Upon leaving Khan Voltage's office, Wolf put on his most sombre face. He did not have to try very hard.

Although he was thrilled by the fact that he would be playing an even more significant role in the clan, he also found himself terrified by how much more dangerous things have become for his future and the future of his clan. He had been ready to throw in the towel and admit to himself that he had done the best he could, and then retire as a solahma on some backwater planet.

He had accomplished much more than he had set out to do and that would have been enough for him. The Dreaded Legion was a dying clan, after all, and he was just one man struggling against a system that refused to accommodate change.

However, now that he has been called by his Khan to serve the clan even further, his fear of failure had increased even more. Yes, he would smile and grin in the face of terrible odds, but that was just for show.

No one must ever know how he would secretly despair whenever he felt that he could not go on.

"I can do this," said Wolf to himself. "Aff, I can do this," sounding less and less convincing to his own ears.

As he reached the MechWarrior barracks, he quickly found for himself a secluded section and wept.

Half an hour later, he worked his way to his living quarters, careful to avoid other MechWarriors whom he knew would either jeer him or just stare at him with contempt. He managed to get to his quarters without much incident, thumbed the bio-sensor security lock to unlock the door and went in.

"Lights," said Wolf to the voice-activating personal computer (PC). Nothing happened.

"Lights," repeated Wolf, "please?"

"Please restate your command," replied the PC in its saccharine sweet female voice.

"I said, lights," said Wolf, and the lights finally came on.

"Messages," said Wolf.

"Please restate your command," replied the PC.

"Messages!" repeated Wolf, angrily.

"Checking now," replied the PC.

"You have one coded transmission from Khan Voltage in your mailbox and one call-waiting from Star Colonel Darkstalker," stated the PC pleasantly as though it would never be taken aback by someone's anger.

"Star Colonel? That was fast," said Wolf.

"Please restate your command," said the PC.

"Never mind," answered Wolf.

"Please restate..." the PC began to repeat.

"Never mind!" cried Wolf.

"Beep!" the PC sounded in acknowledgment.

"Open message, security clearance level 10, password 'bloodstone1969'," instructed Wolf.

"Security clearance verified and password accepted," responded the PC.

"Wall display, on," ordered Wolf, and Khan Voltage's personal seal appeared, followed shortly by "Eyes Only," which meant that, once viewed, the coded message could not be stored.

The message pertained to detailed instructions on how Wolf was to journey from Clan space to the Inner Sphere, as well as names of covert operatives who would help facilitate Wolf's quest. Wolf committed everything to memory.

"Close message," Wolf instructed. "Open communications link with Star Colonel Darkstalker," added Wolf.

A moment later, Darkstalker's disembodied head appeared on the holograph display.

"Greetings, Wolf," said Darkstalker with a smile. "Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! I thought you would have finished memorising Khan Voltage's instructions by now. You are getting old."

"I said 'close message'," Wolf repeated his instruction to the PC and the message disappeared from the wall display. "It is this freebirth PC. I have not been able to get it working properly. And the Legion Quartermaster appears to be ignoring my requests for a new one."

"Aff, well, the Legion has been short on supplies," acknowledged Darkstalker.

"Neg, it is because I am MechWarrior Wolf and this broken-down, sorry excuse of a personal computer is 'more than I deserve'," countered Wolf.

"Haa! Ha!" laughed Darkstalker. "Anyway Wolf, I just want to wish you 'good hunting'. And do not do anything really stupid, quiaff?"

"Me, do something stupid? Never. Crazy? Always," bantered Wolf. "That is who I am. Crazy old Wolf who grins in the face of danger."

"Aff, well, remember Wolf. You may be blessed with unbelievably good fortunes, but they do run out," said Darkstalker.

"They have not run out on me yet, at least not entirely," Wolf said and grinned.

"Yes? What is it," said Darkstalker to someone on his side whom Wolf could not see. Looking at Wolf again, Darkstalker said, "It appears that the spy I spoke to you about is trying to hack into our conversation, Wolf. We are tracing him now."

A few seconds passed.

"Damn. Lost him," said Darkstalker.

"I would not worry too much," said Wolf. "I am sure it is just one of Argamemnon's people trying to find something to pin you with."

"Hmmm. If that were true, I would not be so worried," said Darkstalker. "But no one on Argamemnon's camp has the training to detect a counter hack from my communications technicians. This spy is good."

Wolf was about to add another possibility when the door chimed. The door camera revealed seven cadets in full-dress uniform standing outside.

"I have to go," said Wolf. "My cadets are here."

"Aff, see you tomorrow, old man," said Darkstalker.

"I hate it when people call me that," said Wolf. "I am barely thirty four. The great General Aleksander Kerensky was well beyond fifty years when he defeated the usurper Stephan Amaris."

"With all due respect, MechWarrior Wolf," said Darkstalker, emphasising Wolf's rank in an overly exaggerated way, "you are no great general."

Wolf grinned, knowing that to be too true. "Well, who knows? With my kind of good fortunes, maybe I will, someday, quiaff?"

"Dream on, Wolf," said Darkstalker and the holographic display went blank.

The door chimed again. Hesitantly, Wolf got up, walked to the door and opened it slowly.

"Is it not a little late for a social call, cadets?" asked Wolf in a not so accommodating manner.

"We have heard the news," said Cadet Juan.

"Oh? Which one would that be?" asked Wolf, playing dumb.

"We heard that you were going to be shipped off to Octega Prime," said Cadet Ramsey.

"Yes, I am," acknowledged Wolf. "And what about it?"

"It is not fair," said Cadet Juan.

"Not fair?" asked Wolf. "Are you suggesting that the Khan is unjust? That he does not know what he is doing?"

The cadets appeared taken aback. Cadet Ramsey started to open his mouth, hesitated and closed it tight.

"If I were not so tired, I would challenge you all to a circle of equals, here and now, for suggesting such things. The Khan is a good man, a brave leader in difficult times," said Wolf.

"That was not what we meant," countered Cadet Jenny. "The system is unfair."

Wolf examined the expressions of each of his cadets and saw earnest conviction on their faces that said they truly believed the system to be unfair.

"Aff, well, nothing ever changes overnight. In order for us to survive and even thrive, we must go with the flow," advised Wolf. "You have bright futures ahead of you. Do not let them go to waste."

"Our clan is dying MechWarrior Wolf," said Cadet Agnes. "Just how bright a future do each of us have?"

"Bright enough for you to die with honour," countered Wolf.

"Honour? What honour is there in seeing ones own clan decimated in front of one's eyes?" asked Cadet Stuart. "You have taught us, MechWarrior Wolf, that honour is secondary when you are left with nothing but two damning choices. The way forward would be to choose the lesser damning choice."

"Aff, I did, but this is not your time," said Wolf. "You are just cadets."

"Aff, that we are," said Cadet Juan. "But we will become MechWarriors and, when we do, we will make sure that things do change."

"Enough!" shouted Wolf. "You have no idea what kind of sacrifices I have had to make. Remember this, my cadets. The path I have chosen is a desolate one, full of grief and disappointments. Do not travel down this path until you are ready."

A moment's silence passed.

"Well, it has been an honour training under you," said Cadet Juan, and he snapped a smart salute. The other cadets saluted as well.

In response, Wolf saluted, held it a for a moment and put his hand down.

The cadets followed. Then, they all turned to leave.

Suddenly, and somewhat awkwardly, Cadet Juan turned to face Wolf again and extended his hand. Although many clans have abandoned the age old Terran handshake custom, the Dreaded Legion still practiced it, albeit sparingly.

Hesitantly, Wolf accepted Cadet Juan's hand, shook it firmly and tried to let go. Cadet Juan held it tightly, but not too tightly. It was almost like a caress.

"I would like my hand back, please," said Wolf.

Sighing somewhat, Cadet Juan let Wolf's hand go. He then turned again and left.

When everyone accept Cadet Jenny had turned down the corridor, Wolf remarked, "Centuries of genetic engineering to produce the finest MechWarriors the universe has ever seen, and we still get queers."

"Who?" asked Cadet Jenny with a little laugh as she stopped and turned to face Wolf.

"Cadet Juan," replied Wolf. "There has been talk about him preferring, well, men."

Cadet Jenny walked back slowly toward Wolf in the sultry way she always did when she wanted something from him. When she was barely inches away, Wolf said, sounding  somewhat alarmed, "Now, now, Cadet Jenny. It is late."

Wolf was standing by the door frame and, with a quick hard shove, Cadet Jenny made Wolf stumbled backwards into his quarters. Wolf managed to regain his footing and flashed her a knowing smile.

Cadet Jenny, or "Jen" to Wolf, was a good two inches taller and stronger. She stepped in, closed the door behind her, and tossed her dress-uniform barrette aside with one hand, to reveal a bald head and light, blond stubbles on her scalp.

She closed the distance between Wolf and herself quickly and gave him another hard shove. This time, Wolf stumbled all the way to the military-issue cot and fell on it flat on his back.

Jen unzipped the front of her dress-uniform jacket to reveal that she was wearing nothing underneath, slipped it off and let it fall to the floor.

"Aff, I see that you will not take 'neg' for an answer," said Wolf.

Being well exercised, Jen had broad, well muscled shoulders, washboard tummy with highly distinctive abdominal muscles, pumped-up biceps and triceps, but very small, perky breasts. Still, that was the definition of female beauty among MechWarriors of the Dreaded Legion clan.

"What was that you said when you challenged me to a circle of equals?" asked Jen.

"You know what I said," replied Wolf.

"Remind me," she countered light heartedly.

"If I defeat you, I will have your undying loyalty," replied Wolf.

"And devotion," Jen added.

"Did I say that?" asked Wolf.

Jen nodded.

"Neg!" denied Wolf jokingly.

"Arrggh!" screamed Jen as she launched herself at Wolf. He braced for her to crash on him, smiling as he did.

When Jen landed on Wolf, the cot broke and collapsed onto the floor. For a while, all they could do was laugh, long and hard.

Then, Jen kissed Wolf passionately. Breaking her kiss, Jen said, "I will miss you MechWarrior Wolf."

"Neg, you will not," replied Wolf. "There will be others."

"Aff, there will be," Jen acknowledged, "But I will miss you all the same," said Jen, and then she kissed Wolf even more passionately.

Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched via micro-cameras. Back at the Legion intelligence headquarters, Darkstalker and his technicians sat quietly, watching the holographic representations of Jen and Wolf making love.

Realising that everyone in the observation room had stopped working and were watching intently, Darkstalker stood up and said, "That is enough. There is nothing else that we can learn from this."

Then the room began to have activity again, with some of the female technicians looking somewhat embarrassed.

Before switching off the holographic display, Darkstalker walked over to Wolf's facsimile and said softly, "Have a good one, old friend. This may very well be your last." Then, he turned off the display.

Turning to Chief Tech Alexander, Darkstalker said, "Chief, you have to redesign the micro-cameras. The ones we have keep interfering with PCs. Get on it right away."

"At once, Star Colonel," replied Chief Alexander.

The next day, Wolf readied himself for the training cadre handing over ceremony. After slipping on his dress uniform trousers, boots, jacket and barrette, he clasped a ceremonial dagger casing to his left arm and gingerly sheathed a ceremonial dagger in place.

He had always liked the way the dagger would scrape metal-upon-metal with the casing. Wolf then gave the dagger a little twist to lock it in place.

As he grabbed his holdall, Wolf took a good last look at his living quarters, and especially at the cot on which he had sex the night before with the only woman he had ever loved. Then, he walked towards the door.

"Lights off," said Wolf. And the lights went off. "Hmmm. How ironic," Wolf remarked to himself. "It works fine, now that I am leaving."

He then opened the door, stepped out and started to walk toward the barracks exit.

Along the way, Wolf passed Star Captain Argamemnon who was also in dress-uniform. On Argamemnon's left arm clasped a ceremonial dagger casing similar to the one Wolf was wearing. But it was empty.

Noticing Wolf's hesitation, Argamemnon remarked, "Surprised, Wolf?"

Wolf turned away and continued to make his way to the barracks exit.

"Did you think the Khan would choose another half-witted warrior like you to train your cadets? Their standards have deteriorated ever since you took them under your care. I plan to make them over into true clan warriors," said Argamemnon.

Wolf stopped walking but did not turn to face Argamemnon. "If I were not already solahma, I would challenge you to a circle of equals," said Wolf in as menacing a voice as he could manage.

"Oh, please, do not let that stop you," said Argamemnon coyly.

"Alas, it must. I am afraid that if I defeat you, Star Captain, the cadets would never respect you the way they should, and that would be much, much worse than whatever it is that you intend to do to them," said Wolf.

Argamemnon was seething with anger but could not say anything in reply. And noting that no reply was forthcoming, Wolf began walking again.

When Wolf stepped out of the barracks, he found the morning to be bright and sunny. Although the air was still chilly, it was the sort of morning that Wolf loved since his sibko days.

It would always help to cheer him, if only a little.

"Ten hut!" shouted Cadet Juan who was at the head of Wolf's training cadre.

"As ease, cadets," said Wolf.

"It would be an honour for us to have you head this marching column to the parade grounds, MechWarrior Wolf," said Cadet Juan.

"Neg," replied Wolf, "The honour is all mine."

Wolf took his place at the at the front of the cadets and commanded, "Cadets! Fooorrwaarrrd, march!"

And they all marched off smartly to the parade grounds.

When they reached the grounds, they found Star Colonel Darkstalker and Star Captain Argamemnon waiting.

"Cadets, halt!" commanded Wolf.

The parade ground dust stirred and wafted upwards when the marching column suddenly stopped, and to Wolf's mind's eye, the effect was a sight to behold.

Dropping his holdall to the ground, Wolf marched smartly toward the awaiting officers. Upon reaching them, he stopped and shot off a sharp salute.

"MechWarrior Wolf ready to transfer the training cadre to the care of a new trainer," said Wolf to Darkstalker. The Star Colonel returned Wolf's salute and then they both brought their hands down simultaneously.

Realising that he had commited a small act of disrepect, Wolf stiffened. He should have waited for Darkstalker to drop his hand first.

'This is what happens when you become too familiar with a superior officer,' thought Wolf.

"At ease, MechWarrior Wolf," said Darkstalker, not wanting to make an issue of it.

Turning to address the cadets, Darkstalker said, "Cadets! Today, you will lose one of the finest trainers the Dreaded Legion clan has ever had. MechWarrior Wolf is a skilled pilot and an excellent field commander. But in his stead will be an even finer MechWarrior," continued Darkstalker.

Upon hearing that, Argamemnon appeared to puff up with pride.

"Star Captain Argamemnon has years of duelling and battlefield experience," continued Darkstalker. "Heed his words and you will graduate at the top of your class."

Turning to Wolf, Darkstalker said, "MechWarrior Wolf, you may officially hand over your cadets to Star Captain Argamemnon."

Snapping to attention, Wolf unsheathed the ceremonial dagger from its casing on his left arm, and marched over to Argamemnon. Stopping short of the Star Captain, Wolf thrust the blade outwards but away from Argamemnon.

Argamemnon grabed the dagger with his left hand and gripped it tightly so that the double-edged dagger would cut into his palm, drawing blood. With that, Wolf let go of the dagger and extended his left hand, palm facing upwards.

Argamemnon transferred the dagger to his right hand and gripped its handled tightly, but instead of giving Wolf a nominal cut by slashing Wolf's open palm, Argamemnon struck Wolf in the mouth with the butt of ceremonial dagger's handle, drawing blood visibly from Wolf's smashed lips. He did it with such force that Wolf fell backwards and nearly blacked out.

"Stand fast, cadets!" warned Darkstalker, trying very hard not to show his own concerns for Wolf's well-being.

"You did not expect that did you, Wolf?" asked Argamemnon. "I am not surprised. You, who have shunned many of our traditions and encouraged others to do the same, deserve no less."

Turning to face the cadets, Argamemnon said, "Had he paid more attention to our clan's traditions, he would have prepared himself for the blow I gave him. Now look at him, a pathetic solahma, trying desperately to get back on his feet."

Wolf was on all fours, trying to get up, but the world kept on spinning, and so he fell forward instead. His mouth felt like it was filled with little pebbles and he tasted blood.

Not only did he bite his tongue, he also had broken teeth. And the one thought that ran through his mind was he had to get up.

Argamemnon was about to say something more when Darkstalker interjected.

"That is enough, Star Captain. Whatever else you have to say to the cadets, you can do it later. I have other matters to attend to that cannot be kept waiting," said Darkstalker, saving Wolf from any further psychological torture, but without making it obvious.

"You surat," said Wolf, as he was finally getting to his feet. Covered in parade ground dust and dirt, and wobbly on his feet, Wolf looked like a drunkard who had just spent the night in some back alley. "I challenge you to a circle of equals, here and now."

"Security!" shouted Darkstalker at two sentries nearby. "Restrain that man," he ordered.

"It is my right!" cried Wolf. "It is my right to challenge the Star Captain to a circle of equals," added Wolf as his hands were being restrained.

"On what grounds? That he merely insulted you?" Darkstalker asked further, with a touch of laughter in his voice. "Careful, MechWarrior Wolf. You are a hair's breadth away from insubordination."

The truth was, Wolf did have grounds for a circle of equals. Argamemnon had struck Wolf in the mouth with the ceremonial dagger's handle. There was nothing in the traditions that allowed that.

If it were allowed under clan law, Argamemnon might as well have grabbed a club and hit Wolf over the head.

But in Wolf's unsteady condition, a circle of equals would be nothing short of a death sentence. And the Dreaded Legion could ill-afford to let him get killed.

Wolf glared at Darkstalker accusingly but then relaxed somewhat when he saw familiar concern in Darkstalker's eyes. In that instant, their thoughts connected - aff, Wolf, you have every right, but you have more important things to accomplish. Let it go.

Wolf shrugged off the sentries and tried to walk away, but the sentries grabbed hold of him again. "Let him go," ordered Darkstalker.

Slowly, Wolf walked to his holdall, picked it up by its shoulder strap and continued to walk in the general direction of the space ports located nearby.

"Halt!" shouted Argamemnon. "The ceremony is not over."

Wolf stopped but did not turn around.

"You have not saluted me, MechWarrior Wolf," said Argamemnon.

Wolf still did not turn and looked almost as though we would just walk off. But then, he straightened his posture, turned, and shot off a smart salute, very much to almost everyone else's relief.

Argamemnon returned the salute casually and turned away to shout marching orders to the now-his training cadre.

As Wolf put down his hand, he sought out Jen among the cadets and found her looking at him with a sad but kind smile. And that was enough for Wolf to shed any lingering doubt about the correctness of his decision to stand down from challenging Argamemnon.

Wolf returned her kindness with a weak but appreciative smile. Then, slowly, he turned and made his way to the nearby space port to board the dropship that would supposedly take him to the first moon of Octega Prime.

Chapter 3: A question of faith