The Skye revolt will disrupt Hanse Davion's timetable. Even if he succeeds in suppressing the rebellion quickly, he won't attack. He will see that we are too vigilant. Sentiment in Skye will still be running too high for him to position his troops there for an assault on us. Even Steiner troops will be uncomfortable there for some months, perhaps years. With this gift of time, I will not need your troops.

"You must act as you see best, Primus. If there are no ComStar-sponsored troops to aid our forces, we will find a way to survive on our own. Shigata ga nai.

"If you find it inconvenient to honor your part of our deal, I'll understand. You must follow your karma."

"Karma is not the issue here, Kanrei. Fulfilling one's obligations is. When I was growing up in the Combine, I was taught that a samurai always kept his word."

"Were you also taught, Primus, that fate often prevents the most determined samurai from fulfilling his word, and that such a failure entails no loss of honor? A samurai is still a man, after all, and many things are beyond the control of a single man."

Myndo sat silent, a sour look on her face. After a moment, she whispered, "Perhaps no loss of honor, but a failed duty. We were both taught the result of that."

"I see that you appreciate my position, Primus. I have greater duties to attend to before I may dwell on minor failures." Theodore folded his hands together and leaned forward. "Despite your order's recent gains in influence within the Free Worlds League, the Draconis Combine is still the only viable threat to the Davion-Steiner alliance. Thomas Marik does not even have the support that his father Janos boasted, which was pitifully little. The Marik family may have pulled together since old Janos's stroke, but they have shown little progress in resolving the disgraceful squabbling within the borders of their own state.

"The Periphery states remain minor players, at best, and the remnants of Liao's holdings are hardly significant. They have no industrial base, and their pride was smashed along with their military forces. The most powerful fantasies of their madwoman ruler will not change that.

"Neither of us wishes to see an Inner Sphere under Davion rule. Since you have decided to step out of the shadows, you must let the light show you that our interests coincide here. You may not have gotten all that you wanted from the Rasalhague situation, but then neither have I. I think that if we can put the past behind us, we can still work to prevent the disaster of Davion domination."

"ComStar works for peace, Kanrei," Precentor Mori stated firmly. "We will have no dealings with an aggressor."

"I find that comforting, Precentor." Theodore returned his attention to Myndo. "ComStar is renowned for its peaceful intent as well as its neutrality and reverence for the sovereignty of national states. You yourself were born in the Combine. Could you sit idly by and watch an invader swallow your homeland?"

"I may have been born in the Combine, Kanrei, but I was reborn among the followers of the Blessed Blake. The Combine means no more to me than any other state of the Inner Sphere. And no less. We exist to serve mankind and our communications network is our greatest service. We will not deny that service, save to those who are threats to the stability of the Inner Sphere."

"Well spoken." And a relief,he added to himself. Even with Kowalski's boxes, an HPG blackout could still hurt the Combine efforts. As would the diversion of intelligence assets, should we be forced to make covert war against your ComStar ROM apparatus, as Davion now does."I'm glad to hear that, Primus. I've no wish to face the hostility of ComStar. Let me give you a gift to show that I do not repudiate what remains of our agreement." Though I have no intention of relying on your good will."I believe that you'll find it of use in your own dealings elsewhere."

Theodore clapped his hands. The door opened to admit the sho-sa.She carried in her arms a folded packet of clothes, which she placed on a table next to the Primus. Myndo gave it a brief, disdainful look.

Theodore waited until the sho-saexited before speaking. "Do you recognize it?"

"A general's uniform. This is of no use to ComStar."

Theodore feigned a frown of disappointment. "The uniform is empty and of no real consequence. I had only intended it as a calling card." He clapped again.

A man wearing a plain gray jump suit entered. He was tall and gaunt, but despite the white hair and beard, he strode like a young man across the polished wood of the floor to stand before the Primus. He gazed coolly at her with his single, steely gray eye; his right socket was covered by an eye patch. A small white scar crept from underneath the black leather patch to join the weather-etched lines of his face.

Myndo reacted with open shock and surprise. Theodore was pleased that he had caught her off-guard. Even as she stifled her response and slipped back behind her poised facade, he recognized that he had won the battle. There would be no more talk of unfulfilled promises. He could see that she was already considering the possibilities.

56

Kanrei's Palace, Deber City, Benjamin

Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine

3 January 3035

Theodore tossed his youngest son into the air. Minora giggled with joy, shouting "Again!" each time Theodore tried to stop. Finally arms sore from the repeated effort, he lowered the child to the floor.

"We of the Kurita clan are Mech Warriors, not AeroSpace Pilots."

The youngster nodded solemnly, then with an impish grin announced, "I be both!"

Theodore laughed and hugged Minora to him. "You are ambitious, my son. A true Kurita."

The boy nestled happily in his father's arms. Minoru's squirming slowed and his breathing became deeper. Theodore brushed a spike of his son's silky black hair down with a kiss. He raised his eyes to find Tomoe had entered the room.

"You should see them more often," she said softly. "They miss you terribly.”

“I see them as often as I can.”

“It is not enough."

Theodore could hear no accusation in her voice, but he felt the pang just the same. "Duty presses heavily. With all that must be done to ready the realm, it's all the time there is."

"The Dragon's compelling call," she said resignedly.

Theodore, arms full of his son, could not reach out to her. He searched her eyes, but could not find the meaning behind that curious comment. She had locked her feelings somewhere that he could not touch.

"Zeshin," he called. The old monk raised his head. His bright eyes took in the situation as he rose and crossed the room with his distinctive rolling gait. He was already reaching out when Theodore said, "Take him. It's time for his nap."

The monk enfolded the boy in the soft, voluminous sleeves of his Pillarine robe. His deep voice rumbled reassurances to Minora as the boy fought half-heartedly to return to his father. The sudden sleepiness that takes overactive children when they stop moving was too strong for the young Kurita. He subsided with a yawn, content in the comforting arms of his guardian.

Zeshin took his charge off toward a sleeping room as Theodore stepped next to Tomoe. He placed his hands on her forearms, feeling the muscles stiffen slightly, then relax. She slid her own arms around his waist and held him tightly. Feeling suddenly awkward, he returned her embrace. For several minutes, they held each other without a word.