Shaken, Thomas Marik sagged down into his chair. "How soon can the treatments begin?"

"I have a command circuit of JumpShips linking me with New Avalon. It will take three days to get Joshua up to the ships, and then less than a week to get him to New Avalon. Your wife can accompany him, as may your doctors. They will be provided housing, security, and complete anonymity."

"Then you shall have your machinery." Thomas fixed Hanse with an unforgiving stare. "I entrust my son to you because I cannot deny him a chance at life. I give you your war toys because it is true that your son deserves the chance you are giving to mine. Do not imagine, though, that this makes us friends or allies. I will not forget—I cannot let myself forget—that you are the devil incarnate."

Hanse made no reply as he sat down, but Kai read a look of grim satisfaction on the Prince's face. Melissa reached out for her husband's hand. "Can they save Joshua?" she whispered.

The Prince of the Federated Commonwealth shrugged slightly. "They will do what they can, everything they can, just as I have done." His blue eyes darkened. "It will have to be enough."

Hanse's words set Kai to deep reflection. Could I ever find it in myself to be that confident?he wondered. Then again, if I have to sacrifice so much of my humanity, would I want such confidence?

Jaime Wolf spoke slowly, his voice low, in keeping with the somber mood that had fallen over the chamber. "It is good that we have reached an agreement concerning the OmniMechs because the exercise evaluators have completed the review of the training cadre's performance. As all but one of its members are here, I will take this opportunity to announce their scores. A perfect score on this exercise was 300 and could be obtained by 100 percent destruction of three foes, with no damage to the 'Mech of the pilot being tested."

Wolf smiled cryptically. "It should come as no surprise that Kai Allard-Liao scored highest in the exercise. He ended up with a score of 445 points, based on 520 points for the damage he did, less the 75 percent destruction of his 'Mech. To my knowledge, this high a score has never been achieved anywhere, within the Clans or here on Outreach. That he achieved it fighting against such tough opponents only makes it the more impressive.

"Hohiro Kurita earned a score of 255, to come in second. Victor Davion scored 235. Galen Cox and Shin Yodama scored 195 and 193, respectively. Cassandra Allard-Liao scored 189 and Ragnar Magnusson scored 157."

Wolf raised one eyebrow. "And because you will ask, Sun-Tzu Liao ended up with a score of minus 62 points.

"Because of their scores, Kai and Hohiro will be given Daishichassis OmniMechs to configure in whatever manner they choose. We all agreed that it was important for the sons and daughters of the Inner Sphere's royal houses to present a united front, and these scores and performances seem to auger well for the chances of an alliance that can defeat the Clans."

Kai felt his mouth go dry as he stood up. "Excuse me, Colonel Wolf."

"Yes?"

He swallowed hard. "I am honored to be given an Omni-Mech, but I must refuse it."

Victor shook his head. "No, Kai, don't do this for me. You won it fair and square, and Hohiro blew past the mark I set."

Kai forced himself to smile. "Victor, though we are friends, I would not sacrifice a Daishito soothe your feelings. It's too fine a machine to let go so easily." Kai looked back to Wolf. "Colonel, I already have a 'Mech that I wish to pilot in battle. It was my father's, the same one that took him to the pinnacle on the Game World and that saw him through desperate battles in the last war. In that 'Mech, he carried my mother from the Capellan homeworld."

He looked down, avoiding Wolf's probing stare. "For this reason, I ask you to let another pilot have the OmniMech you so kindly wish to award me. Yen-lo-wangsafeguarded my father and mother in most dangerous times. It will do the same for me."

Jaime Wolf nodded slowly. "As you wish, Leftenant Allard. Your Daishiwill be assigned to Victor Davion. Whatever I might think of your decision, no warrior could deny your request."

Wolf shifted his gaze to Hanse's son. "Victor Davion, you have here a friend more valuable than all the worlds in the Inner Sphere. By stepping down, he allows you and Hohiro Kurita to remain on equal standing with one another. Let this selflessness be a reminder of the kind of deeds that may yet be necessary if this alliance is to endure and be victorious."

23

ComStar First Circuit Compound, Hilton Head Island

North America , Terra

17 September 3051

Primus Myndo Waterly smiled as Precentor Tharkad grew angrier. "Calm yourself, Ulthan. This is not the First Circuit. I do not need your histrionics, nor am I obliged to tolerate them here in my quarters." She pointed beyond him to the Precentor from the Draconis Combine. "Why can't you maintain your composure, as does Sharilar?"

The purplish hue of Ulthan Everson's beefy face did not look terribly healthy, but the color began to return to normal as he looked first at Myndo, then back at Sharilar Mori. "Why can't I be more like her? Because I was not raised in the repressive samurai society that produced her oryou, Primus. Precentor Dieron might be able to hide her emotions, but how could she not feel the same outrage?"

Thick white eyebrows bunched like clouds over his blue eyes. "Just how long have you known the Clans were planning to resume their invasion of the Inner Sphere?"

Myndo shrugged, then tugged the golden pleats of her silk robe back into their proper position. "I have always known they would resume the war, Ulthan. We all have. As for knowledge that they were actually returning, I suppose I learned in early July that they had elected a new ilKhan. It seemed obvious that they would start their return shortly after that."

Ulthan Everson blinked his eyes in amazement. "You've known for two months, but this is the first you've thought to tell us of it?"

Myndo's dark eyes glittered like black pearls. "Until the actual return, I did not believe it was necessary to bother you with such things. You have enough on your hands administering the areas the Clans have already conquered. Even now, the Precentor Martial is on his way to meet them, and he will report to me as needed.

"By the way, Ulthan, I was most pleased with the upswing in the popularity of our Blessed Order in the occupied worlds of the Federated Commonwealth. You have done well."

Sharilar pressed her delicate hands together. "Primus, I believe Precentor Tharkad wished to learn of the return as early as possible to make certain the Clans will find no fault with our policies. I share this concern because a new ilKhan could easily decide not to continue the liaison with us, robbing us of the chance to spread the Word of Blake among the masses."

Bright girl, so like me at her age.Myndo smiled indulgently at the woman who had assumed the Precentorship she had held before her accession to Primus. "This was a dilemma I foresaw long ago. However, the new ilKhan is Ulric of the Wolves. In the past, he was quite eager to use our people to pacify and administer the worlds he took, so I assume he realizes the benefits of alliance with us."

The Primus smiled coldly as she watched Precentor Tharkad pace impatiently before her. "I think, Sharilar, that Ulthan has another objection to my tardiness in informing him of the Clans' return. You still do not like my policy of working with the Clans, do you, Ulthan?"