Morgan glanced back at Salome. "When I left the Kell Hounds twelve years ago, I told no one—including, to my very deep regret, my brother—why dissolution of the Kell Hounds was necessary. In truth, I did not fully comprehend the reasons myself. I only knew that it had to be done." Morgan paused to collect himself, and to again survey the many faces turned toward him. "This belief I shared with many of you when I asked you to leave the Kell Hounds."

Kell's voice echoed from the 'Mech hangars surrounding the Kell Hounds. "Those I left behind—those I so callously abandoned—never knew that I had asked each of you to be prepared to return at some future time. I asked you to seek out other MechWarriors who had the fire and spirit of the original Kell Hounds. I asked some officers to form their own 'Mech companies, and still others I asked to join academies to instruct warriors and support personnel we could use later.

"I know how difficult it must have been all these years. I myself spent whole months disbelieving and denying all that happened on Mallory's World. There were also many times when I felt certain that I would never be able to reassemble the Kell Hounds." Almost strangled by emotion, Morgan's voice dropped to a deep whisper. "There were times when I believed you would not come if I called."

Morgan paused for a moment, then a smile spread over his face. "I'm very happy you had more faith in me than I had in you." He nodded in solemn salute to the men and women who had returned. "Perhaps some of you believe I have summoned you here to avenge my brother's death. But from the account Captain Allard has given me, I believe that to seek vengeance for Patrick would only cheapen the sacrifice he made. He fought to preserve a life and gladly sacrificed his own in doing so ..."

Morgan's voice trailed off as he knotted his fists and raised them to his shoulders. Screwing his eyes shut against tears, Morgan raised his face toward the black sky. Anger rippled through his body, then vanished as he forced his hands open. Slowly, calmly, he lowered them and again addressed the regiment.

"I could pretend to be a prophet and predict a coming conflict in which we will figure prominently, but that would be a sham. It's true that the wedding of Melissa Steiner to Prince Hanse Davion is bound to stir up tension and ignite dozens of battles, but we will not be a part of that. We have our own war to wage. It began on Mallory's World over fifteen years ago. An unspoken truce existed while Yorinaga Kurita and I both renounced what we had become, but that truce is ended now. As soon as we are ready, the conflict begins anew."

Morgan smiled and Dan saw a spark of happiness in the Colonel's dark eyes. "Over the next two weeks, I will speak with each of you personally—to welcome those who have not been with us before, and to thank those who have returned. We will train together and become the best mercenary regiment anywhere in the Successor States.

"Again, thank you. Dismissed."

At his order, the assembled mercenaries broke ranks but did not disperse. A rumble of applause started in the back ranks, then rose in waves to become a thundering ovation. Cheers and whistles and shouts of joy reverberated off the 'Mech hangars.

Morgan bowed his head and silent laughter shuddered through his frame. He turned to say something to Dan, but the din smothered his words. Even so, Dan understood what Morgan had mouthed.

Dan smiled and nodded. That's right, Colonel. It's great to be home.

21

Arc-Royal

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

3 March 3028

Cat Wilson pressed a mug of warm stout into Dan's hand the second he entered the recreation room. "Thanks much, Cat." Dan downed two mouthfuls of the thick, dark beer, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Ah, thank God for this stuff. The swill they brew on Tharkad is allegedly beer, but you couldn't convince any jury of it."

Cat nodded. "I hear that."

Dan shook his head and looked at the other officers filling the room. "God, Cat! Everyone's here." Dan pointed his mug toward a balding, heavy-set man. "Isn't that Conn O'Bannon?"

Cat smiled. "He went away a Captain and returns a Major. He brought two medium lances with him from the 21st Centauri Lancers." Cat nodded his head toward a striking blond amazon. "Remember Peggy Fitzmartin? She's in from a stint with the Blackhearts. She brought her lance with her." Cat also indicated a slightly graying MechWarrior with only one eye. "That's Walter de Mesnil. He left your brother's old unit to rejoin us."

Dan shook his head. "So many people . . .I'd nearly forgotten how big the Kell Hounds Regiment once was."

Cat sipped his own beer, then nodded slowly. "A lot of old faces, and a lot of new ones, too."

A small figure emerged from the crowd, carefully clutching a tumbler of beer in his small hands. Though physically a dwarf, the man's face was handsome, with a warm smile and an irrepressible fire in his eyes that showed no self-pity. His brown eyes peered up through a fringe of unruly black hair. "Which am I, Cat? New or old."

Cat winked at him. "Both, Clovis. Both."

Dan reached down and touched his mug to Clovis's glass. "I'd not expected to see you here." Then he noticed the Kell Hound patch on the dwarf's flight jacket. "Have you joined Fitzpatrick's flyers?"

Clovis shook his head. "Major Ward allowed the refugees from Styx use of the DropShip Lughto transport themselves to Lyons in the Isle of Skye. The Archon gave us land for a settlement there. In return, my mother offered to make the Bifrostavailable to the Kell Hounds so you'll have two JumpShips."

Cat smiled slyly. "And part of the deal was for us to take Clovis off her hands until she could finish the drop at Lyons."

"Harumph," Clovis grumbled. "Actually, Major Ward got word that the Eire 'Mech Company here on Arc-Royal was having difficulty with some programming, so I was drafted." Clovis looked up at Cat. "He's just angry because I beat him at cards."

Dan laughed aloud and stared at Cat. "Say it ain't so . . ."

Cat scowled at Clovis, then smiled. "Don't make anything big out of this, Dan, because I can still play better than you."

"Point well taken," Dan said, but he was looking around the room, frowning slightly. "Where's Lieutenant Brand? I would have thought at least one person from my lance would show up to greet me."

Dan noticed an exchange of glances between Cat and Clovis. What the hell have they got up their sleeve?

Clovis smiled innocently. "I don't know. He's probably around somewhere." Cat nodded in silent agreement.

Dan loosened his shirt collar, sighing, "Now there's two of you to give me trouble."

Spontaneous applause erupted as Morgan Kell walked into the room. Dan set his mug down on a nearby table and joined in, then noticed Salome Ward leaning back against the doorway. Dan turned to Cat and pointed to his beer. "Watch this, will you? I'll be back." Cat nodded, and Dan cut through the throng to Salome's side.

"I'm going to get some air. You want to join me?" Dan smiled hopefully and pointed back out toward the now darkened ferrocrete strip.

Salome hesitated, then nodded and preceded him from the building. As Dan closed the outside door behind them, it abruptly cut off the voices and other Human sounds of the gathering. The night sounds of chirping sichakaeand rustling long grasses quickly filled the void.