson's down, as is Fancher. Parella's missing. Their leadership is gone. You're senior commander now, J. Elliot. This doesn't have to go on."

"Forces remain on the field," Jamison responded promptly. "The Trial of Refusal is not yet complete."

"The point's been made. More bloodshed won't prove anything."

"The Trial must be completed," Jamison repeated stubbornly.

"Damn it, J. Elliot! This isn't an extermination war. Enough people have already died."

"That is not the issue." Jamison's voice was cold. "Zeta came back to Outreach to fight to uphold our laws and traditions. And we will continue to fight until there is no more hope."

"You always were too confident, J. Elliot." Jaime Wolf sounded almost regretful. "I'd never deny the quality of Zeta, but you're not fresh and neither are your troops. Your force may be heavier, but we outnumber you."

"The odds are not so uneven," Jamison replied calmly. "Beta remains nearby"

"But Reed's in charge of Beta now. His Elementals have been scattered and his BattleMechs have been whipped hard. He's scared. Half of Zeta will be gone before he commits. Combined, you might destroy my force, but you know the cost will be high. And what will be left? If we fight today we will do what no foe, not even Kurita, has been able to do to us. We will destroy the Dragoons beyond redemption."

Jamison's tone was deadly calm as he replied, "We have recovered from worse devastation. A true warrior has no fear of death in honorable battle."

"A good commander worries about his forces, J. Elliot, not just honor."

"The time for worries is after battle."

"But who will lead, J. Elliot? Not you."

"Threats are inappropriate, Jaime."

"I'm not threatening you, J. Elliot. I'm just telling you what I know about you. You'd hate the job. It's not like running a battalion, or even a regiment. You remember when you took over Alpha? That was a Cakewalk."

"I'm not doing this for myself."

"I know you're not, J. Elliot, and I understand why you sided with Alpin. That's why I came out here to talk with you. Honor can be served without battle. The issue can be decided by agreement. Even if the battle isn't lost, the cause is. Give it up, J. Elliot. We don't need to fight."

"The Trial is not yet concluded."

The Stalkerbacked away from the Archer.

"Will my death satisfy your honor, J. Elliot?"

Jamison made no reply. His Stalkerturned and moved to rejoin his unit.

"There's been too much death," the Wolf called after him.

The Archerstood unmoving on the field. If the Wolf did not soon start back, his 'Mech would be caught in the open, unsupported. Zeta's charge would destroy him.

I started my Lokiforward. "Colonel Wolf!"

"Hold your position, Brian. No one is to move."

Throttling back, I wondered if the Colonel was going to sacrifice himself to stop the battle? If I had correctly understood Jamison's slavish devotion to tradition, the Wolf's death might indeed buy the lives of our surviving forces. As the principal in this challenge, Jaime Wolf was pivotal in its prosecution; he could end it instantly by admitting defeat. Yet, that was the one thing he would not do. He was a Dragoon and would fight on as long as there was any hope.

The Stalkermoved through the forward positions of Zeta Battalion and mounted the small rise from which it had previously surveyed the field. The lead elements of Zeta Battalion began to move again.

I looked at the Archerstanding alone on the field. Jaime Wolf's death would automatically negate a Trial of Refusal in his name. Even if we fought on, the end would be the same. Jaime Wolf would no longer lead the Dragoons. Our victory, should we achieve it, would be hollow.

The air around us suddenly filled with the sound of thunder, the noise washing over us in waves as the badlands erupted in columns of smoke and fire. The ground shook beneath the feet of our 'Mechs. At first I thought that Fire Support Group had backed Zeta's attack with an awesome artillery barrage, then I saw that the approaching assault 'Mechs were in as much disarray as we were. More, several of the assaults in the front rank were down and smoking.