“There is nothing he can say that will stand against the facts,” Samsonov shouted. Takashi and Wolf turned to look at him, surprised at his sudden, vehement entrance into the conversation.

“Be very sure of your facts, Warlord,” Wolf warned.

Samsonov looked ready to say something more, but held his peace as Takashi cleared his throat.

“Facts are, gentlemen. They exist as separate entities. It is the interpretation of facts that concerns us here. I have studied your situation summaries, and now I will listen to your presentations.” Takashi seated himself on the low dais and waved his arm to indicate that the officers were free to use the mats at the edge of the dais. Wolf and Akuma knelt. Samsonov remained standing. “Warlord, state your case,” Takashi said.

“Wolf's Dragoons are a danger to the Draconis Combine and the security of House Kurita,” Samsonov began in his typical bombastic fashion. “Their officers are cowards— afraid of the inevitable losses of battle. They hoard their troops, to the detriment of the military operations to which they are assigned. And this practice ultimately harms the Combine. We cannot allow such insubordinate incompetents to maintain powerful positions in the military structure. Uncontrolled, the Dragoons threaten to cripple our border defenses against the imperialistic House of Davion.”

When Takashi did not contradict Samsonov, the Warlord flashed a savage grin of victory at Wolf and launched into a detailed assault on the history of the Dragoons' service to the Combine. Whenever he faltered for a name, date, or statistic, Akuma supplied it in a cool, detached voice.

The verbal attacks continued for an hour. When Samsonov seemed satisfied that he had finally driven home his point, he raised his haughty face to the Coordinator.

“Surely, the Coordinator can see that the Dragoons, by their very nature, endanger the Draconis Combine. That threat must be eliminated. Their leaders, criminals all, must be eliminated.”

Takashi had remained perfectly still throughout the tirade. He noticed that Wolf had done the same, almost as though the mercenary were deaf to Samsonov's words. “You have spoken strongly for your case, Warlord.”

The look that Samsonov gave Takashi seemed to say he didn't believe that the Coordinator really appreciated the danger he outlined. With slow, awkward movements, the Warlord knelt on his mat.

Takashi turned his gaze to Akuma. “Chu-saAkuma, what have you to say?”

Akuma bowed smartly and then rose to his feet. “I have no emotional case to plead, Coordinator. There is little I can add to what the Warlord has already said. As Professional Soldiery Liaison, I have worked in the best interests of the Draconis Combine, always trying to shepherd the Dragoons into better cooperation with the plans of House Kurita. It has not been an easy task. The Dragoons are headstrong.”

“My written evaluation covers this delicate matter adequately, Coordinator. I believe there is nothing I can add to it. If, in your wisdom, you have discerned any areas that I have not explicated completely, I will try to the best of my ability to rectify that failure.”

“Thank you, Chu-sa.I have no questions for you at this time. Leave us now and attend to your other duties.”

Akuma acknowledged his orders with a deep bow and retired toward the back of the room. The carved doors opened at his approach, and the Sworder strode through them without a backward glance. When the massive teak panels had closed behind him, Takashi turned his head toward Wolf.

“Now, Colonel Wolf. You have heard the case against you and the Dragoons. What have you to say?”

Wolf remained where he was. He did not bow. When he spoke, it was in a quiet voice. “The Dragoons are what they are, Coordinator.” Despite the softness of his tone, the words were clear and distinct and would have carried through a larger room than the audience chamber. “Their leadership is inseparable from their nature. They will accept no other leaders than their own. You cannot remove the father and expect a family to accept a new man as head of that family.”

“An interesting rebuttal, Colonel Wolf.” Takashi sat silent for a moment. From the corner of his eye, he could see Samsonov frowning, his jaw working with barely suppressed rage. The Warlord was expressing more than enough emotion. It made a displeasing comparison to the cool and detached Wolf. “You have not denied any of the charges.”

“An account of our actions since undertaking contract with the Draconis Combine is contained in the data file that Major Blake fed into your computer system. I stand by it. Beyond that, there is little point in my saying anything, Coordinator. We are prejudged.”

“Not so. I have made no decision.”

“Why not?” roared Samsonov, leaping to his feet. “The situation is intolerable. You have heard the evidence. You have seen this craven worm fail to deny anything his rogues have done. I demand that Wolf's Dragoons be immediately placed under my direct orders. I demand that Korsht and Dumont be relieved of their regimental commands. I demand that the criminals, especially the foul Kerensky and the butcher Arbuthnot, who instigated the bloody suppression of the unruly populace on Kawabe, be immediately tried and sentenced to death for their atrocities.”

The Warlord punctuated each demand by shaking his fist at Wolf.

“You demand nothing of the Coordinator, Warlord.” Takashi's voice was harsh as he glared at Samsonov. “The Dragoons will remain under the independent command of Colonel Wolf.”

Samsonov's gesticulations stopped, but his expression grew wilder as Takashi spoke. His color went from red to purple and his breathing became stentorious. “I respectfully remind the Coordinator of his duty to the Combine,” Samsonov said in a strangled voice.

“I remind you, Tai-sho,of your duty to me.”

Insulted by the use of his lesser title and shamed by the Coordinator's tone of voice, Samsonov snapped his mouth shut. His silence lasted but a moment.

“I see. I shall return to my district and my duty, then.”

The Warlord gave a stiff, formal bow and turned on his heel. Before the guards closed the doors to the audience chamber, Takashi and Wolf could hear the bellowing insults Samsonov heaped on the aides who came to attend him. A heavy thud and a metallic clatter were the last sounds heard as the heavy teak panels swung shut, cutting off the tumult in the lesser chamber.

As he rose from his seat, the Coordinator spoke as though nothing extraordinary had happened. “I believe I need some fresh air, Colonel Wolf. Please join me on the balcony. The view of the city is superb.”

Wolf followed Takashi through the open doorway, where the breeze was cold enough to cut through their clothes. Takashi swept out one arm, encompassing the view, which was breathtaking. Luthien's Imperial City was one of the most beautiful cities in the Inner Sphere.

“This is the heart of the Dragon's realm. From here, I rule more than four hundred stars. It is not an easy task. There are always hard questions to be answered and difficult decisions to be made. Constant demands on my time leave little space for release, for finding the small pleasures of life.

“When we met in Quentin, I sensed a kindred soul. A man who could see beyond the petty tasks of these latter days. A man of vision. Where is that man?”

“If by that you mean me, I am here at the order of my employer. Now, as then, I simply command the Dragoons.”

“There is nothing simple about it. The Dragoons are a formidable force. You are a formidable officer. I would like to retain the services of Wolf's Dragoons.”

“It hasn't been indicated.”

Takashi detected bitterness in Wolf's words. “Things can be better. Improved resources. More suitable liaisons. Richer assignments.”

“I'll take your offer under advisement.”