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Winds of Change
Web novel by LtCol[W£]GrinnerWolf

Templar

 
MechWarrior Chronicles

Winds of Change
A proud Khan. A rebellious warrior. Together, they must strive against all odds to ensure the survival of their Clan.
A Web novel by A Garang Wolf, copyrighted by AFAR (©AFAR 2003) (ahfaiz@nstp.com.my). Other copyrighted materials belong to their respective owners.

Synopsis:
Due to unrelenting pressure from rival clans, the Ðreaded Legion faces total annihilation. In order to survive, it must adapt to new ways and leave Clan space before it is too late. However, the Ðreaded Legion can never trust Inner Sphere surats completely. Thus it must prepare for the day when it needs to draw on its reserve fighting force no one suspects exists - the Wolf's Free£ancers mercenary unit.

Chapter 1: Rebel with a cause

Chapter 2: The long journey begins

Chapter 3: A question of faith

 Chapter 4: Death Comes on Swift Wings

Chapter 5: Lull before the storm

Chapter 6: The Crossover

Chapter 7: Rebirth

Chapter 8: The Gladiators

Chapter 9: Here be Pirates

Chapter 10: The Good Fight

Chapter 11: Price of Freedom

Chapter 12: Heart and Soul

Chapter 13: End Game

"You have lousy timing, Wolf," Voltage said, but was visibly relieved by Wolf's arrival.

"My Khan," Wolf stiffened at Voltage's image shown on the main display of The HillBilly's bridge. "We were not sure where you would be headed to in Lyrian Space. If we knew it was going to be Mogyorod, we would have been here sooner."

"Aff, you could not have known," Voltage acknowledged. "But now that you are here, we have a problem. The Leather Backs require your support and so do the Greenbacks to a lesser extent. SaKhan Dig and I can support everyone else on the ground. But our aerospace assets are spread thin and cannot provide proper support as you come in."

"How much aerospace support do I get?" Wolf asked.

"Not enough," Voltage said with regret in his voice. "But I will be sending you our best: Stealth Wing Alpha."

"Six advanced stealth aerospace fighter-interceptors against four times their number?" Wolf thought aloud. "Those are good odds."

"Then I look forward to having you on the ground," Voltage said. "Good hunting, Star Colonel Wolf."

Hearing that, Wolf stiffened again.

"Voltage, out," the Dreaded Legion Khan signed off without waiting for Wolf's customary reply, and the main display screen went blank.

"Put me through to my commanders," Wolf said to The HillBilly's coms tech.

"At once, Commander," the tech acknowledged.

"That is 'Star Colonel' to you," Karen corrected the tech.

"Sorry, ma'am," said the tech in acknowledgement. He then turned to face Wolf and said, "At once, Star Colonel."

"Congratulations Star Colonel," Jay said.

"Hold your congratulations till after we are victorious," Wolf said evenly.

And then, the main display screen came alive again, showing the faces of the commanders of the binary of Mechs on each of the other five drop ships.

"Commanders, prepare for high burn to planet-side," Wolf said without preamble. "We have the best aerospace support the Dreaded Legion has to offer, but I fear it may not be enough. Lives will be lost even before we can fire a single shot at the enemy."

Most of the commanders wore grim expressions on their faces but none of them said anything in protest.

"After that, the fighting will be hard," Wolf continued. "But I promise, great rewards are in store for each of you who have followed me loyally to this new place we all call home. Good hunting and see you all, planet side."

"Good hunting, Commander," Wolf's commanders replied in unison.

And with that, the main display screen of The HillBilly went blank.

Turning to Captain Owen, Wolf said, "Our lives are in your hands, Captain."

The HillBilly captain nodded respectfully at Wolf in acknowledgment and then declared to the bridge crew, "Battle stations."

Klaxons blared throughout The HillBilly as warriors and support personnel rushed to their designated stations on the drop ship. Wolf and the rest of his star mates took their places in the escape pods in the Mech bay; as did Karen, Jay and the rest of their star mates.

In the event that The HillBilly was hit critically before it was safe for Mechs to be launched at high altitude, the escape pods would be jettisoned by the ship's captain.

"Captain!" a sensor tech called out to Owen. "Twelve enemy fighter-interceptors are headed this way. Intercept in approximately two and a half minutes."

"Standby auto-turrets," Owens ordered.

"Affirmative!" responded the gunnery tech. "Turrets are charged and ready."

"Captain!" the sensor tech called out again. "The Jade Falcons are down by two."

"Excellent," Owen remarked. "But we're not in the clear yet."

Several hundred kilometres away, "Alpha two, ignore your target and slice through leads 1 and 2. They are making a break for it," ordered Star Captain Siddiq.

"Aff," acknowledged Star Commander Abu Dawood, as be broke off his attack to chase down his new designated targets.

Squeezing off an Alpha strike, Siddiq dispatched a Jade Falcon Star Wing fighter-interceptor to oblivion with six ERPPCs. Then, he banked and accelerated toward the target Abu Dawood was chasing down, armed his long range tactical "Javelin" missiles, obtained weapons lock and fired.

The Javelins were relatively old style weapons that could be countered by standard clan countermeasures, but they were good for throwing off a Jade Falcon fighter-interceptor, thus preventing it from reaching its intended target.

"There are too many of them," Abu Dawood said as he dispatched lead 1 to oblivion and moved on to lead 2.

"Just a little longer," Siddiq said calmly as he banked his advanced stealth fighter-interceptor again and accelerated toward other Jade Falcon fighter-interceptors that had broken through.

And then, six of the Jade Falcon fighter-interceptors that had broken through unleashed a deadly salvo of anti-ship swarm missiles at The HillBilly.

Nearly fifteen seconds later, the missiles smashed into The HillBilly's Mech bay, ripping the drop ship's fuselage with such ferocity that the explosion dislodged a few assault and heavy Mechs from their docking clamps. The dislodged Mechs began colliding with one another before finding their way out lazily into the hard cold vacuum of open space.

To Siddiq, the humanoid looking Mechs looked like spacemen floating around gently, although the reality was quite brutal. Biting down a curse, Siddiq chased down the Jade Falcon fighter-interceptors that fired upon The HillBilly, obtained a missile lock on one of them and fired, forcing a Jade Falcon pilot to pull evasive manoeuvres.

Quickly, Siddiq obtained another missile lock on yet another Jade Falcon fighter-interceptor and fired, forcing its pilot to pull evasive manoeuvres as well.

"Finish off the stragglers, Alpha 2," Siddiq ordered his wingmen. "I will take care of the rest."

"Aff," acknowledged Abu Dawood.

But before Siddiq could decide which target to focus on, four of the Jade Falcon fighter interceptors that had fired on The HillBilly earlier went into a diamond formation and swung back at their drop ship target in a large arc, enlarging their diamond formation as they did.

"Damn!!" Siddiq cursed finally, knowing full well what the Jade Falcons intended to achieve, and that there was nothing he could do to counter it effectively. At best, with the Jade Falcons coming in from wide angles, Siddiq could force one of the Jade Falcon pilots into evasive manoeuvres with a Javelin missile and chase down another, but that would not be enough to prevent the remaining two from delivering the killing blow.

Back on The HillBilly, Captain Owen saw the inevitable as well and shouted, "Abandon ship! Launch all escape pods! We're going down!"

Half a minute later, The HillBilly was ripped apart by swarm missiles.

Escape pods that had been launched just before The HillBilly's destruction appeared to float lazily toward Mogyrod, but then the aftershock from The HillBilly hit them violently, causing a few to explode and many others to veer off course.

"Commander Wolf here, report!" Wolf shouted into his headset. "Anyone who can hear me, sound off!" And a string of acknowledgements came in, ranging from warriors to The HillBilly crew.

Checking his sensors, he noted the zones wherein most of the escape pods could make their crash landings. There was not much choice, since what with the Jade Falcons contesting most of the planet's strategic re-entry points.

"Commander Wolf to all survivors, make course corrections for the subcontinent in the northern hemisphere of Mogyorod," Wolf ordered. "It is not a hotzone and our trajectory will allow most of us to reach it. Try to land close to one another as best as you can, so that rescue would be easier. Copy?"

"Affirmative!" everyone else said.

"Wolf to Lieutenant Karen," Wolf said.

"Karen here," she replied, much to Wolf's relief.

"Wolf to Lieutenant Jay," Wolf said.

"Jay here," he replied, also to Wolf's relief.

"Good," Wolf remarked. "Right. Attention all survivors. Set rendezvous point for 128 by 50 degrees north or as close as you can get. Stay within radio contact but maintain radio silence as best as you can."

"Affirmative!" everyone else acknowledged.

Back at Khan Voltage's mobile command transport, "My Khan!" Star Colonel Darkstalker called out. "Star Colonel Wolf's command dropship has been destroyed."

"Casualties?" Voltage enquired.

"Communications are sketchy," Darkstalker replied. "But Wolf and many of his warriors are alive."

"Where is he now?" Voltage asked without hiding the concern in his voice.

"Most of the escape pods from The HillBilly are headed for the Northern Subcontinent," Darkstalker replied.

"Whom do we have out there?" Voltage asked.

"The remnants of the Lyrian Alliance Guards," Darkstalker said.

"Get in touch with the commander and tell him to protect Wolf and other survivors until we can send help," Voltage ordered.

"Aff, my Khan," Darkstalker acknowledged.

But before the Star Colonel could relay the order, Voltage asked, "How many of Wolf's drop ships got through?"

"Four intact, one damaged severely," Darkstalker answered. "The Malayan crash landed at Kerensky's Gap. The Binary Mech Commander, Lieutenant De Draak, of The Malayan is securing the crash area."

"He is behind enemy lines," Voltage remarked. "God help him."

"Shall we order Lieutenant De Draak to head toward Wolf's crash zone?" Darkstalker queried.

"Neg," Voltage said. "Tell him to hold for as long as possible. The Greenbacks will hammer the Jade Falcon 5th Trinary toward his binary. Lieutenant De Draak's binary will act as the anvil."

"Aff, my Khan," Darkstalker said, somewhat hesitantly.

"You do not approve, Star Colonel?" Voltage asked.

"With respect, my Khan," Darkstalker began. "The 5th Trinary can pin down the Greenbacks with artillery and aerospace support, and move in on The Malayan Binary well before the Greenbacks can support them. They will be decimated."

"Aff," Voltage affirmed. "But in our war of attrition against the Jade Falcons, the 5th Trinary will pay a heavy price for its actions. Besides, if we make The Malayan Binary move toward Wolf and the other survivors, it would be tantamount to signing their death warrants - the Jade Falcons are not interested in bondsmen."

"Aff, my Khan," Darkstalker acknowledged.

"And divert whatever air support we can to The Malayan Binary," Voltage added.

"At once, my Khan," Darkstalker said more enthusiastically.

The next day, Wolf and the rest of The HillBilly survivors have managed to regroup at their designated rendezvous point. And a star of light Lyrian Alliance Guards Mechs have arrived to provide fire cover, should a Jade Falcon reconnaissance patrol stumble onto the downed drop ship survivors.

Using one of the Guards' Mechs as a relay booster, Wolf patched his wrist computer through to Lieutenant De Draak.

"Good to see you're still alive, Bossman," Draak said casually over the coms.

"How are you holding up, Lieutenant?" Wolf asked.

"Better than you are, at the moment," Draak replied, his fuzzy neuro-helmeted image coming over Wolf's wrist computer screen.

"What is your situation?" Wolf asked further.

"Right now, we're sitting pretty, but Legion Intel says that satellite recon shows two stars of Jade Falcon assault and heavy Mechs headed our way, maybe more," Draak answered evenly. "Khan Voltage's orders are for us to hold our ground and fight to the last man if need be, but if it were up to me, I'd turn tail and link up with you."

"Negatory, Draak," Wolf said. "Do what the Khan tells you."

"Yes, sir," Draak said. "I wasn't planning on disobeying orders, sir. I'm just worried that my boys and I won't last very long out here if the Khan doesn't send reinforcements quick. From the looks of things, he won't be. We're like fishes in a barrel."

"I understand," Wolf said. "Keep me posted."

"Affirmative," Draak replied. "Draak, out."

"Major," Wolf radioed the Guards commander whose Mech Wolf had used as a relay booster. "According to Legion Intel, you have a weapons cache nearby; three stars of light Mechs and some lostech."

"That's correct," affirmed Major Von Trappe. "But you only have barely a star and a half for pilots, and the Mechs you speak of are nothing more than obsolete 25 ton light Mechs."

"You let me worry about that," Wolf countered. "Right now, I need you to get fifteen of us there as fast as you can."

"With all due respect, Star Colonel," Von Trappe persisted. "The weapons cache lies halfway to Kerensky's Gap, and the area is heavily patrolled by Jade Falcon sweepers."

"Then, you will demonstrate to us the Lyrian Alliance Guards' prowess in stealth tactics, quiaff?" Wolf countered yet again.

"Javol, Star Colonel," Von Trappe replied. "If you insist. But at the first sign of trouble...."

"At first sign of trouble, you will defer command decisions to me," Wolf cut the major off.

"As you wish, Star Colonel," Von Trappe acknowledged.

Switching over to Legion Intel frequency, Wolf radioed for Star Colonel Darkstalker. A moment later, Darkstalker's tiny image appeared on Wolf's wrist computer.

"Wolf, it is good to see that you are still alive," Darkstalker said.

"Aff, well, do not count me out just yet," Wolf said. "Major Von Trappe has agreed to take fifteen of us for a piggyback ride to the secret Lyrian Alliance weapons cache near Kerensky's gap. I am going to commandeer a trinary of Lights for myself."

Hearing that, Darkstalker frowned. "You do not have enough pilots," he said.

"And so I have been told," Wolf quipped. "I will keep you posted. Wolf, out."

A few hours later, Wolf, Karen, Jay and twelve others found themselves hanging precariously from the giant handholds and steps on the Lyrian Alliance Guards Ullers. The handholds and steps were designed for Elementals in battle suit armour to hang on to, and not men and women nearly half their size.

Thankfully, Wolf and the others were able to tie themselves to the fast moving Mechs using makeshift tethers made from cables ripped out of escape pods, and the Ullers were travelling at only half their top speed, thus making the journey less frightful.

Under the cover of darkness, the Lyrian Alliance Guards Ullers managed to reach the underground base that housed the weapons cache without alerting the Jade Falcons to their presence. Once at the base, they stood guard over their charges.

"Well done, Major," Wolf said over the coms as he entered the secret underground base. "I must say, I am impressed."

"Thank you, Star Colonel," Von Trappe acknowledged. "But not as impressed as I would be if you manage to pull off that hair-brain idea of yours."

"You just watch me," Wolf said and signed off.

The secret underground base had a camouflaged entrance at the top that allowed for personnel to move in and out, as well as receive delivery from air transports. A secret tunnel dug half a century ago connected the base to a network of deep gullies that made up Kerensky's Gap. And the tunnel was wide enough to fit two light Mechs side by side.

Half an hour later, "Listen up everyone," Wolf said to his warriors and techs who were busily preparing 25 tonne Flea and Brigand Mechs for combat. "We do not have to win this one. We are simply a distraction."

Looking at the eight techs who had volunteered to pilot Mechs, Wolf noticed how nervous some of them had become.

"I commend you for your bravery," Wolf said to them. "If you make it through this, you might have a future as real MechWarriors."

And that seemed to cheer them up a little.

"Sergeant French and Corporal Anderton, you are with me, along with Techs Robby and Lorna," Wolf instructed. "Lieutenants Karen and Jay, you each take a star and pick your pilots. Let us show the Jade Falcons what a bunch of obsolete light Mechs can do."

"Huzzaah!!" everyone shouted spiritedly.

Twenty minutes later, "Wolf Primary to AG1," Wolf radioed from the cockpit of his Brigand. "We are heading in, Major. Judging by the base schematics, we should rendezvous at the end of the tunnel designated nav point Alpha. Uploading the nav points now."

"Javol, Star Colonel," the major acknowledged.

"If, for whatever reason, you are unable to meet us at nav point Alpha, we will meet at nav point Beta before going in to support The Malayan Binary at the crash site designated nav point Gamma," Wolf instructed further. "Good hunting and be careful out there."

"Same to you, Star Colonel," the major replied. "Von Trappe, out."

"Wolf Primary to all Free£ancers," Wolf radioed his pilots. "We have to make up for lost time. Run passive and stick to the gullies as best as you can. Avoid enemy contact as best as you can. If you run into trouble, use your speed and manoeuvrability to get out of harm's way. If you get separated, meet at nav point Beta. Do not, I repeat, do not proceed to nav point Gamma without my say so. Is that understood?"

"Affirmative!" everyone else responded in unison.

And with that, Wolf throttled up his Brigand and piloted it down the dark winding secret tunnel.

Switching over to the Legion Intel channel, Wolf radioed, "This is Wolf Primary, The HillBilly Trinary is moving. Uploading nav coordinates now."

"Aff, Wolf Primary," responded a Legion Intel coms tech. "Receiving data."

Nearly half an hour later, Wolf and his pilots have reached nav point Alpha.

"Wolf Primary to AG1, come in, over," Wolf radioed Von Trappe.

No response.

"They must be still out of range," Karen observed over the command coms channel.

"Or they have run into trouble," Wolf said. "We cannot wait."

Boosting the strength of his signal, Wolf tried again. "Wolf Primary to AG1, over," Wolf said.

"AG1 here," Von Trapped replied with static in the background. "We've... into some unexp...ly heavy opposition. We're doub... back, over."

"Wolf Primary to AG1, we cannot wait for you, Major," Wolf radioed back. "Do your best to rendezvous with us at nav point Gamma as fast as you can. We will need all the fire power we can get."

"Affir...tive," Von Trappe responded.

Switching channels, Wolf radioed, "Wolf Primary to TM1, come in, over".

"About time we heard from you, Bossman," Draak radioed back.

"How are you holding up, Lieutenant?" Wolf asked.

"We've lost a few assaults and a heavy," Draak replied. "But thanks to long range artillery and air support, it's a stalemate. We knocked out a few Jade Falcon jump-snipers and 'crit' out a few more. So, we're about even."

"That is good to hear, Draak," Wolf acknowledged with relief.

"But it ain't gonna stay this way for long," Draak added. "Legion Intel says satellite recon shows another star of Assaults and Heavies headed my way and they're flanking."

"Understood," Wolf acknowledged. "Hold for as long as you can. We will be there in under an hour."

"Copy that," Draak acknowledged. "Draak, out."

"Wolf Primary to Free£ancers," Wolf radioed his pilots after switching back to his trinary's channel. "Proceed to nav point Beta at maximum speed. We are working against the clock here, people."

And with that, Wolf throttled up his Brigand and made for higher ground. Out of the network of gullies, Wolf's trinary of Light Mechs could travel at speeds of about 135KMh without much trouble.

However, if the Jade Falcons did not know of the existence of Wolf's trinary before, they would now.

Nearly an hour later, Wolf and his pilots reached nav point Beta without opposition. From there, The Malayan crash site was only a few kilometres away, and Wolf could see bright flashes in the night sky, which denoted either a raging fire fight ahead or artillery bombardment.

"Wolf Primary to TM1, come in, over," Wolf radioed.

"TM1 here," Draak radioed back. "You here yet, Commander?" Draak queried.

"We are just a few kilometres out from your position," Wolf replied.

"Hold position, Commander," Draak radioed back. "We're being pounded by medium range artilleries. You'll get smashed if you try to come in."

"Where is the fire coming from?" Wolf asked, alarmed.

"Satellite recon can't pinpoint the origins exactly, but I think it's coming from somewhere near nav point Delta," Draak replied. "We can't move, so you're gonna have to take them out, sir. Uploading nav coordinates now."

"Aff," Wolf acknowledged. "Lieutenant, Lyrian Alliance Guards are on their way to reinforce you."

"Negatory," Draak said. "Satellite recon shows burnt out Light Mechs 10 clicks in the direction of nav point Delta. Legion Intel says that the Lyrian Alliance Guards have found the artillery position and ran into the Jade Falcon star of Assaults and Heavies that was flanking earlier."

"Aff, moving to nav point Delta," Wolf responded.

Switching back to The HillBilly Trinary channel, Wolf radioed, "Wolf Primary to Free£ancers, uploading nav point Delta. We are hunting artillery tanks", after which he distributed the coordinates of said nav point to the pilots in the trinary. Then, he throttled up his Brigand and everyone else fell in behind him.

"Wolf Primary to AG1," Wolf radioed. "Wolf Primary to...."

"AG2 here," responded Von Trappe's second in command, Captain Koenig. "The Major has punched out, but he's ok. There're only three of us left and we're busy holding a Jade Falcon star of Assaults and Heavies in place. It's about time you showed up."

"Are they protecting artillery tanks?" Wolf asked.

"Affirmative," replied Koenig. "That's the only reason why they haven't moved in on The Malayan Binary, or what's left of it."

"Good work, Alliance Guards," Wolf commended. "We will be there in under five minutes."

"Copy," Koenig acknowledged.

"Alright, people," Wolf radioed his pilots. "We do this by the numbers. A star for each designated Jade Falcon Mech. Move in, hit hard and avoid return fire. And then move in again. Use the terrain for maximum cover. Concentrate fire and those big-uglies will fall."

About five minutes later, Wolf's trinary began clashing with Jade Falcon assault and heavy Mechs in an all out brawl. The techs in the trinary did not have much by way of gunnery skills, but their wild manoeuvres were enough to confuse the Jade Falcon pilots, thus allowing Wolf and the other vets in the trinary to score against the arms and legs of the Jade Falcon Mechs.

Using the rolling hills at nav point Delta to maximum advantage, Wolf and his pilots wove their way up, over and around the hills, denying the Jade Falcons a clear shot at them as much as possible. And just when the Falcons thought they could unleash an Alpha strike on a Free£ancers Mech, they would be peppered with LBX5 and small laser fire from multiple directions, causing their aim to be thrown off.

Slowly but surely, the Falcon Mechs were stripped of their weapons and armour.

Unfortunately, due to the extreme disparity in weight and class of Mechs, bringing down a Jade Falcon Harbinger and Executioner cost the Free£ancers eight Light Mechs, and they tended to be those piloted by techs. Not willing to lose anymore pilots, Wolf ordered what was left of his trinary and the Lyrian Alliance Guards to finish off the five Jade Falcon artillery tanks and break off.

"Report!" Wolf ordered, as he and the others raced away after the last of the Jade Falcon artillery tanks had been destroyed.

"Wolf Secondary here," Karen said. "I am out of weapons and Tech Lawrence's Flea is in such bad shape, it might as well be. We are nothing more than free kills."

"Wolf Tertiary here," Jay chimed in. "My Flea is in bad shape and my wingmen are no better."

"AG2 here," Koenig said. "We're in good shape, but we're out of LBX10 rounds and streaker missiles."

"Copy that," Wolf acknowledged. Checking his own HUD, he saw that his Brigand had only two small lasers left and most of the armour in its torso and legs were gone as well. And his two wingmen did not fare any better.

"Form up, people," Wolf ordered. "And head to nav point Gamma."

Although no one said anything over the coms, Wolf could almost hear them all groan. But as much as he hated ordering men and women to their deaths, if it was time to die, it would be for a worthy cause.

As such, Wolf and the rest had accomplished more than they expected. They were supposed to be nothing more than a distraction.

Instead, they managed to take out artillery tanks in a dug-in position, defended by no less than a star of Jade Falcon Assault and Heavy Mechs.

Switching to The Malayan Binary channel, Wolf radioed, "Wolf Primary to TM1, what is your status, over?"

"Thanks for the assist, Bossman," Draak replied enthusiastically. "The Greenbacks have arrived and are hammering the Jade Falcons from the rear. My boys and I are pressing them. They're finished. Come watch the show, Commander."

"YESSSS!!" Wolf shouted in jubilation. "Kick their butts hard, Lieutenant! Make them regret ever coming here!"

"Way ahead of you," Draak replied with a wide smile.

Switching back to The HillBilly Trinary channel, Wolf radioed, "Good job, everyone. Mission accomplished."

"We did it?" Tech Lawrence asked in disbelief. "YEEHAAAW!!" he whooped.
And everyone else followed suit.

Even Wolf felt like it too. "Yeah!!" he began happily, but then reeled in his emotions quickly.

His soldiers may have won this battle. But they may yet lose the war.

A few nights later, "Waiting on your command, Star Colonel," said newly promoted Star Captain Juan to Elemental Star Colonel Dawood Hauser over their shared coms.

"Aff, we are in position, Star Captain," replied Hauser.

"If you pull this off, Star Colonel, I will be most honoured to be blooded with the Hauser bloodline."

"As a ristar, Juan, you have the choice of any bloodline you desire, but I would be honoured to be your sponsor," Hauser responded. "Prepare to launch your attack on my mark.... MARK!"

And with that, Juan's star of stealth Kit Foxes fanned out to attack Jade Falcon heavy Mechs standing guard over Khan Marthe Pryde's mobile command transport.

In a bold manoeuvre meant for stabbing at the heart of the Jade Falcons, Khan Voltage had charged Juan's star of stealth Kit Foxes and Hauser's binary of stealth Elementals with the task of eliminating Khan Pryde and the rest of her keshik. Using the cover of darkness and advanced stealth armour to slip behind Jade Falcon lines, slowly but surely, they worked their way toward Khan Pryde's mobile command transport.

And to further ensure the success of the tactical strike, Voltage had deliberately allowed Dreaded Legion lines to collapse along strategic points, in order to draw away Jade Falcon Mechs from Pryde's position as much as possible.

Earlier in the fight, Pryde and her keshik had gone into hiding. Fearing strikes from the Dreaded Legion's advanced stealth aerospace fighter-interceptors, Pryde had directed her war from locations previously unknown to Legion Intel.

But now that the fight had reached a crescendo, Pryde had "resurfaced" and supposedly taken refuge in a mobile command transport. Was it a trap?

Dubbed as Pryde's Gambit by Legion Intel, just before the Jade Falcon Khan's reappearance, Jade Falcon aerospace assets had drawn Stealth Wings Alpha and Beta into a fierce space battle involving several Jade Falcon warships that had jumped in-system to reinforce the severely weakened Jade Falcon fleet. Hence redeploying the advanced stealth fighter-interceptors against Pryde and her keshik was impossible.

In other words, short of laying out a welcome mat, Pryde's reappearance was clearly an invitation by the Jade Falcon Khan to strike using land bound assets.

Approaching a Jade Falcon Harbinger from the left flank, Juan opened fire on its left leg with a Clan LBX20 and several ER small lasers, turning it deep red on Juan's damage sensors. He then veered away as though to escape return fire.

In response, the Harbinger pilot throttled up his Mech and started to give chase, only to have it shot again and crippled in the left leg by Juan's wingman, Star Commander Augustus.

In an all-too-predictable response, the Jade Falcon MechWarrior pivoted his Harbinger and aimed its firing reticule on Augustus' stealth Kit Fox. But before he could fire, Juan blew out his Harbinger's already crippled left leg from underneath him, causing his Mech to fall prostrate and helpless.

Then Juan and Augustus joined the rest of their star mates in drawing away the remainder of the Jade Falcon Heavy Mechs on sentry duty. And that gave Star Colonel Hauser's binary of stealth Elementals the opening they required to strike at Khan Pryde's mobile command transport.

While it would have been easier to have Juan's star of stealth Kit Foxes destroy the transport, Hauser needed to be sure that Pryde and the rest of her keshik were in it. So, from the safety of low lying hills about 500 metres from the transport, Hauser and the rest of his binary fired off their jump-jets and angled for the behemoth at breakneck speed.

At a distance of 50 metres, the stealth Elementals landed and set up a rough firing arc. Then two of them raced to the transport's main hatch, set up shaped charges and withdrew.

And then, they all fired their jump-jets and returned to the safety of the low lying hills.

"Clear!" Hauser called over the shared coms, warning Juan and the rest of his star to steer clear of the mobile transport.

And as predicted, when the shaped charges meant for ripping open the transport's hatch blew, the rest of the mobile transport blew up as well.

"Abort! Abort!" Hauser radioed. "Rendezvous at nav point Gamma for evac in five."

"Aff," Juan acknowledged, and then he and the rest of his star of stealth Kit Foxes broke away from Jade Falcon sentry Mechs they had been tangling with at top speed.

About 20 kilometres away, Star Colonel Shotlock and his Leatherbacks were trying desperately to push advancing Jade Falcon Assault and Heavy Mechs into a retreat but, instead, found themselves performing a fighting retreat.

"LB1 to Command," Shotlock radioed. "The Jade Falcon 11th Trinary are continuing with their advance. We can no longer hold. I repeat, we can no longer hold."

"Command to LB1, excellent!" Voltage radioed back. "Keep retreating but do not appear too eager, Star Colonel."

"Aff," Shotlock acknowledged.

Opposite to the Leatherbacks' position, two of Wolf's Free£ancers' binaries from the drop ships Langkawi and Pangkor found themselves in a similar situation.

"Hold back, Eights," Captain WildCard ordered his second-in-command, who was a little too eager in chasing down and destroying heavily damaged Jade Falcon medium Mechs with his brawling Shadow Cat.
"Roger that, Cappy," Lieutenant 'Eights-&-Aces' Henderson replied casually, as he swung his Shadow Cat back and broke off from further pursuit.

"Bam-bam," WildCard radioed the commander of The Pangkor Binary. "Pull your pilots back further. We're not winning this one yet."

"Awe, shucks," the Lieutenant replied playfully. "Alright you grunts, fall back a little bit more," he said, relaying the order to his pilots.

Several kilometres away, Voltage and his keshik waited patiently in their Executioner Mechs for Khan Marthe Pryde and her keshik to arrive. And almost on cue, the Jade Falcon Khan's Bloodasp appeared on radar at about 1200 metres distance.

With measured steps, Voltage and his star mates began retreating. And almost as soon as they did, several more Jade Falcon Mechs appeared on radar.

"Now!" Voltage radioed both Shotlock and WildCard. "Close the gap and smash them!"

"Aff, my Khan," Shotlock acknowledged.

"Roger, roger," WildCard acknowledged as well.

Throttling up their Mechs into a run, Voltage and his star mates headed for the safety of the tall mountain peeks, at the based of which they had lied in wait. The Dreaded Legion Khan had barely made cover when a volley of LRMs that were locked onto his Executioner smashed into the mountain side.

"Run like the coward you are, Voltage," the Jade Falcon Khan taunted over the general frequency.

"Check your scope and tell me who is running," Voltage retorted.

And surely enough, more Jade Falcon Mechs appeared on radar but many had their backs to him."

"Huh!" Pryde snorted. "And you think I would fall for the Pandora's Gambit?" she kidded him. "My Sigma Trinary is moving to reinforce my position from the rear as we speak."

Voltage took a moment to check with Legion Intel, and then, "Touche," he acknowledged, but added, "And so we are even once again - or are we, really?"

The Pandora's Gambit was a classic pincer manoeuvre that could only be countered with another pincer. But while Voltage and Pryde appeared evenly matched in their standoff, it was the Jade Falcon Khan who was caught in Voltage's pincer.

To make matters worse for Pryde, several more Mechs appeared on her radar along Voltage's defensive line. And they belonged to saKhan Dig and his Snipers Elite.

"This is far from a stalemate, Marthe," Voltage began. "And it does not have to be this way."

"Ever the politician, Leigh?" Marthe remarked cynically. "Granted you have the upper hand. Why wheel and deal, when you can win outright?"

And as though to affirm the Jade Falcon Khan's observation, more Mechs appeared on her radar scope along Voltage's defensive line. This time, they belonged to the Wolf's Free£ancers' group of crack shot jump-snipers lead by a Lieutenant with a most uncanny call sign of "Sniper".

"Ahaaha!" Marthe began to laugh out loud. "Ahahahaahaaaa!!" she laughed even louder.

"Am I... missing something?" Voltage asked.

"Haaahaa... aff! Ahaahaa...," the Jade Falcon Khan replied in between laughter as though she had been shedding joyful tears. "Aff, check the skies, Leigh. Check the skies."

And as if on cue, a Black Mamba fleet arrived at that very moment, at the zenith jump-point of the Mogyorod's star system. And it was almost of the same strength as the Jade Falcon fleet when the latter first arrived in-system.

After conferring with Legion Intel on the truth of Pryde's claim, Voltage radioed, "It was inevitable."

"Indeed," the Jade Falcon Khan concurred with a condescending tone. "It was a matter of time before we caught up with you, Leigh. It was simply a matter of time."

"Funny that it took you both so long to do so," Voltage retorted sarcastically.

"Actually, the Black Mamba Khan insisted in being the one to finish you off, but she had had her chance," Pryde continued with her tirade.

"And true to your blood-name, you outbid her and came here with a fleet only twice larger than mine," Voltage cut Pryde off. "And you expect to win?"

"I have already won," Pryde retorted.

"Neg. There lies the error in your judgment," Voltage countered. "Have you learned nothing from Vladimir?" Voltage asked rhetorically. "A Khan is not a Khan if he or she cannot be more than a warrior. It was a bitter lesson he learned from Phelan Kell Ward."

Pryde said nothing in response. Her bluff had been called and there was nothing left for her to do but negotiate a truce.

"Are you offering me a truce?" the Jade Falcon Khan asked finally.

"Call off your warriors and there will be," Voltage replied evenly. "Or if you prefer, I could ground you and your saKhan to dust right here on Mogyorod, and Clan Jade Falcon will be without a worthy successor for years to come. Need I paint you the whole picture?"

"Neg," Pryde acknowledged.

And then, both Pryde and Voltage ordered their warriors to cease fighting, and they complied in short order, albeit many could not believe it at first. A moment later, the night sky darkened again, as weapons fire became more sporadic and finally ebbed away completely.

Less than an hour later, Voltage and Pryde were in a officer's tent reserved for clan dignitaries. Also present in holographic form was the disembodied head of Khan Larissa Selvarajen of Clan Black Mamba.

As for the rest of the Jade Falcons, they had been awarded, as per the terms of the truce, safecon for evacuation by drop ships and other troop transports.

"Tell me that this was not what you had planned from the very beginning, Larissa," Pryde said sternly. "It would have been tantamount to collusion."

"No more than what you are doing right now, Marthe," rebuffed the Black Mamba Khan. "But I assure you, had I won the bid, we would not be here having this conversation. I would have had to sacrifice the future of my clan just to prove, once and for all, that I was not in cahoots with Leigh."

"Ahh, but you would not have been drawn so easily into a Pandora's Gambit, would you?" Voltage quipped, knowing full well that Pryde would take it as an act of pouring salt on an open would.

But the Jade Falcon Khan said nothing.

"Maybe, maybe not, Leigh," Selvarajan responded, preserving her sense of humility as well as Pryde's pride. "More importantly, you have to agree with Leigh's proposal."

"I have to agree to nothing beyond the terms of this truce," Pryde said haughtily. "In fact, I may even consider returning with a larger force, along with other clans more willing than Clan Black Mamba, in order to be rid of the Dreaded Legion once and for all."

"But...," Selvarajan began to protest.

"Nevertheless!" Pryde cut her off while pointing with her index finger. "Nevertheless, such a course of action is not without political ramifications. As you both are well aware, my forces are heavily engaged in Lyrian Alliance space. I would have to make serious concessions to other clans, which I have no interest in doing, in order to sustain war against Prince Victor's forces and war against you, Leigh."

"So, in a roundabout way, you are saying that you agree to the terms of my proposed treaty?" Voltage asked cynically.

"You are really enjoying this, quiaff?" Pryde asked, annoyed.

"It is not everyday that a person like me gets to stand on equal footing with the great Khan Marthe Pryde," Voltage said, in an attempt to ease tension.

"If I can negotiate accords with Inner Sphere surats, then one or two steps lower is not going to be much worse for me," the Jade Falcon Khan rebuffed.

"Huh!" Voltage snorted and frowned, amused by the fact that he had been likened to something worse than an Inner Sphere surat and yet one that holds the great Jade Falcon Khan to a ransom of sorts. But he was not about to press the issue.

"So, it is agreed," Selvarajan declared. "Well bargained and done. I will begin stationing my forces here on Mogyorod at once."

"Not quite," Pryde said. "Before I can sign the treaty and proceed to Blair Atholl to negotiate yet another ceasefire accord, I must deal with the displeasure that a great many of my warriors feel about my being here, negotiating an accord."

"What do you have in mind, exactly?" Voltage asked warily.

"A trial of fates," Pryde said.

"Unbelievable," Selvarajan remarked while shaking her head in disapproval. "There has not been a trial of fates since the days of Nicholas Kerensky. It is not like you to not keep a tight rein on your senior commanders."

"These are extraordinary times," Pryde said. "And extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. I have made far too many compromises. Without a trial of fates, my signing this accord would be one compromise too many. And I would rather fight Leigh to the death than fight my own clan in trials of refusal."

"And whom do you have in mind as your substitute?" Voltage asked.

"A ristar Star Colonel by the name of Steel Pryde," she answered. "He truly thinks he knows better than both saKhan Clees and I do. Already he has incited many Jade Falcon commanders into launching a trial of annihilation against Prince Victor's forces on Black Jack. With him out of the way, I can restore order among the ranks quickly. So, do not fail, Khan Voltage."

Hearing that, Voltage smiled confidently and said, "Unlike you, my death will not mean the end of Clan Dreaded Legion, I can promise you that. But of course, I do not intend to fail."

About an hour later, Voltage found himself in some rugged mountains located in the mid region of Mogyrod's upper north continent, waiting to face an enemy determined to erase him and the Dreaded Legion from existence. He had chosen this position because he could cover the valley surrounding the mountains he was camped at with relative ease.

Checking the overall status of his Timber Wolf MKII, Voltage noted with satisfaction his choice of weapons load out: 3 x Clan extended range large laser (CERLL), 2 x Clan light gauss rifle and 1 x Clan Thunderbolt missile launcher which was an improved version of the Inner Sphere Arrow Thunderbolt.

And although the MKII was five tons short of the Executioner it was facing off against, the lighter Omni Mech had superior jump acceleration, in that it could jump faster than most heavier jump-capable Omni Mechs, including the Executioner.

Switching coms channel, Voltage queried, "See him yet, Dig?"

"Satellite recon has nothing," Dig replied from the bridge of the Dreaded Legion drop ship that had brought Voltage, Dig, and other senior officers, including Wolf, to the upper north continent. "But if I were him, I would approach from the south... aff, there he is, right there; south by southeast of your position."

"Aff," Voltage acknowledged.

Although the Jade Falcon star colonel's Executioner had yet to appear on radar, Voltage could already see in his mind's eye his enemy's position and angle of attack. Quickly, he moved his MKII to a better sniping position and waited.

Across from Voltage's position lay mountains, the peaks for which were just under 930 metres in range, but they were much lower, thus giving him a superior sniping angle. And as predicted, Steel Pryde positioned himself directly across from where Voltage hid.

Pryde kept his radar on passive mode to gain some tactical advantage, but with satellite recon giving away his position constantly, it was of little significance.

Similarly, Voltage was being monitored by Pryde's own support team via satellite recon. So, he did not bother to go radar passive. Besides, he needed his radar to obtain target lock for his Clan Thunderbolt missiles.

Firing off his jump-jets, Voltage feinted a jump-snipe, and was rewarded with a counter jump-snipe from Pryde. But the ristar Jade Falcon's extended range particle projection cannon (ERPPC) fire failed to connect with Voltage's MKII and, instead, hit the peak of the hill that Voltage was hiding behind.

And that was enough to tell the Dreaded Legion Khan what Pryde's Executioner had for weapons load out.

Firing off his jump-jet's, Voltage lifted his MKII upwards and hovered at the apex of his Omni Mech's jump. In seeing that, Pryde jumped his Executioner as well, only to be shot at by Voltage with light gauss rifle slugs which were followed up by a Thunderbolt missile.

Pryde had opened fire as well, but not only did his ERPPCs go off-target, they stopped at 945 metres, doing no damage whatsoever to Voltage's MKII.

In an awesome demonstration of wit and skill, Voltage had positioned himself in such a way that the apex of his MKII's jump placed the Omni Mech at a distance of about 950 metres. Also, at that height, Voltage's angle of attack allowed him to bring his Clan Thunderbolt missile launcher into play.

Pryde's Executioner suffered significant damage on the centre torso and head areas. And they showed as dark yellow on his damage display.

Realising his error, Pryde throttled his Executioner into reverse and then flanked.

"He is moving left of your position," Dig warned Voltage over the coms.

"Aff," Voltage acknowledged.

A minute later, Pryde was positioned behind the peak of a different mountain that faced Voltage's position. And it was slightly higher than the one before, thereby denying Voltage the ability to pull his apex manoeuvre twice.

Nevertheless, Voltage fired off his jump-jets, and a fraction of a second later, Pryde jumped as well. And when they both fired off their weapons, their shots connected.

However, though significant, the damage suffered by Voltage's MKII was minor compared to the damage suffered by Pryde's Executioner. Pryde's dual ERPPCs had only turned Voltage's MKII dark yellow on the centre torso, as shown by the damage sensor; whereas Voltage's dual light gauss had turned Pryde's Executioner dark orange on the centre torso.
And at this rate, Pryde's Omni Mech would be destroyed well before he could inflict critical damage on Voltage's MKII. So, once again he throttle back and flanked.

"He is flanking again, to your right," Dig warned over the coms.

"Aff," Voltage acknowledged. "He is just trying to buy time."

About three minutes later, Pryde positioned himself about 900 metres to the rear of Voltage's sniping position. And naturally, Voltage had compensated by moving to face Pryde but without shifting away too much from his earlier position.

Again Voltage jumped, and a fraction of a second later Pryde jumped as well. And again, they exchanged fire, but this time, Pryde throttled forward with the intention of bringing his triple Clan gauss rifles into play.

The manoeuvre brought Pryde into the valley below and when he was at about 780 metres, Voltage jumped and fired his triple CERLLs, scoring deeply at the centre torso area of Pryde's Executioner. In that instant, Pryde had fired off his gauss rifles as well, and in spite of having his aim thrown off a little, he managed to rip off a light gauss and a CERLL from Voltage's MKII.

However, Pryde's Executioner was now so badly damaged that it would not be able to take another hit at the centre torso area. And taking into account Voltage's excellent gunnery skills, a strike to the centre torso was most certain.

Quickly, Pryde raced for the base of the mountain Voltage was camped at. At that position, Voltage would not have the angle required to jump-snipe at his Executioner.

And then Pryde did the unexpected. He shut his Executioner down, popped open his cockpit hatch and began climbing down from his Omni Mech.

"What the hell is he doing?" Voltage asked Dig over the coms.

"Huh?!" Dig snorted in disbelief. "He is getting out of his Mech and... walking away."

"What?!" Voltage exclaimed and then throttled his MKII out of its sniping position and into the valley below.

At the base of the mountain, Voltage saw Pryde with his arms at his hips, standing proudly. He still had his ballistic proof coolant suit and neuro-helmet on.

Switching over to the general coms channel, Voltage radioed, "What in Kerensky's name are you doing Star Colonel Pryde?"

"You have won the trial of fates, Khan Voltage," Pryde answered evenly. "But you have conspired with Khan Marthe Pryde to bring about my downfall. I now challenge you to a trial of grievance."

"Huh?!" Voltage snorted in disbelief.

"Your home terrain was too much in your favour," Pryde continued. "And yet, I was expected to win?!"

Voltage could not believe what he was hearing. There stood Pryde, a Jade Falcon ristar who has managed to become one of the youngest senior officers of the vaunted Jade Falcon clan.

And he was whining!

"You forget your place, Steel of House Pryde," Voltage responded, but calmly this time. "By not fighting to your death, by admitting your failure to best an enemy warrior in a duel, you no longer have the standing required to make any challenge..., bondsman."

"Aff," Pryde responded. "But then, you are not Clan, and so, clan laws do not apply to you and neither can you call upon them to your aid. Besides, I would rather die than become a bondsman to such filth."

"Then, you should have died in your cockpit!" Voltage retorted angrily, but before he could continue, his radar picked up a Savannah Master coming in fast at about 1200 metre range. Its IFF transponder showed it to be a friendly and it read "Wolf Primary".

"So, you desire death," Voltage remarked cynically. "Death comes."

"Ahh, you have chosen a substitute," Pryde responded, as he too noticed the approaching Savannah Master. "Perhaps you are not the warrior you have led others to believe."

Hearing that, Voltage bristled further, but he said nothing, as there was nothing more to be said. He would not be cowed into a pointless unarmed duel.

Instead, Voltage throttled up his Omni Mech and took pleasure in stomping pass Pryde, shocking the Jade Falcon warrior with bone rattling tremors caused by the MKII's gigantic footfalls.

When he passed Wolf's Savannah Master, Voltage radioed, "Star Colonel Wolf, you do not have to do this, quiaff?"

"Neg, my Khan," Wolf responded. "So long as Steel Pryde lives to make a challenge that goes unanswered, his supporters will remain loyal to the spirit of his fight. And the Jade Falcons would return as enemies, sooner rather than later."

"Aff," Voltage conceded.

Prudence dictated that Voltage did not answer Pryde's challenge for the simple reason that he had won the trial of fates. Dying as a result of answering a personal challenge from Pryde would only detract from Voltage's earlier victory. It might even embolden the Jade Falcons into going back on their word later.

Still, leaving Pryde's challenge unanswered was most unwise.

"Whatever the outcome, Wolf, you have my gratitude," Voltage said.

"I will not fail you, my Khan," Wolf responded with clear determination.

A moment later, Wolf was encircling Pryde with his roaring Savannah Master, sizing up the Jade Falcon warrior as he did.

Still standing proud, Pryde had his hands on his hips and turned slowly to keep Wolf in front of him. When satisfied that Wolf was not going to run him down with the scout class hovercraft, Pryde unzipped the front of his ballistic proof coolant suit and began to wriggle himself out in preparation for his showdown.

In response, Wolf slowed the Savannah Master to a halt. He then popped the cockpit hatch open and climbed out.

Pryde was visibly surprised when he saw Wolf, and then, he began to laugh. "You have sent a warrior fresh out of sibko training to kill me?" he asked mockingly over the coms in between laughter.

"Look closer, Pryde," Voltage responded. "Look closer."

Unconvinced, Pryde kept on laughing and then took off his neuro-helmet, and tossed it aside nonchalantly as though there was nothing more he needed to hear from Voltage. But when Wolf came closer, Pryde stopped laughing and stared.

Although Wolf looked relatively small, young and fresh, he bore the rank of Star Colonel on his jumpsuit. And there were blemishes on his face, neck and exposed arms.

As amazing as synthetic skin was, it did not tan properly under the sun, and that told Pryde that he was facing down someone who had been severely burned and crippled. And the person was walking confidently toward him with spring in his stride.

"Cyborg," Pryde said with disgust.

"I prefer the term 'restored', but we are not here to discuss nomenclature," Wolf retorted.

And as soon as he was within striking distance, Wolf lunged at Pryde.

It was no more than a feint. Yet, Pryde responded with full fury.

Taking advantage of his taller height and significantly more muscular build, Pryde countered and moved forward to strike repeatedly at Wolf with nothing but his hands. In a blur of fluid motion, Pryde chopped, punched, elbowed and back-fisted Wolf.

And Wolf responded by blocking each strike, but without complete success. A dual punch got through, connecting with Wolf's ribs, causing him to wince in pain as he was thrown back a little.

Pressing his advantage, Pryde followed up with another blur of strikes, and Wolf countered, again, unsuccessfully. And this time, Pryde landed his right elbow hard on Wolf's left eyebrow with an audible crack.

Wolf's head snapped back as a result but he felt little to nothing. Due to his previous injuries, Wolf's left brow was reconstructed using duratanium in order to accommodate a cybernetic eye socket properly.

Pryde, on the other hand, began favouring his right arm.

"Bloody cyborg!" he cursed, and then launched another round of blurry strikes. However, he hardly used his right hand and instead began using his legs to strike at Wolf.

Wolf countered, and this time, none of Pryde's strikes got through. Pressing his advantage, Wolf blocked each strike as hard as he could with his cybernetic left arm and left leg with the intention of hurting Pryde in the process.

And it was working. Although Pryde's limbs had been thoroughly conditioned and seasoned, hitting Wolf's cybernetic limbs was like bashing against metal pipes.

The pain Pryde felt was starting to grow more intense and it was beginning to slow his reflexes. This resulted in more of Wolf's counter strikes getting through.

But Pryde was not about to give in. With a determined lunge, he threw a cross turning kick with his right leg at what he thought was Wolf's exposed left ribs.

However, instead of being rewarded with a satisfying thud, stars exploded before Pryde's eyes and he was nearly overwhelmed with pain. For, Wolf had jumped and smashed his right knee into the left side of Pryde's jaw.

"Bloody hell!" Pryde swore as he staggered back a little, his head spinning. But still, he fought on.

Not willing to give Wolf any quarter, he lunged yet again and threw a plain turning kick with his left leg.

And that was the last mistake Star Colonel Steel of House Pryde would ever make.

In that same instant, Wolf executed a jumping back-thrust kick and landed his left cybernetic foot squarely on Pryde's throat, crushing windpipe and snapping vertebrae.
And the Jade Falcon warrior fell backward limply, his lifeless eyes still wide with shock.

The entire exchange had been recorded by satellite recon and camera ships, and hours later, it was still being played over the Dreaded Legion communications grid. Over and over, Wolf's jumping back-thrust manoeuvre was displayed in slow motion to the cheer and applause of Wolf's mercenary troops, most of whom had gathered under a giant field tent erected near Voltage's mobile command transport at the southern tip of the eastern continent dubbed fondly as African continent.

"Three cheers for the Bossman!" Lieutenant De Draak toasted.

"Huzzaah!!" they all cheered once.

"Huzzaah!!" they all cheered twice.

"Huzzaaah!!!" they all cheered again, the third cheer being the loudest.

And then they all gulped down their drinks.

"Once again, I thank you all for your outstanding support and performance," Wolf began. "If not for all of you, I would not be standing here, celebrating. And as I promised, the Khan has agreed to double your victory bonus and has thrown in a retainer."

Hearing that, everyone cheered and whooped.

"Even if there is no war to fight," Wolf continued. "And I am not suggesting that there will not be another war," and Wolf paused to allow his troops to laugh good naturedly. "You will all be paid handsomely. You can still live the glorious lives of soldiers of fortune and enjoy pay packages more suited for retired warriors."

"Yeah!!" Wolf's troops shouted happily and clapped.

"Wait! There is more," Wolf declared happily. "As of today, you are all promoted by one grade, and you know what that means."

"Pay rise!" everyone shouted almost in unison, and whooped some more.

"And for those techs who fought bravely by my side!" Wolf declared without waiting for the noise to die down and while looking in the general direction of the survivors of his impromptu HillBilly Trinary. "Welcome to the warrior ranks."

"Alright! Yeah!" the 'former' techs cheered amidst other applauding soldiers, while happily accepting congratulatory handshakes and slaps on their backs from the veteran warriors around them.

"And to answer a question many of you posed," Wolf continued, and then paused when he notice a Dreaded Legion star colonel in dress uniform edging slowly toward him through the crowd.

"Umm... Captain De Draak," Wolf called out. "Please take over," Wolf instructed.

"Aye, Commander," Draak acknowledged and saluted casually.

And then Wolf went to meet the star colonel halfway.

"Star Colonel Wolf," Shotlock said and nodded respectfully.

"Star Colonel Shotlock," Wolf responded and nodded respectfully as well. "You honour us with your presence," Wolf added.

"I am... not one for social events," Shotlock remarked somewhat hesitantly and smiled, indicating that he was there, not because of pleasure but because of duty. "Lance Commander Jen was under my command back on Ethiopia," Shotlock continued.

Hearing that, Wolf's heart sank. He had learned of Jen's demise while on his way to Mogyorod and has had time to grieve. Nevertheless, his heart would still ache each time Jen's name was mentioned aloud.

"After her sacrifice, I took the liberty of collecting her things and sorting them out, in case there was something important which she had left unfinished," Shotlock added. He then took out a piece of data crystal from the right breast pocket of his dress uniform and handed it over to Wolf.

"I did not know it was personal," Shotlock said apologetically.

"That is quite alright," Wolf responded quickly. He was only too grateful to receive a memento of Jen.

And with that, Shotlock nodded respectfully, turned, and left.

For a while, all that Wolf could do was stare at the data crystal. It was the sort used for storing personal logs and video mail.

Slowly, Wolf walked out from under the giant field tent and headed toward a Wolf's Free£ancers drop ship. Along the way, he put his communications earpiece back into his ear, slipped the data crytal into his wrist computer and began accessing its contents.

Loading the oldest file, Wolf was rewarded with Jen's beaming face.

"Wolf!" she called out his name happily. "I am so happy, I cannot sleep! Star Commander Shotlock understands! He really does! Wait, wait, wait.... Let me start over. I had a showdown with the Star Commander, was soundly defeated and then... and then, he said your tactics worked! They really do. Is that not amazing? I mean, he is a conservative stalwart, and yet, he can see your point of view. But maybe that is because he used to be your commanding officer... maybe not. Anyway, I am graduating soon, and after that will be the trials of position. Wish me luck!"

And with that, the video mail ended.

Wolf then loaded the next video mail.

"Congratulate me, Wolf. I am now Lance Commander," Jen said while holding a tall glass of Ethiopian ale in one hand and looking tired. "So, the next time you see me, I expect a smart salute and a night of sensuous pleasures," she added mischievously.

And then she looked sad.

"My mail to you came back today," Jen said. "The Post Master General said that you were never stationed on the First Moon of Octega Prime. Where are you, Wolf? I wanted to ask Star Colonel Darkstalker, but could not muster the courage. I miss you, Wolf. Wherever you are, please take care."

And the video mail ended.

Highlighting the last video mail not yet played, Wolf loaded it up, and then sighed. For, what he saw really saddened him.

Jen looked grimy and tired. But she could still smile for him genuinely, caringly.

"Tomorrow is the big push, Wolf. I have lost good warriors under my charge and I feel... responsible," Jen said. "I know what you are going to say: 'Every good commander would feel a profound sense of loss whenever those under his or her command die untimely deaths'," Jen added, mimicking Wolf's seriousness but without being disrespectful.

And that made Wolf laugh out loud a little, as well as returned a sense of lightness to his heart.

"I know you do not believe in intuition, but I do not think I will survive this war. And if I do not, I want you to know that I love you, Wolf; down to my last dying breath."

And the video mail ended.

Covering his face with a hand, Wolf cried.

Several hours later, Wolf was in his Dreaded Legion Star Colonel dress uniform mingling with other senior officers at another giant field tent set up for the first Grand Council of Warriors meeting after the great hegira from Clan space to the Inner Sphere.

"Well, well. Star Colonel Wolf," Nasser said as he tapped Wolf by the shoulder to turn Wolf around. Standing next to Nasser was Siddiq.

"Star Captains Nasser and Siddiq," Wolf said with genuine pleasure. "Oh, my apologies. Star Captain Senior Grade Nasser and Star Captain Senior Grade Siddiq," Wolf said and nodded respectfully to the two superior ranking Space Warriors after belatedly noticing their new ranks.

"That is quite alright, Star Colonel," Siddiq said. "I am not used to the rank either."

"But you can get used to it, quiaff?" Nasser quipped, causing Siddiq appear even more uncomfortable and somewhat unsure.

"Why? Have they clipped your wings, Star Captain?" Wolf asked Siddiq with genuine concern.

"Oh, neg," Siddiq replied with a touch of laughter. "I am still Commander of Stealth Wings Alpha and Beta, as well as the soon-to-be established Stealth Wing Gamma. But I will also be flying a desk, as I am supposed to be overseeing the further development and testing of our first wing of advanced stealth bombers."

"Well, I do not envy you, then," Wolf declared. "I do not think that I could carry such responsibilities."

"Oh, I think you would do just fine," Siddiq said.

"Thanks, but neg," Wolf bantered.

Turning his attention to Nasser, Wolf asked, "And the Khan has given you a better ship, quiaff?"

"Aff, that he has," Nasser replied. "Nothing less than the Light Carrier Attica."

"Khan Voltage's command ship? Congratulations, Star Captain," Wolf said happily.

"Oh, do not congratulate me too much," Nasser responded. "First day on the job and already I pissed off the good Star Admiral Alexandria."

"What? How?" Wolf asked in disbelief.

"Remember our little conversation about being among the lower castes?" Nasser hinted.

"Neg, you did not," Wolf said. "Tell me you did not," Wolf added and laughed.

"Aff, I did," Nasser affirmed. "'Thank you for the honour of giving me a personal tour of such a fine warship, Star Admiral.' 'Is there anything else that you need, Star Captain?' 'I don't believe there will be anything of great importance... do not believe...'. Too late!"

"What a good first impression," Siddiq remarked sarcastically.

"Oh my goodness," Wolf added and they all laughed good humouredly.

And then Wolf received another tap on the shoulder; this time, from newly promoted Star Commander Karen, who looked beautifully resplendent in her dress uniform.

Wolf could not help but stare at her. She looked so much like Jen and he started to long for her again.

But he quickly came to his senses when he realised that standing next to Karen was her soul mate, Captain Jay. Jay, who was attired in a newly minted Wolf's Free£ancers dress uniform, had been invited as an honorary representative of the said mercenary unit.

Leaning closer as though to say something conspiratorially, Jen said, "I think the Khan is about to start."

"Oh, of course," Wolf said quickly as though to make up for the embarrassment of being caught staring at his ex-lover right in the presence of her new lover. He then turned to face Voltage who was standing on small stage erected at the centre of the giant field tent.

Standing next to the Dreaded Legion Khan was the strikingly beautiful but fierce looking Khan Larissa Selvarajen of Clan Black Mamba.

"Fellow warriors," Voltage began, his voice resonating throughout the giant field tent, as it was picked up by a tiny wireless microphone clipped onto his dress uniform. "We have fought a long, hard war. And we have returned not only to the Inner Sphere, but also to our roots," Voltage added and paused for effect.

"Our forebears were once mercenaries," Voltage continued and paused again in order to gauge the reaction of his warriors to the revelation. When no one said anything in protest or reacted with displeasure, Voltage continued by saying, "But they were no ordinary mercenaries. They were warriors of the original Star League Defence Force. And they accompanied the great General Aleksander Kerensky on the great hegira to Clan space, as well as remained loyal to his spirit. For, when the great general's son, Nicholas Kerensky, brought forth the Canons of Clan Traditions, they were among the first to embrace those canons wholeheartedly and became Clan. And still, they were dreaded, but not by the weak and helpless, but by those who would do wrong to hapless innocents."

After another short pause, Voltage continued by declaring, "From this day forth, our clan will be known as Clan Dread Legion. Part Clan, part Inner Sphere, we have indeed returned home."

"Seyla!!" everyone else responded, loud and resonant.

"And we have the great Clan Black Mamba to thank," Voltage continued. "In spite of our being at odds with one another, our clan would not have been victorious in our war for survival without the help of Clan Black Mamba."

And with that, Voltage indicated respectfully to Selvarajen, inviting her to speak.

"Thank you for those kind words, Khan Voltage," Selvarajen began. Like Voltage, her voice resonated throughout the giant field tent, as it was augmented by a tiny wireless microphone that she was wearing as well.

"My brethren," she continued and paused. Looking around, she added, "Aff, I refer to you as my brethren because you are. Although you are no longer Clan, your cause is just and in line with the Canons of Clan Traditions. I say this not to lull you into a false sense of security, but to acknowledge your courage and your many, many sacrifices in forging a new way ahead for the clans. Already, your actions have shaken the very foundations of the Great Hall of Warriors on Strana Mechty, what with many Warden clans now questioning the wisdom behind clan preying upon clan simply because it is opportune. Aff, fighting makes us strong, but it also blinds us with fury, with rage! And once blinded, we can no longer see the path to justice. And that - justice - is what being Wardens is all about. We fight not for the sole purpose of inflicting pain and suffering, but to help remove them and prevent them from ever happening again; by helping ensure lasting peace, by fighting the enemies of lasting piece. Somehow, many Warden clans have lost sight of this objective because clans fight amongst clans to no end. How then do we preach to the pretenders who claim to be the real heirs of the great Star League of centuries past? How then do we resurrect a new Star League when it cannot be better than the hoax of a Star League created by recalcitrant leaders of the Inner Sphere? Neg, the way forward, is to be more than Clan. The way forward is to return, the way you have, my brethren, to the Canons of Clan Traditions."

And with that, Selvarajen gave way for the Dread Legion Khan to speak.

"My warriors," Voltage continued. "At this very moment, Khan Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon is on her way to confront Prince Victor Davion's puppet commanders and bring closure, albeit temporarily, to her clan's war against them. No doubt the Davion prince thinks that Khan Pryde has succeeded in decimating us. Well, let the fool of a prince think that. Soon, we will show him the error of his ways."

"Seyla!!" everyone else responded again, but more loudly and more resonantly than the first time.

Turning to face the Lyrian Alliance Guards who had been invited as special guests, Voltage said, "Our friends, the Lyrian Alliance Guards who had fought so bravely by our side, will remain our honoured guests, for now or until such time that it is safe for them to return to their home worlds, should they wish it."

Hearing that, Major Von Trappe who had no love lost for Prince Victor inclined his head and nodded respectfully at Voltage, indicating his willingness to be placed under "house arrest". And considering how well he was being treated by the Dread Legion, "house arrest" was a much welcome reprieve for him and his soldiers after having fought, year upon year, in wars that appeared to have no end to them.

"Once again, I thank Clan Black Mamba for its help in securing Mogyorod as our new home," Voltage continued. "And on a more personal note, I thank you, Larissa, for the pleasure of your company, here tonight, and for your courage to stand before us, your one-time enemies, to speak plainly, from the bottom of your heart."

"The pleasure is all mine, Leigh," Selvarajen responded.

And with that, everyone else began applauding; slowly at first, and then thunderously.

Nearly a month later, Khan Pryde of Clan Jade Falcon arrives on Blair Atholl. She has arranged for a parlay with General Archer Christifori of Archer's Avengers, a battle group of crack Inner Sphere units under the employ of Prince Victor; General Adam Steiner of the Lyrian Alliance who was under the employ of Victor's sister, Archon Katrina Steiner; and of course, Khan Phellan Kell Ward of Clan Wolf in Exile.

The meeting took place at a mansion commandeered by Pryde's warriors on the outskirts of Sharpsburg. She detected easily the distrust in her enemies' words and in their expressions, especially their eyes.

'They must still think that negotiations for peace have no place in Clan warrior culture,' Pryde thought and smiled inwardly. 'Let them,' she said to herself. For, that would make it easier for her to continue behaving in the tradition of the Clans and, thus, prevent them from seeing just how desperate she really was.

Initially, she had planned to force them to bid away negotiators, knowing full well that the three of them represented different interests in the Lyrian Alliance. If she could divide their tenuous "unity" enough, it would make things even easier for her.

However, Khan Ward had decided to refrain from attending and to allow Steiner and Christifori to negotiate on his behalf - Steiner became the lead negotiator, while Christifori was Steiner's second and advisor.

'No matter,' she thought. 'Just a minor setback,' she assured herself and pressed on with cool confidence.

After all, Pryde had other tricks up her sleeve and the absence of Khan Ward could make things easier as well.

After having introduced Star Captain Diana Pryde as her aide for the talks, she casually informed both Steiner and Christifori that Star Captain Pryde was to fight a trial of position shortly, even though it was clearly unsolicited information. Her purpose was to point out to Christifori that his victory at Twycross was not complete, and that the Falcon Guards would be back.

And when the negotiations began in earnest, she was determined to betray no emotion, even though, deep inside, she felt as anxious as someone who was about to have her teeth pulled out without the benefit of local anaesthetic.

Unfortunately, some amount of anxiety did surface. For, when the spoke she said, "Our operations have achieved their strategic goals. To push further would be assume unnecessary risk."

Almost immediately, she realised her error.

'Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!' she scolded herself inwardly.

Steiner must have realised it too, for he responded by saying snidely, "So, our counterattack in your occupation zone was not to your liking then?"

Quickly, Pryde back paddled by saying calmly, "I anticipated that you would try to take some of our worlds and had planned accordingly. Even the actions of the Wolf Clan along our common border were anticipated."

'Oh my goodness. What am I saying?' Pryde scolded herself inwardly again, when she realised she had erred yet again; this time, by volunteering valuable intelligence information to her enemies.

So, in order to quickly deflect scrutiny away from her blunder, she looked at Diana Pryde and said, "The affair on Twycross with the Falcon Guards was, shall I say, disturbing, quiaff?"

Hearing that, Diana Pryde narrowed her eyes, more in puzzlement than in anger. 'What in Kerensky's name is the Khan saying?' the star captain asked herself. She could scarcely believe that her Khan was falling apart right in front of her.

'What am I saying?!' Marthe Pryde scolded herself inwardly yet again, after having read the expression on Diana Pryde's face. 'I am all over the place! Pull yourself together Marthe!'

But before she could clarify her statement, Christifori put both hands on the table, leaned forward and said, "We intended to fight honourably on Twycross, Khan Pryde. Our ships were fired upon even before we landed."

'Fool!' Marthe Pryde thought in gleeful relief. There she was covering up her blunder feebly and Christifori fell for it.

For some reason, he must have thought that it was important for her to understand that the Falcon Guards had been destroyed in honourable combat. If only he knew how close she has come to regarding Clan concepts of honourable combat as archaic and inapplicable, he would not try so hard.

Quickly, she lowered her eyes, so as not to show her amusement. And went she looked up, she said in earnest, "We have confirmed that you did not alter the recordings of the incident. And with the death of Star Colonel Ravill Pryde, there is no way to know what sparked this unfortunate incident. What matters is what we do from this point forward."

"You have taken a number of worlds from the Lyrian Alliance," Steiner responded. "Just as we have taken a number of Jade Falcon planets. Perhaps an exchange of territories would be in order?"

"Neg," Marthe Pryde answered while slashing her hand horizontally in the air between them. "Why would my clan willingly give up what it has won in battle, General?" she asked, feinting ignorance.

Steiner looked sincerely puzzled as a result. "With Melissa back in our control, Khan Pryde, some of our worlds are isolated from your other holdings. Namely, Chapultepec and Medellin. You can reach them, but only by jumps through unoccupied systems," he argued.

In response, Marthe Pryde shook her head, determined to appear as altogether strong. Besides, she could always take back Melissa once her clan had regrouped and rebuilt its strength, and if her bluff really worked, she would not have to give away anything in exchange for peace.

"We will not give back what we have seized purely because of minor logistics problems," she added, and it was the honest to goodness truth.

"Very well, then," Steiner said, not willing to let the issue go. Quickly, he pulled out a hardcopy of the Falcon/Alliance border from his briefcase, laid it out on the table before her and said, "Your forces have taken Rasalgethi, Koniz, Kooken's Pleasure Pit, Ballynure, Chahar, Kikuyu, Chapultepec, Medellin, Barcelona and Newtown Square."

Marthe Pryde nodded in acknowledgment, but was not quite sure what Steiner was getting at. So, she added, "And you have won trials of possession for Black Earth, Roadside, Blackjack, Buttler, Twycross and one of the Malibu system's jump points."

In effect, she was asking, 'So what?'

"Khan Pryde, it would be impractical for us to maintain a foothold on Twycross at this time," Steiner blurted. And it was his turn to blunder.

Marthe Pryde nearly laughed out loud, but she held herself in check. 'This is going to be easier than I thought,' she said to herself in satisfaction.

"Perhaps we could arrange an exchange," Steiner pressed on. I know the world means a great deal to your clan."

Hearing that, Diana Pryde shifted ever so slightly in hear seat, careful not to give away her excitement. But Marthe Pryde noticed it nonetheless and perhaps so did Steiner.

'Aff, you see it too, quiaff?' Marthe Pryde queried Diana Pryde with a sidelong glance. 'The fool has backed himself into a corner.'

"You won possession of the world; maintaining it is your problem," Marthe Pryde said out loud, and with determination clearly in the tone of her voice. "Between warriors, I will tell you this, General Steiner. My clan will make no attempt to possess that planet," she added.

Of course, it was a blatant lie, but at that point, she could lie about almost anything and get away with it.

'And still the fool does not get it,' Marthe Pryde said to herself as she began to relax even more.

"You won't try to take it back?" Steiner asked stupidly.

"Neg," Marthe Pryde replied coldly. "It is a desolate world, with little or no resources of any value to my clan. For my people, it is tainted with dishonour. Cursed soil, as it were," she embellished further.

In truth, Twycross was all about honour. That was why Jade Falcons fought so hard and died on it, regardless of its resources.

But Marthe Pryde was not about tell Steiner that. If he could not figure it out for himself, she was not about to shed light on his sheer stupidity.

'How the hell did he become a general?' she wondered.

And then, Steiner said something to redeem himself in her eyes.

"Then the only planet that remains contested is this one - Blair Atholl."

Knowing full well what Steiner was getting at, Marthe Pryde continued to play gauss ball, just to see how much further she could push him. "The fate of this planet will be settled on the field of battle," she said.

'And if he does not get the hint, then he is really stupid,' she thought.

Fortunately for Steiner, he did. Of course, his ego as a general caused him to think that it was his original idea, but Marthe Pryde could not care less about that.

What she could not stand, however, was the roundabout way he described the idea she had planted in his unbelievably slow working brains.

"Perhaps that makes sense," he began. "But from what I have seen of your attacks on us, your main concern was testing the mettle of your troops, correct?"

'Does he seriously want an answer or is he just trying to appear smart?' Marthe Pryde asked herself in disbelief.

"Perhaps that is how it seems to you, General. I doubt you could appreciate the depth of our strategies in full," she replied in earnest.

'Another stupid question and I will strangle you with my bare hands!' she wanted to add, but did not.

"And our strategy was to stop your assault by taking worlds you own," Steiner responded. "But when the dust settles, what assurance do I have that you won't launch another such attempt a year from now?"

'Bravo!' Marthe Pryde congratulated Steiner inwardly. 'Finally, you say something truly intelligent.'

"I will give you no such assurance, General Steiner," she replied coldly but with a hint of a predatory smile on her lips.

"Well, I have another proposition for you, then," Steiner said, as he rocked back into his seat. "You need a place to temper and test your people while the Lyrian Alliance wants to prevent another incursion like this last one. Perhaps I can give you a place to test your skills, so you will have no need to invade our territory for that. Here..., Blair Atholl."

Hearing that Marthe Pryde almost sighed. 'What an unbelievably simple minded man you are, Steiner,' she wanted to say, but bit back her tongue. And instead, she put her palms together and placed her fingers in front of her chin to denote contemplation, and then pretended to ask, "This world would remain contested, then, with my troops allowed to fight yours for trials of possession, quiaff?"

"Yes-aff," Steiner blurted. "And with Clan Wolf taking advantage of every incursion you make against us, you would be able to achieve your goals without placing your holdings at risk from those who style themselves your peers," he added.

'What?' Marthe Pryde thought in puzzlement, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. And when she glanced at Diana Pryde, she noticed that the star captain was also puzzled.

Why was Steiner talking about Clan Wolf?

And then it dawned on her. 'He does not know,' she realised happily. 'He really does not know.'

"In exchange, you gain a handful of worlds and relative peace," she responded as though she was thinking aloud and was convinced by Steiner's warped logic.

"Yes," he affirmed.

"Then, we have both achieved victory, General Steiner," Marthe Pryde embellished even more. "Since you place value on peace, and I on the tempering that only battle can bring, we can both face our people," she added, and then rose to her feet. "Well bargained and done."

"Well bargained and done," both Steiner and Christifori responded in unison.

And then, the four of them shook hands, after which, Steiner and Christifori left.

"Well bargained and done, indeed," Diana Pryde remarked cynically.

"For us, aff," Marthe Pryde responded.

"I was aiming my cynicism at them," Diana Pryde clarified.

"I know," Marthe Pryde acknowledged.

"They have no idea of how overstretched we have really become because of Mogyorod, quiaff?" Diana Pryde queried. "Not once did they allude to that planet and to Clan Dread Legion."

"Neg, they do not, unless Steiner is far smarter than he has led us to believe," Marthe Pryde answered. "Neg, he cannot be, what with him being so blur when I hinted on Blair Atholl."

"Speaking of which, it looks like we did lose something after all," Diana Pryde remarked.

"You mean, Blair Atholl?" Marthe Pryde asked. "My dear, you cannot lose something you do not have yet. Besides, we have come out of the negotiations looking stronger than we really are. Plus, we will get far more planets this way. We just have to give ourselves some time to recover our strength after having overstretched ourselves."

"How long before they find out about what has happened on Mogyorod?" Diana Pryde asked further.

"About nine months, give or take a few months," Marthe Pryde estimated. "By then, we would be ready to not only defend our newly acquired planets fully but also reclaim those we have lost, of course, with the help of our new allies in the Inner Sphere."

"Clan Dread Legion and Clan Black Mamba?" Diana Pryde asked.

"Now, do not start asking questions the answers for which are plainly obvious, Star Captain," Marthe Pryde bantered, feinting annoyance. "Or I will strangle you. I mean it!"

And then, both Prydes laughed out loud, remembering how imbecilic Steiner had been earlier.

"Something does not quite feel right, though," Marthe Pryde remarked.

"And what would that be, my Khan?" Diana Pryde asked with genuine concern.

"Archer Christifori," Marthe Pryde said. "Surely he saw how Steiner blundered over and again. Yet, he said nothing. I hardly believe that such a great enemy of Clan Jade Falcon is as big an air head as Steiner. If anyone could see through us, it would be Christifori."

"So, why did he not intervene?" Diana Pryde wondered.

"Politics perhaps," Marthe Pryde speculated.

About nine months later, and as accurately predicted by the Jade Falcon khan, Prince Victor Davion has discovered the truth of the fight for Mogyrod. 

As though to salvage his integrity and pride, he has arranged, against the better judgment of Morgan Kell, for a video conferencing session with Khan Voltage via simultaneous hyper pulse generator (HPG) transmission, to be held at the Hawkins Estates mansion which Victor's forces had commandeered while on Murphid, Freedom Theatre. In the spacious study of the plush mansion, Victor stood facing a holovid display, waiting anxiously for the khan of the newly reborn Clan Dread Legion to appear.

And much to the Davion prince's annoyance, when Voltage's disembodied head did appear on the display, the first person he acknowledged was not Victor but Kell.

"Commander Kell," Voltage said with respect clearly in the tone of his voice, which he then followed up with a nod. But when he focused his eyes on Victor, all he did was say with a straight face, "Greetings Davion prince."

Victor who was already furious over the discovery of a clan forces build-up in Mogyorod immediately launched into a tirade of accusations.

"You have betrayed us!" Victor shouted in anger. "We aided you in your relocation to the Inner Sphere and this is how you repay us?! And you and your kind have to cheek to say that Inner Sphere warriors have no honour?"

But before Victor could say more, Voltage smirked and responded cynically by saying, "We betrayed you? Aff, I suppose we did, but it was you who betrayed us first, or have you forgotten?"

"We couldn't trust you completely, and we were right not to," Victor countered determinedly. "I couldn't trust you because you wouldn't have been able to stay true to your word," Victor added spitefully.

"What exactly are you trying to say, little prince?" Voltage asked, simultaneously kidding Victor for his size, his overblown sense of importance and his circular logic.

"You cannot trust those who would betray their own kind," Victor said almost religiously.

"And so, here we are, right back where we started, except that now the clans are in an even better position to take more of your planets," Voltage said snidely. "No wonder you are so angry."

Hearing that, Victor reacted as though he was about to say something angrily in response, but then, he hesitated.

"Now do you see the error of your ways?" Voltage asked condescendingly.

"I assure you, this is nothing more than a minor setback," Victor countered. "We will come after you, just like we did the Smoke Jaguars," he added threateningly.

"Huh!" Voltage snorted and smirked. "You are most welcome to try. But you will find that Clan Dread Legion is not at all like the clan you so ruthlessly annihilated."

"If you're referring...," Victor started to say.

But the Davion prince was promptly cut off by Voltage who began addressing Kell directly when he said, "Commander Kell, by now, your covert operatives would have reported back my offer to planets and systems neighbouring to Mogyorod. It is no ruse, I assure you. In spite of our differences, I believe you know me well enough to realise that."

And with that, Voltage nodded respectfully to Kell and disconnected.

"That arrogant bastard!" Victor shouted angrily. "And what the hell was he saying to you, Morgan?!"

"Clan Dread Legion has fashioned itself into self-elected Inner Sphere peace keeping force," Kell began to explain. "While he cannot stop the onslaught of Crusader clans, Khan Voltage has offered to station his warriors as protectors on planets or in systems that are in the Crusader clans' path to Terra. Considering how formidable Clan Dread Legion is, the Crusader clans would simply pass through without attempting to occupy the worlds under Clan Dread Legion's protection."

"But he won't offer us the same treatment, would he?" Victor remarked.

"Meaning?" Kell asked.

"He won't let us pass through the systems he controls the way he would the Crusader clans," Victor clarified.

"No, he won't," Kell affirmed. "He sees the Inner Sphere Houses as scourges to be vanquished."

"I want you to prepare expeditionary forces to test the strength of the clans at Mogyorod," Victor ordered. "I want Archer Christifori to head the expedition."

But then Victor noticed how pensive Kell had become as a result.

"You don't approve, Morgan?" Victor asked.

"Archer Christifori has sacrificed so much for you already, Victor," Kell replied. "Be careful that you do not cause him to become disillusioned with you, by sending him and his people to face untimely deaths."

"How dare you, Morgan," Victor said, taken aback. "How dare you even suggest...."

"No, how dare you, sir!" Morgan countered angrily. "In spite of Archer's better judgment, you insisted that your cousin Adam Steiner lead the negotiations with the Jade Falcons. Adam is a good field commander, but he is no politician. We could have pressed our advantage then, but you allowed him to walk straight into Marthe Pryde's trap and had him agree, on our behalf, to a peace accord that was meaningless! And because of politics, you let Adam think that he had done a good job."

"Morgan, I...," Victor began, as though to say something conciliatory.

But Kell had had enough.

"Be careful, Victor, that in your fight against Catherine, you don't become your sister," Kell said. And then, he turned and left.

----------------------------------

Greetings, dear readers,
If you like what you have just read, please write to WizKids and recommend that they publish "Winds of Change". This would then make way for my next book "Rise of the Inner Sphere Republic".
Faithfully,
LtCol[W£]GrinerWolf aka A Garang Wolf
Wolf's Free£ancers
(grinnerwolff@yahoo.com; grinnerwolf@hotmail.com)