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  Marylyn sniffed as she released David from her embrace and stroked his hair. "I guess there's nothing left for me to do."

  "Sure there is, dear." Roy patted her hand gently. "Turn your passion into making their last four days here a happy remembrance. An experience that will bring them back soon."

  Marylyn forced a smile and swiped at her tears with both hands. "I shall do that, then." She held her right hand out to David. "Want to help your Gram make some cookies?"

  The boy nodded emphatically and let Marylyn lead him out of the room.

  Deirdre smiled. "Mom and I were lucky she met you."

  "Not as lucky as I was. I was in a lot of turmoil back then, and your mother helped straighten me out. It's true she doesn't want to lose you, but she really has your best interests at heart."

  "I know, but sometimes it's hard to see it." Deirdre paused, then looked her stepfather in the eyes. "So, do you think my going to Zurich is a mistake to which my passions have blinded me?"

  Roy Lear shrugged his shoulders and stood up, extending a hand out to her palm up. "I don't know, Deirdre, I really don't. I hope not."

  Deirdre smiled and took her stepfather's hand as she rose. "Me, too." She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  Roy squeezed her hand. "Just remember that no matter what happens, you'll always have a home with us. No reservations, no recriminations, no questions."

  7

  Solaris City, Solaris VII

  Tamarind March, Federated Commonwealth

  10 January 3056

  Tormano Liao sat alone and undisturbed in the Emerald Lounge of the Solaris City starport. He greatly detested having to travel from his mansion in the Cathay sector of the city to this high hill in the Davion quarter. Radical shifts in architecture marked the border between the Black Hills and Cathay sectors, with the Davion buildings lacking anything even approaching a soul. Tormano hated the sharp, square Davion architecture, and its lack of color merely served to make the gray world of Solaris City even more bleak.

  The two tall, slender men standing behind him kept people away from him. They also kept other people from enjoying the spectacular view offered by this quite rare clear day in winter. Tormano didn't care that he was monopolizing the view, nor did the scene particularly interest him aesthetically. Rather, he looked down on the city stretched out below as a vast and treacherous chessboard representing the universe in microcosm.

  Directly north of the spaceport, across the Solaris River and covering half the gentle upward slope, the Kobe sector of the city seemed the most inviting. Islands of green alternated with beautifully crafted and constructed buildings that looked as if they had been rescued from Japan of a millennium and a half before. The low haze that usually shrouded the city had dissipated over Kobe first, making it seem like a model of what the rest of Solaris might possibly become.

  Tormano shook his head, for he knew what a thin facade that was. Pride was the only thing that kept the Combine sector of the city going, and that was quickly wearing thin. Until now the people of Kobe had lived almost entirely off the vast profits made in the black market for holovids of the Solaris fights. But now the Clans had hammered the Combine severely, swallowing a full third of their worlds. Kobe's golden-egg-laying goose was dead, brutally slain. The sector only looked as good as it did because its people spent their own money trying to keep it up—willfully denying that the foundations of their world were in danger of collapse.

  Beyond Kobe, further east on the north shore of the river, Montenegro festered like Kobe's shadow. Built in what had once been Solaris City's industrial sector—before the whole planet had moved to a "service economy"—Montenegro was indeed a black mountain of rotting factories, tangled streets, and internecine wars. Represented here were every one of the dozen smaller provinces that made up the Free Worlds League, with the denizens of each fiercely guarding their own turf.

  Across the river from Montenegro, the Lyran sector of Silesia lay gray and strangely clean. As with the people of Kobe, the Lyrans struggled to make their sector rise above the squalor that threatened to engulf Solaris City. Despite the unification of the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns into a single Federated Commonwealth, on Solaris the Lyran loyalists kept as much distance as possible from their counterparts in the Black Hills. Tensions had grown ever since the invasion by the Clans, which had gobbled up a hunk of the Lyran nation while leaving the Federated Suns intact and untouched.

  Directly south of Kobe, the high hills of the Black Hills sector dominated the city. The orderly and formidable buildings stood as the only true reminder of the military considerations that had created the BattleMechs that warred in the arenas of Solaris City. As with everything connected with the Davions, the Black Hills quarter was overdone, as if a mere display of might could win battles in Solaris.

  Between Silesia and the Black Hills, at a low point in the city, lay Cathay. A quarter of a century before it had been staunchly pro-Capellan, its people rallying around the brilliant fighting skill of Justin Xiang. Tormano vividly recalled placing bets from Sian on the fight between Xiang and his arch-rival, the Davion puppet Philip Capet. The victory had won him a fair sum, and was also the spur that had made Tormano's father, Maximilian Liao, bring Justin to Sian to work for him.

  Justin Xiang, it had turned out, was operating as a double agent for Hanse Davion; while pretending to serve Maximilian, he had worked secretly to destroy the Capellan Confederation's ability to defend itself. Tormano himself had been captured on Algol by Davion troops. He had expected prison or execution, but instead the Davions had treated him as an ally. As peace fell over the newly conquered area now known as the Sarna March, Hanse Davion had begun funding Tormano as the leader of the resistance movement against Romano Liao, Tormano's sister and the new Capellan Chancellor.

  His other sister, Candace, had her St. Ives Compact, and this tripartite split of the old Capellan realm was now reflected in Cathay. Down by the river and on up through a patch bordering Silesia, Capellans loyal to the current Chancellor, Sun-Tzu Liao, and the Capellan Confederation held sway. They were, by far, the most numerous group in Cathay, and produced most of the warriors who fought in the Liaoist stables.

  The St. Ives section dominated the center of Cathay. The expression "Middle Kingdom" had originally been used to ridicule those who looked to Candace and her small nation for their identity, but it had proved to be prophetic. Untouched by the war, St. Ives had come over intact when Justin Xiang returned to Hanse Davion's service, bringing Candace with him. The St. Ives Compact made a fortune producing the goods needed by the newly conquered Sarna March, and that money had also gone into investment and support of kin in far Solaris, obtaining the best for people in the Middle Kingdom.

  Free Capella clung to the border with the Davion Black Hills like a tick sucking blood from a hound. Trapped between the Middle Kingdom and the Davion sector, and denied access to the river front by Capellan loyalists, Tormano's little realm consisted of a luxurious core surrounded by slums. Those fortunate enough to escape the Davion invasion of the Capellan Confederation with their wealth intact had joined Tormano in building a grand island of prosperity on the highest hill of their section. Around them, decaying buildings and twisted, trash-strewn alleys were all the shelter available to the people whose labor created the fortunes accumulated by the wealthy.

  Tormano acknowledged that their condition was piteous, but he knew the stubborn pride of those people and that they shared his goal. They were citizens of Free Capella and dedicated to overthrowing the illegitimate regime headed by Tormano's nephew, Sun-Tzu. They were patriots willing to sacrifice, awaiting the day when they could return to their ancestral homeland as liberators.

  Tormano had told them and himself that he did indeed intend to free the rest of the Capellan Confederation from the cadet branch of the family that held it. He also knew that his true worth—a worth Hanse Davion had seen and exploited— was as a diversion for Chancellor Sun-Tzu and before him, Chancellor Rom
ano. The Davions gave him just enough money to carry out raids and disinformation campaigns. They promised that "someday" they would marshal the forces needed to finish what the Fourth Succession War had started, but there was always some excuse for why they had yet to do that. Uprisings in Skye, the disastrous war of 3039, and most recently, the Clan invasion.

  For a while Tormano had been complacent, content with the generous pension provided by Hanse Davion. In the meantime he had also managed to carry out a number of operations that vexed his sister Romano no end, raising his prestige among the people of Free Capella. He had even established various organizations to help the citizens of the Sarna March recover from the war, increasing his popularity among them and stimulating private donations to his cause.

  During those years Tormano had told himself he was building up strength. His wife had borne him two children, a son and a daughter, but neither seemed to have the heart for the struggle to which their father was so totally committed. Hanya, his wife, had become thoroughly wrapped up in the social causes championed by Melissa Steiner-Davion, and become depressed and inconsolable since Melissa's assassination.

  Now time was running out for his dream. Victor Davion had already cut funding to Free Capella, forcing Tormano to trim the rehabilitation programs he had set up. He noted with pride that Kai had begun to funnel funds into those programs, picking up slack and then some, saving Tormano the embarrassment of being forced to dismiss the staff he maintained at his estate on Equatus, the western continent of Solaris.

  Kai had come to dominate his thoughts more and more as Tormano saw the universe and circumstance conspiring to rob him of his dream. Had he been asked to custom-design an heir to Free Capella, that person would have been a man just like Kai. Not only was his nephew a warrior of unparalleled skill, but he was also a close friend of Victor Davion and no great friend of Sun-Tzu Liao. Now, as the Champion of Solaris, Kai had become well known throughout the Inner Sphere.

  Tormano's new aide, Nancy Bao Lee, came up from behind, clearing her throat politely. "Mandrinn, Aerospace Traffic Control reports the Leopard Class DropShip Zhang-shi is on final approach. It should be at the gate in ten minutes."

  Tormano looked up at Nancy. "What do you think of our Kai Allard?"

  The tall, slender woman's dark eyes flickered briefly before she answered. "He is a masterful warrior, my lord. He would be a great asset to our cause." She looked down, making her long black hair billow around her shoulders and down over the bodice of her royal blue silk jacket. "Is that what you wished to know?"

  Kai's uncle smiled slyly. What I wished to know, your eyes have told me. "Do you find him attractive?"

  Again her mouth lied while her eyes spoke the truth. "I can see how others would find him so. He is not hard to look at, but I prefer more mature men, my lord."

  Tormano nodded to her. "I am afraid you will have more than your fill of such in my company, for the pack I run with is filled with old men."

  "You are not old, my lord. You are vital and look young enough to be Kai Allard's brother." She gave him a worshipful smile. "Through all the difficulties of our cause and your wife's infirmity, you have persevered. It is no wonder the people call you Ironheart."

  Is your flattery meant to get you into my bed? And do you think from there you will one day be able to plant yourself on the Celestial Throne of the Capellan Confederation? "Yes, I am Ironheart, but Kai is Steelsoul and the people love him. His victory over Wu Deng Tang in defense of his title could strike a blow for our cause more potent than any made so far."

  "That is so. Were he to publicly endorse Free Capella, or better yet, dedicate his victory to us as he has done for Victor Davion, we would benefit greatly."

  "If Kai wins."

  Nancy looked surprised. "Do you think he might not?"

  "Wu Deng Tang is no fool. He grew up as a military brat, and his father has just won command of the Harloc Raiders. Wu Kang Kuo came up through House Imarra before becoming commander of this unit built from BattleMechs given Sun-Tzu by Thomas Marik."

  Nancy frowned. "Those BattleMechs are supposed to be part of Isis Marik's dowry, are they not?"

  Tormano laughed. "Yes, yes, indeed they are. It seems that Thomas would more willingly give away his realm in pieces to Sun-Tzu than actually give his daughter to the man in marriage. Thomas apparently still harbors hopes that Victor Davion's scientists can cure his son Joshua's leukemia so that the boy and not the daughter can inherit the throne. I must admit that it would suit me also, for it would destroy Sun-Tzu's chance of ruling the Free Worlds League—and without the firing of a single shot."

  Tormano looked beyond Nancy at a dark speck in the uncharacteristically clear sky over Solaris City. "But, back to your question: no, I do not believe Kai will lose the fight. I am not above taking steps to assure that he wins, however. I want leverage on Wu Deng Tang. Check our files—I believe he has a paramour. It is my thought that she might enjoy a vacation at my estate on Equatus. Do you think you can arrange that?"

  Nancy Bao Lee nodded. "As you wish, my lord."

  The Zhangshi, an aerodynamically sound DropShip, swooped low toward the spaceport. The paired wheels beneath the stocky wings touched first in a puff of smoke, then the blunt nose came down and the front wheels also made contact with the ground. Decelerating quickly, the ship continued to speed out of Tormano's line of sight.

  "You are correct, of course, Ms. Lee, that Kai would be a great asset to our cause. I am thinking we might need leverage with him as well. We must learn his secrets so we can entice him to become part of Free Capella." Tormano's eyes half-closed. "If I required it of you, do you think you could seduce him and become his confidante?"

  "You would place a spy in your nephew's bed?"

  "I have heard rumors that Quintus Allard placed a spy in his son Justin's bed here on Solaris, at Hanse Davion's request. It is, therefore, something of a family tradition* wouldn't you say?" He steepled his fingers and watched her carefully. "Would you accept that mission?"

  Nancy's head came up, her eyes glittering like chips of ice. "You know what I have already done in the service of Free Capella, my lord."

  "Indeed I do, but reporting to me that your predecessor had been recruited by Sun-Tzu's Maskirovka is one thing. I am asking you to gather information for me on a man who may be the most loyal son Free Capella has ever had. There is an old adage: All that is required for the victory of evil is that good men do nothing. Are you willing to be the instrument that might force Kai Allard to do something?"

  "I live to serve you in any capacity." She bowed her head. "I assume you have a file on your nephew that I could study in preparation?"

  "Very good, Nancy, very good. I do." Tormano stood and gently pressed a hand to the middle of her back. "You should return to the office and begin your review of it. I will go and greet my nephew on his return. I will arrange for you two to meet when you are ready."

  She smiled seductively at him. "I do what Free Capella requires of me, and gladly, my lord."

  "Free Capella will always need patriots like you," Tormano smiled. "We will continue to work together closely and well, united by our cause, and tireless in its pursuit."

  8

  Solaris City, Solaris VII

  Tamarind March, Federated Commonwealth

  19 January 3056

  Though weary and a little achy from the reentry into Solaris City, Kai Allard-Liao smiled heartily as he saw the trio of men waiting for him in the landing lounge. "I'm surprised your harsh taskmaster allowed you time off from work to come out here."

  The eldest of the three bowed deeply, white strands of hair slipping out of place over the top of his bald head. "You are correct, of course, except in that our taskmaster is so fair that he allows us to leave the shop when the sun shines on Solaris."

  Kai laughed. "That fair, is he, Fuh Teng? It's a wonder he's not fired a loyal retainer like you, being that fair."

  The old man smiled in a grandfatherly way. "He is most gracio
us and ignores my grievous errors."

  "He learned from his father that you seldom make errors and never are they grievous." Kai shook the old man's hand, then folded him in a hug. With Fuh Teng's help, Kai had been able to build Cenotaph Stables into a successful and highly profitable organization.

  As good a manager as Fuh Teng was, however, the Clan Wars had hurt Cenotaph. Unlike other stables, Cenotaph had allowed and even encouraged the fighters it had under contract to go off and fight the Clans. The policy had earned the stable the good will of the Federated Commonwealth government, but it also succeeded in killing off much of Cenotaph's talent. When both Justin Allard and Kai were reported killed during the war, arena buffs on Solaris wrote the stable off.

  But Kai had not died in the war. Combining his energy with Fuh Teng's knowledge and experience, they had rebuilt the stable. They were in agreement that MechWarriors who had faced the Clans had an edge over those who had not, and began a policy of hiring war veterans even when they had no name recognition on Solaris. This gave them a chance to earn far more with their martial skills than they were likely to make in peacetime jobs.

  Many of the ex-soldiers who signed fought only long enough to make the kind of money that would ease the transition to civilian life and then left. Kai was neither surprised nor unprepared for this, but took great joy when some decided to remain with Cenotaph for the long haul. The second man Kai greeted now was just such a fighter. "I caught the holovid of your fight with Jason Block, Larry. Nice long-range slugging match."

  The brown-haired man smiled, but with restraint, as if embarrassed by the praise. "Being in the Steiner Arena worked to his advantage. He's like a shark on a bleeding fish if your heat goes up. Next time—if there is one—I want Boreal Reach with a howling blizzard."

  "It worked for Tanya O'Bannon against Bloch." Kai shook Larry Acuff's hand, then slapped him on the right shoulder. "And there will be a next time, count on it."