"We shall inform the Clans of the gas and instruct them in its use."

Focht nodded. "I have already done so, Primus. That is not the issue.. I explain all this to emphasize that we do not know the state of Davion weapons research on a secret that is twenty years old. How can we be certain Davion or Kurita or even Thomas Marik has not initiated a weapons research program that will close the technological gap with the Clans?"

The Primus recoiled with shock. "Close it? Is that possible in twenty years?"

The Precentor Martial sighed heavily. "Probably not, but they could narrow it. If the core started them on the road to restoring 'Mechs to the level and ability of their Star League precursors, the gap narrows precipitously."

Only the whisper of rustling silk broke the silence as Myndo paced. "I see your point. You must somehow determine the capabilities of such Star League-era weapons in the hands of current Mech Warriors. We must be able to alert the Clans to potential difficulties."

The Precentor Martial barely succeeded in repressing a smug grin. "By using some of our own Star League-era 'Mechs in the exercise I was running, it was just such data I was attempting to gather."

Displeasure arced through the Primus' eyes. "Do not rebuke me, Anastasius Focht. I know well who and what you truly are. Do you forget I am the one who rescued you from a life of mind-numbing boredom and made you the head of my armies? You have served me well, but you may yet push me too far."

"Apologies, Primus. I did not mean to offend." Focht bowed his head remorsefully, but part of him rejoiced at having stung her. As he brought his head up, he adjusted the patch over his right eye. "Have you yet reached a decision on the matter of the message to Morgan Kell? I promised Phelan Kell that I would communicate to Kell that his son is alive."

"Yes, I have. You are forbidden to communicate news of Phelan Kell to any of his kin." Myndo's face became an implacable mask. "If Morgan Kell or anyone on Outreach had even a hint of Phelan's survival, it would not only tip them to our involvement with the Clans, but it might also set them to thoughts of negotiating with the Clans. That must never happen."

"As you will it, Primus."

"Do not look so glum, Anastasius. You know there is no other way." Her eyes focused distantly and Focht knew she no longer saw him. "As difficult as this time is for humanity, it is only by passing through the cleansing fire of the Clan invasion that man can become worthy of what we, inheritors of the Word of Blake, will one day offer them."

9

Wolf's Dragoons General Headquarters, Outreach

Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth

15 March 3051

Nestled in the 'Mech simulator's metal cocoon, Victor Davion cursed. "Dammit! Galen, can you get over here? I have a situation ..."

The computer-projected enemy Centurion—a humanoid BattleMech whose right arm ended in the muzzle of an autocannon—stepped clear of its hiding place in the narrow canyon. The right arm came up and swung into line with the breast of the Prince's Victor.Victor flicked a glance at the armor diagram on his secondary monitor and chose not to duck back to cover. I can take whatever his autocannon will dish out, and can give back as good as I get.

As Victor brought his own 'Mech's muzzle-arm up, the Centurioncut loose. The simulator cockpit whirled, blurring the vision of the computer-construct landscape. Victor jerked against the command couch's restraining straps as the cockpit stopped abruptly, then experienced a severe jolt as special reaction pads in the chair pounded into his back.

The view screens showed him sky.

"Christ Almighty, what's he packing in that thing?" The armor diagram showed that all the armor had been stripped away from the right side of the Victor'storso. The chain feed for the autocannon ammo in its right shoulder had been blasted to pieces. The sheer impact from the assault had been enough for the computer judging the contest to determine that the Victorwould have been knocked to the ground, a judgement that put the Prince at a severe disadvantage.

Victor forced the BattleMech into a sitting position and cut loose with twin blasts from the lasers mounted on its left forearm. The scarlet fire ripped straight lines through the canyon, splashing red highlights over the striated rock, but it missed the Centurion.Still, the hastily snapped shots forced the Centurionpilot to duck back, giving Victor just enough time to regain his feet again. The computer, using Victor's own sense of balance as reported through the bulky neurohelmet he wore, brought the BattleMech upright.

"Galen, where are you?"

"Coming up behind you, boss. What's the score?"

"Him lots, and me nothing. Centurionspack a Luxor D-series Autocannon, right?"

"In the right arm, yeah." Galen hesitated. "That is, all except one I know of. The one's got a Pontiac 100, just like your Victorthere."

Victor pounded a fist down against the arm of his command couch. "Damn! Yen-lo-wanghas a Pontiac. That had to be Kai." A shiver ran down his spine. "And if that was Kai, the rest of his lance can't be far behind."

"Roger. I've got visual on you."

The computer projected an image of the entire 360-degree area surrounding Victor in a 160-degree arc in front of him. Twin crosshairs stood in the middle of the display, each under control of the joysticks on the arms of his command couch. At the right edge of the display, beyond the gold bars that showed Victor the limits of his weapon firing arcs, he saw the computer projection of Galen's Crusadermarching into the canyon behind him.

"You know, Highness, from behind, your 'Mech looks fine."

"Looks are deceiving." Victor punched up a damage report. "The armor on my right side is gone completely. The autocannon is useless because the ammo feed mechanism is shot. I'm lucky Kai didn't get a stray shot into the magazine."

The LRM pods on either of the Crusader'sarms flicked open. "Where is he?"

"I don't know. Where's the other half of our lance?"

Hohiro's voice boomed an answer to the question into the Prince's neurohelmet. "I am here, coming up behind Hauptmann Cox. Has your Immortalassault 'Mech run into some trouble?"

Victor ground his teeth. "You might put it that way, Sho-sa.We've found Kai Allard and he's running in a modified Centurion."

"If you find a Centuriontoo much to handle, Kommandant Davion, I would accept command of the lance."

"If you and Yodama would be so kind as to keep up with Galen and me, we might be able to trap Kai's people and have it out with them." Back behind Galen's Crusader,Victor saw the blocky form of Hohiro's Grand Dragonwander into view. The LRM launching rack jutted forward from the 'Mech's chest like the muzzle of a beast. Its right arm had no hand because the forearm housed a PPC, and Victor saw a medium laser underslung from the 'Mech's left forearm. He knew the Grand Dragonto be a nasty 'Mech in a fight, and would have preferred battling it out with Hohiro to being on the same side with him.

Galen's voice cut into the commlink. "I think you two should remember that we're fighting against Kai and the others, not among ourselves. Victor, you know well enough that we're going to have to work together to beat Kai, Sho-saKurita, if you've not learned to be wary of Kai yet, you probably will have by the time this simulator exercise is over."