Michi drew away from Theodore, forcing him to relinquish his grip. "What are you talking about?"

Theodore paused, taken aback by the suspicion in his friend's voice. This isn't the way I wanted to do it.

He fished a small box from his pocket. He snapped the black lacquer case open as he extended it. Nestled against the white silk were a set of apple-green insignia: two stylized katakananumerals and a pair of segmented bars, their second division highlighted in gold. "I'm appointing you Tai-shuof Dieron."

"I am not a good choice," Michi insisted. "There will be dissent."

"But nothing you can't handle. I need you here."

Michi walked to the window that overlooked the mountain chain that harbored Tatsuyama City. Without turning to face Theodore, he spoke. "By the friendship between us, and the trials we shared while searching for soldiers among the yakuza, do not ask this of me."

"I must." Theodore was confused. Why did Michi treat this as such an imposition? He was offering the man a post of great power and honor. "This District is the cornerstone of the defense of the Combine. I can trust no one else to handle it the way I want it handled."

"There are others who would be less ... politically unsound."

"To certain persons, anyone who associates with me is politically unsound. You have the skills and the necessary force of will. I need you in the post. The Combine needs you."

Michi sighed. "When we first met, you told me of the threat the Combine faced. I believed that you understood and could halt that threat. I agreed to put aside my personal quest and serve until the Combine was safe again. I will accept the post."

Michi turned and took the insignia from Theodore. No words were said as he replaced the insignia on his collar. Theodore was disturbed by the hostility coming from Michi. He had thought his friend would be pleased by this proof of trust and good will.

A sharp rapping on the door disturbed their privacy. Without waiting for a response, a Sho-saentered the room. Bowing, she announced the arrival of the ComStar Precentor's party. Theodore dismissed her with a petulant wave, but before she retreated, he had second thoughts about keeping the Precentor waiting. He commanded the Sho-sato escort the ComStar officials into the small office.

"I will leave now, Kanrei."

"No. I want you here for this," Theodore said. The new Tai-shustopped in mid-stride. Michi's blind side was facing Theodore and his white-irised eye glinted hard and cold. "It is part of your new job."

"As you command, Kanrei."

55

Dragon Roost, Tatsuyama Mountain, Dieron

Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine

21 July 3034

Primus Myndo Waterly swept into the room, her golden robe of office glittering in the chill late-morning sunlight slanting through the window. In her wake strode the long-legged Sharilar Mori, who wore the scarlet robe and gold trimmings of her position as Precentor Dieron and member of the First Circuit. As soon as the Primus and Precentor had entered, the Kurita sho-sawho had led them to the room stepped across the doorway, blocking the way of any further ComStar personnel. She bowed and closed the door, cutting off the protests of the rest of the ComStar delegation.

Theodore smiled at his guests. "Greetings, Primus. Precentor. I trust your flight up the mountain was comfortable."

"As much as could be expected, given the winds on the mountain," Myndo remarked. Her eyes held a question concerning the brooding presence of Michi Noketsuna, his plain gray buso-senshi'sjump suit at odds with the rank insignia shining at his collar.

"This is Tai-shuNoketsuna of Dieron. He will be part of our discussions, for I wish him to serve as my liaison with ComStar."

Myndo's eyes widened briefly in surprise, then narrowed in sudden calculation. "The Roost seemed little changed from the days when I visited Warlord Cherenkoff here."

Theodore chose to ignore her deliberate choice of the past tense in her comment. "As you know, we Kuritans are great traditionalists."

He pointed out chairs for the ComStar visitors. When they were seated, he selected one for himself, its back to the window. Michi took up a position behind the chair, to his right, as he had in their days of searching through the Kurita underworld. Their faces were shadowed in the glare from the white-topped mountains outside the vitryl panel. "It's too cold a day for a clandestine meeting in a park," Theodore said, indicating the view with an upraised finger. "I'm glad you feel we can meet openly now."

"Why should we not? You rule the Combine."

"Not so," Theodore contradicted. "I'm merely a servant of the Coordinator, his Deputy for Military Affairs."

Myndo smirked, mocking his protests, but she said nothing.

"I understand that you have some complaints about our agreement."

Myndo inclined her head slightly, acknowledging Theodore's directness. "You have withheld worlds from the Free Rasalhague Republic."

"True. It was necessary in order to placate some of the more radical elements of the council."

"Radical elements! It would seem that you were unsuccessful. Combine military units invaded the Republic, threatening all we have worked for. That is hardly restraint."

"The invasion was a regrettable deed performed by renegades. The Draconis Combine had no part in it. In response, we aided the Republic by destroying the rebel bases."

The cold anger that had risen in Myndo's dark eyes overflowed into her voice. "You have not lived up to your end of our bargain."

"And you have?" Theodore countered calmly. "What about the crippled BattleMechs, AeroSpace Fighters, and tanks you send? My understanding was that the Combine would receive Star League-vintage equipment. You were quite explicit about that. I didn't expect refitted shells."

Myndo was unmoved. "You have received as you deserve."

"As have you," Theodore retorted. "The support of the Combine for the Free Rasalhague Republic has had much of the effect you wish. The Isle of Skye is a cauldron of unrest."

"Not through any act of yours." Myndo held up a solidograph map. Even across the room, Theodore recognized the star systems highlighted on it. "You must free these worlds from your Alshain District. They are to be given to Rasalhague."

Theodore admired her audacity in commanding someone she believed to be the ruler of hundreds of star systems, but he would certainly not bow before it. "That's impossible," he said flatly.

The Primus tightened her lips into a hard white line. "Perhaps you will find that other things are impossible as well." She gave Theodore a moment to react. When he did not, she added, "Communications, perhaps. Or our troops may not arrive to man the equipment that you disparage."

"Is that a threat, Precentor?" Theodore inquired mildly.

"ComStar makes no threats." The fury in her voice belied her words.

No threats?Theodore echoed silently. I'm not deaf, Primus. But your threat doesn't matter because we have a way around your communications monopoly, thanks to Kowalski's success with the black boxes and the library core. Not as swift, but it will work.

I have the soldiers I need, and more reliable than the troops you offer. They may be from the dregs of our society, but at least they areours. They truly believe in the destiny of the Dragon, and that belief makes them strong, stronger than your hirelings.