BattleTech Legends: Bred for War: BattleTech Legends, #38

By Michael A. Stackpole

TO KEEP THE PEACE...

Along with the throne of the Federated Commonwealth, Prince Victor Steiner-Davion inherited a number of problems. Foremost among them is the Clans' threat to the peace of the Inner Sphere—and a treacherous sister who wants to supplant him. The expected demise of Joshua Marik—heir to the Free Worlds League, whose very presence maintained peace—also endangers harmony. Victor's idea is to use a double for Joshua, a necessary deception to prevent all-out war.

But secret duplicity is hard to maintain, and conflict erupts anyway, splitting the Inner Sphere and leaving the Federated Commonwealth defenseless. And when Victor thinks things can get no worse, word comes that the Clans, once again, have brought war to the Inner Sphere...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
• Release date: Jan 1, 1995
• ISBN: 9781540168788

Book preview

To Brian Fargo, the only man I have met with the vision to see the future and the skills necessary to realize it.

The author would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this work:

Patrick Stackpole for his demolitions expertise, J. Ward Stackpole for his medical advice, Kerin Stackpole (of Barrymore & Loots) for legal expertise, Sam Lewis for editorial and story advice, Donna Ippolito for rendering me readable, Liz Danforth for tolerating me while I put this book together, John-Allen Price for the continued loan of a Cox, Larry Acuff for again contributing generously to charity in return for his appearance here, Ron Wolfley and Dave Galloway for perspectives on being professional athletes, and the GEnie Computer Network over which this novel and its revisions passed from the author’s computer straight to FASA.

The following books and articles were invaluable in the preparation of this book:

Ranger Handbook, United States Army Infantry School

A History of Warfare, by John Keegan

The Dictionary of War Quotations, edited by Justin Wintle

Simpson’s Contemporary Quotations, compiled by James B. Simpson

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, Oxford University Press

The Shadow of a Gunman from World War II, by Robert Wemick, Smithsonian Magazine

CHAPTER ONE

A single death is a tragedy. A million deaths are a statistic.

—Joseph Stalin

Avalon City

New Avalon, Federated Commonwealth

20 May 3057

Though Galen Cox had killed many an enemy in his career as a Mech Warrior, this was the first time he had ever felt like a murderer. Standing there with Agent Curaitis and Dr. Joseph Harper in the observation deck of the Passive Life Maintenance Unit, he knew part of his uneasiness stemmed from the fact that he really was no longer Galen Cox. That person had died in an explosion on a planet more than four hundred light years away, a faked death from which Galen had been resurrected as Jerrard Cranston, national security advisor to Victor Davion, Prince of the mighty Federated Commonwealth.

If I weren’t here under an alias, I probably wouldn’t feel like a criminal participating in a crime. He looked around at the others. Anyone else feel like we’re killing this boy?

Curaitis, the ice-eyed giant standing between him and Harper, showed not the slightest flicker of emotion. We can’t prevent his death, but we can keep it from causing the deaths of many others.

Dr. Harper nodded. We’ve tried everything. The boy’s hung on far longer than anyone expected. It’s time to let him die with a little dignity, Mr. Cranston.

Galen looked down at the emaciated body of Joshua Marik through the observation window. Son of Thomas Marik, heir to the Captain-Generalcy of the Free Worlds League, Joshua had been diagnosed with acute leukemia six years before and later sent to New Avalon for treatment. The New Avalon Institute of Science, the finest research and medical center in the Inner Sphere, had been his best hope, but five years of treatment had left him sallow, bruised and, finally, all but dead. If not for the respirator pumping away beside his bed and the dialysis machine cleansing his blood, the boy would have given out weeks ago.

No one looking at this disease-ravaged child would have wished him one more instant of suffering. But he was so much more than a hapless child that machines had extended his life well beyond any rational period. While Joshua still lived, it gave Thomas Marik a wedge against Sun-Tzu Liao. Sun-Tzu was betrothed to Isis, the other Marik child, but Thomas had been stalling on the marriage for several years. Though Thomas had recognized Isis as legitimate, Joshua, the only child of his marriage, had been named as his heir. Because Sun-Tzu dreamed of nothing short of the destruction of the Federated Commonwealth, anything that kept him from assuming the power of Thomas’ throne meant more peace and security for the whole Inner Sphere.

Galen touched the glass separating them from Joshua’s room. I just wish we could have done something more. I feel so impotent knowing that this child is dying from the same disease that has killed people since long before our ancestors left Terra and spread throughout the Inner Sphere.

Harper shook his head sadly. I share your frustration, he said. We’ve done everything possible to save Joshua’s life, but even that wasn’t enough. It saddens me even more because I’ve come to like this boy in the five years he’s been here. You’re afraid his death will lead to war with the Free Worlds League, but my regret is that Joshua will never grow up to take his father’s place.

Having a Captain-General who’d spent some of his formative years here and owed his life to the Federated Commonwealth certainly wouldn’t have hurt us.

It’s more than that, Mr. Cranston. Joshua was a bright boy. Charming, yet inquisitive and intelligent. He could be a normal little child with the other young patients when he was well enough, yet he knew how to play the role of a noble for important visitors. Harper pressed his lips together into a thin line. His death is a loss for the future as well as his family.

Galen focused beyond his own reflection in the glass onto Joshua’s face. That’s our job now, Doctor, to make sure the loss isn’t catastrophic in scope.

The doctor nodded understanding. Things have been arranged as Curaitis ordered. Once we let the boy die, his body will be cryogenically preserved so that he can be sent back to the Free Worlds League later. The double was inserted in Joshua’s place six months ago and has been fully accepted. Staff members who’ve worked with the real Joshua Marik have been transferred to other facilities both here and on other worlds—though that’s another loss. Those transfers have virtually gutted our oncology research projects.

From his greater height, the stiff-backed Curaitis looked down at the physician. Those people are continuing their work at their new posts.

You don’t understand. For this kind of difficult research, there’s not a single other facility like the New Avalon Institute of Science in known space. You’re setting cancer research back by centuries.

Galen tried to calm the doctor. Orders have already gone out for all your people to have priority access to any medical research and procedures recovered from old Star League records. They’ll also get priority routing anytime they want to exchange data with their colleagues.

Harper wearily rubbed one hand down from his receding hairline and across his face. "Look, there’s a difference between this research and the other advances that the discovery of Star League records have made possible. The recovery of library cores and old Star League equipment have helped us bring our war toys back up to the specs our ancestors considered normal, but they’ve done nothing for cancer research.

The Star League scientists didn’t know much more than we do today. In the same three centuries that saw BattleMechs develop from crude machines to powerful engines of war, genetic research foundered. The little that was done was directed toward finding cures for the various and sundry new diseases human settlers were encountering as they colonized planets across space. Much of it was also directed at preserving life and extending our life spans. It’s true that we know how to control many of the diseases that kill us as we age, but juvenile diseases and genetic ailments that happen later in life both have been neglected.

Harper stopped suddenly and held both his hands up. Forgive me, gentlemen. I know this rant is well outside your reasons for being here. It’s just that I’ve seen too much research money going to projects aimed at recovering military technology from old Star League records instead of being directed into new research. Granted that a lot of genetic research has led to nothing but a dead end, but what about the Clans? If what I hear about their breeding programs and genetic manipulation is even half true, they’ve made incredible breakthroughs. Some of that could have helped here.

Curaitis smiled slightly. Could you clone Joshua?

I doubt it. Clones created beyond the embryonic stage don’t seem to be viable. But I can’t rule it out as a possibility. If the Clans—with their military focus—did it, we could too. But that would require funding we just don’t have right now.

Galen scratched at the beard he’d grown since becoming Jerrard Cranston. I’ll speak to Prince Victor about it, Dr. Harper. You won’t get your team back—at least not for the few more years we need to maintain the illusion that Joshua is still alive—but after that we might be able to reunite you.

From the look on Curaitis’ face, Galen knew the intelligence man would fight that idea as a breach of security, but Galen didn’t care. What’s important right now is making certain no one in this hospital except us knows that Joshua has died.

Don’t worry, Mr. Cranston, all my people are professionals and patriots. The transition has gone smoothly. Your double’s been fully accepted up in the hospital. The real Joshua will die down here, but up there he’ll continue to live. Harper turned and pointed to a pair of switches mounted on the wall between the observation window and the door beyond it. All the life support equipment has been routed through this red switch. Most folks think it’s rather ghoulish to watch while a patient in the Passive Life Maintenance unit dies, so the green switch closes the drapes on the other side.

While Harper seemed unable to take the final step up to the switches, Galen was not. He was willing to accept the responsibility for shutting off Joshua’s life support, yet his reach faltered an instant in the enormous gulf between willingness and desire. In that moment of hesitation, Curaitis moved forward and reached for the switches.

Wait, please, Harper said softly. I know that Joshua really died weeks ago and that he can no longer hear or see anything, but I’d like to be in there with him when he goes.

And I’d like to join you, Galen said.

Curaitis looked from one man to the other for a moment, and Galen shivered beneath the tall man’s icy gaze. "I’ll wait until you give me a sign, then I’ll shut off his machinery.

Dr. Harper passed through the door, but Galen stopped and looked back at Curaitis. I get the feeling you think Harper and I are two sentimental fools.

Not at all.

But you’ll stay in here.

My job, Mr. Cranston, is to see to it that the universe that permits you to harbor such delicate sentiments continues to exist. Part of that job is turning off Joshua Marik’s life support.

Galen frowned. That’s it?

I’m sorry the boy’s dying, but I didn’t make him sick and all my best wishes won’t keep him alive any longer. Curaitis stared off unseeing for a moment, then looked back with electric intensity into Galen’s eyes. I didn’t know him and, had he grown up, he’d have been as dangerous to the Federated Commonwealth as were his father or grandfather.

What if he’d turned out to be a man who could reunite the warring nations of the Inner Sphere?

"A thin line between that and someone who thinks he can reunite the Successor States and starts a war to prove it. Curaitis’ gaze did not waver. The death of a mere boy is sad, but to project anything beyond that is hypothetical and I don’t deal in hypotheticals. Can’t cover all the possibilities when you do."

Do you think Victor is right in replacing Joshua with an impostor?

Not up to me to second-guess the Prince.

Especially when you’re the one who suggested this course of action.

I made him aware of the operation his own father had initiated. He chose to employ Project Gemini.

Galen frowned. Deceiving Thomas Marik this way is bound to cause big trouble.

Thomas Marik is a pacifist and idealist. His Knights of the Inner Sphere are successful because of the skilled personnel he’s recruited, not because of his grand philosophy. Besides, Thomas has other things to worry about.

Galen nodded. I read the confirmation of the report on the condition of Marik’s wife. He narrowed his eyes. "Her injuries weren’t caused by one of our operations, were they?"

Curaitis was unruffled. No. We prefer more subtle means.

Like killing a child?

At least here he isn’t going to die from the violence that’s plagued so many Mariks right in their own realm and even among their own family.

I doubt that’s much consolation to a little boy who’ll never grow up, Galen said, his eyes on the failing little boy. Sometimes I wish life were simpler.

Living and dying are as simple as it gets, Cranston. All else is just a question of volume and statistics.

It doesn’t seem to me that dying makes anything simpler.

The boy will get it right. Curaitis nodded toward the door. Go on, go see him off. He could do worse than have someone like you with him when he goes.

You could join us.

The intelligence man shook his head.

Got something better to do, Curaitis?

Yes, I do. While you’re in there dealing with his death, Curaitis said quietly, I’ll start making sure we can survive his legacy.

CHAPTER TWO

Nothing is ever done in this world until men are prepared to kill one another if it is not done.

—George Bernard Shaw, Major Barbara

Tharkad City, Tharkad

District of Donegal, Federated Commonwealth

21 May 3057

Caitlin Kell’s mouth gaped open as she stared at Katrina Steiner-Davion. Katrina, are you sure you should be telling me this? That Ryan Steiner was the man behind the assassin who killed our mothers?

Caitlin slowly lowered herself into a dark leather chair. She had once thought of the furnishings in this room as warm and inviting, but now the leather felt cold as her body sank into it. Oh, God, and to think I was so sorry for what happened to him.

Katrina knelt down on the thick carpeting in front of Caitlin and took her cousin’s hands in her own. "Cait, if there was any other way to let you know this, I would have. The way Ryan died was horrible, but no more horrible than what he did to my mother and your mother and father. When I think of Morgan and the pain on his face when he buried your mother, I..." Katrina’s voice faltered and her lower lip trembled.

Caitlin squeezed her cousin’s hands and bit back tears of her own. The same bomb blast that murdered their mothers had also destroyed Morgan Kelt’s right arm. The loss of his wife Salome had injured Caitlin’s father more than anything he’d ever suffered, including the death of his brother so long ago. Melissa’s death had also hit Morgan hard, as it had the whole of the Federated Commonwealth, and Caitlin thought that her father’s fierce desire to avenge himself on whoever was behind the assassination was the only thing that had driven him to recover from his wounds.

My father is strong. Caitlin forced the words past the lump in her throat, as much to convince herself as to comfort Katrina. And it’s probably lucky that a sniper got Ryan on Solaris first because even with one arm gone, my father would have torn him apart.

Katrina swiped at her eyes, the tears smearing some mascara across her cheeks. You’re right. Morgan would have gotten him even though he was an aerospace pilot.

Caitlin smiled grimly. I’d forgotten Ryan was a pilot. He would have been mine.

Her golden-haired cousin sniffed. At least you could have done something. All I could have done was snub him at a party. Maybe even seated him next to the Baroness de Gambier!

Even I’d not have been that cruel. Caitlin shook her head, the ends of her dark hair swinging slightly. Don’t sell yourself so short, Katrina. You might not be a warrior or pilot, but you’d have had Ryan all tied up.

Katrina frowned. What do you mean?

I may spend most of my time on Arc-Royal training with the Kell Hounds, but it’s not that much of a backwater. I’ve seen how effectively you dealt with Ryan, mediating between him and Victor. You stopped the two of them from doing things that would have split the Federated Commonwealth in two. Victor’s decision to return to New Avalon lets you calm things down here.

Perhaps, but I’m nowhere near the mediator my mother was. Katrina covered her face with her hands. I miss her so much, Cait.

Caitlin worked herself forward in the chair and leaned over to put her arms around Katrina’s neck. I know, I know. Poor Katrina. First her mother is killed by a bomb, and then her sweetheart Galen Cox is killed the same way. With Victor gone and Peter vanishing, she must feel abandoned. We all miss your mother, Katrina, but in you she has a worthy successor.

Again, Katrina brushed tears away. My mother was an institution. With one cold glance or—more like her—a warm smile and firm handshake, she always seemed able to persuade people to do what she thought was best for the Federated Commonwealth. Everyone loved and respected her and looked to her for leadership. She was so beautiful and vibrant. She was a strong foundation to hold up the Federated Commonwealth and, at the same time, the glue that bound it together.

A smile came easily to Caitlin as she thought of Archon Melissa Steiner Davion. I don’t think anyone, meeting her face to face, could have refused anything she might ask. That’s why the assassin had to use a bomb. If he’d tried to shoot your mother, he couldn’t have pulled the trigger.

I suppose that’s why she had to die. Katrina swallowed hard. This might sound morbid, but ever since I learned that it was Ryan who ordered my mother’s death, I’ve tried to get inside his mind to understand why he did it.

That’s not morbid. It’s understandable. Caitlin stroked Katrina’s fair hair. I’ve also wondered about what sort of person would plant a bomb, knowing it would kill so many people. Killing your mother was bad enough. Maybe he was just a stupid bastard who was afraid the plot wouldn’t work otherwise. Ryan probably told him to do it that way.

Katrina stood and shook her head. "No, Ryan wasn’t stupid. Anything but stupid."

Killing your mother was stupid, Kat.

Katrina stood up and began to pace back and forth with her long-legged strides. "Ryan saw my mother as a stabilizing influence. With her as Archon Princess, my father’s policies—as modified and humanized by her—would have continued. We’d have spent the remaining years of the Clan truce coming together as a nation. We’d have been preparing for the Clan onslaught and even building alliances with other nations to make certain the Clans would never succeed in conquering the Inner Sphere.

Ryan couldn’t abide that. Stability for our nation meant stagnation for him.

Caitlin snarled in disgust. He should have found himself another line of work.

He couldn’t. He was ambitious and hungry for power, with goals tied to both things. As sainted as my mother was, not everyone agreed with her policies. People like Ryan had legitimate doubts about my mother’s plans for the future.

True, Katrina, but most people felt free to bring their concerns to your mother so she could incorporate them into her plans. Ryan brought her a bomb.

Yes, but I think he had a fundamental disagreement with the nature of the Federated Commonwealth. You know as well as I do that the Clans carved twenty-five percent of their conquests from the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth. To Ryan, that was a mortal wound. He wanted to push back against the Clans, but my mother wanted us to rebuild and train and be ready for when the war resumed. Katrina stopped and leaned against the back of another of the room’s plush chairs. Ryan thought my mother was destroying the Lyran Commonwealth.

And to save it he wanted to make the Isle of Skye independent?

Fomenting the rebellion was a way to wake my mother up to how serious the problem was. He still remembered how the Lyran Commonwealth saved the Federated Suns’ economy after my father seized the Sarna and Tikonov Commonalties from the Capellan Confederation twenty-five years ago. Then he saw frightened people fleeing the Clan invasion, abandoning the Lyran half of the Commonwealth for haven in the Davion part of the nation. My mother did nothing to prevent them, confident they’d return once they saw the Clans had been stopped.

And they were coming back, Katrina. We all know that.

Yes, but not quickly enough. The rate of return didn’t match the rate at which people ran. And those returning were often the ones who didn’t have sufficient money to make it in the Davion sector. Government programs financed their relocation. Worse than that, I think, for Ryan was the fact that no one else viewed the situation as he did. He thought my mother was lulling the nation to sleep with her kindness. Until my mother was eliminated, there could be no change, no progression.

Caitlin’s green eyes blazed for a second. Thank God his was a minority opinion.

Minority, yes. Katrina shuddered. Unique, no.

What are you saying?

Don’t ask me that, Caitlin.

Caitlin stood up quickly at the sight of Katrina trembling. What’s wrong, Kat? You can tell me.

No, no, I can’t. It’s too horrible.

More horrible than our mothers being vaporized by a terrorist bomb? Caitlin grabbed Katrina by the shoulders. Look at me. What could be more horrible than that?

Katrina’s mouth opened in a silent cry, then she sagged forward against Caitlin’s chest. I don’t think Ryan was acting alone.

The sound of Katrina’s tears faded to the background as the full implication of the words hit Caitlin. Ever since Melissa Steiner’s death, the Federated Commonwealth had been rife with rumors of conspiracies connected with her assassination. Most had tried to pin the murder on Victor Davion, but Caitlin had known Victor for years. They had all played together as children. She’d dismissed those rumors out of hand.

Katrina’s outburst suddenly brought them all back. It was true, after all, that Victor and Galen Cox had been the ones to discover Hanse Davion dead of a heart attack. It was also a fact that Victor had missed his mother’s funeral on Tharkad, though her other children, who’d had to travel all the way from New Avalon, managed to make it. The death of Melissa gave Victor his seat on the throne that made him the sole ruler over an empire spanning the furthest borders of the Inner Sphere and containing trillions upon trillions of people.

And the latest rumors about a growing rift between Galen and Victor had taken on a sinister note after Galen died in a bomb blast similar to the one that had killed Melissa. People were whispering that Victor had killed his own father in Galen’s presence, promising Katrina’s hand in exchange for his silence, then Victor reneged and had Galen killed because Cox was on the verge of revealing the truth about the deaths of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner Davion.

Katrina, how can you say that? What makes you think that?

I don’t know, Caitlin. It’s just a feeling, but it all begins to add up. After Ryan’s death, Victor told me that the mystery around our mother’s assassination was solved. He said that Ryan had done it and had paid for the crime with his life. Then he said that Ryan had worked alone, all alone. He said it was done. It was time to move on. It was time to do things for the Federated Commonwealth that our parents could never have conceived of.

But you don’t think Victor had anything to do with their deaths, do you? You can’t.

Katrina shook her head, her tears pasting golden strands of hair to her face. No, of course not. Victor couldn’t have ... no, I’d bet my life on it, but ...

But? Caitlin felt her stomach tightening. But what?

But all those reasons why Ryan would have killed my mother, they work for Victor, too. And me. And Peter and Arthur and Yvonne. Each one of us gains from the deaths of our parents.

But Victor? He couldn’t have killed your mother or your father.

"Of course I don’t believe that, Caitlin. Of course I know he didn’t do it, but I have to remember who I am and what my responsibilities are. It’s that which makes me take a long look at Victor and start to wonder."

Caitlin frowned and seized her cousin by the hand. Katrina, what are you talking about?

Well, his return to New Avalon, for one thing. Katrina freed herself from Caitlin’s grasp and began to pace again. Occasional sniffs and sobs punctuated her words, but she spoke firmly. "Yes, the seat of government used to alternate back and forth between Tharkad and New Avalon, even during the years of the Clan invasion. And, yes, the people of the old Federated Sun felt short-changed when the throne remained on Tharkad after our mother’s death, but the throne should be here. I begged Victor to stay, but he was determined to go back to New Avalon."

Caitlin looked down, thinking, one hand plucking unconsciously at the silk sleeve of her blouse. But with the Isle of Skye arrayed against Victor, don’t you think his leaving will let things calm down?

I could have calmed things with him here. By running away he made his enemies in Skye think they can frighten him off. Meanwhile, those who love him believe he’s left them high and dry. I mean, he gave Grayson Carlyle a title and demanded an oath of personal fealty in return, then did nothing to help Carlyle’s Gray Death Legion in the fighting on Glengarry. In fact Victor left for New Avalon months before the situation was settled. He abandoned Carlyle the same way he’s abandoned others.

I think, with all that’s happened, you’re the one who’s feeling abandoned, Kat.

Katrina stopped and smiled at her cousin. But not by you, Cait. You came as soon as you could.

And I’m happy to be here, despite the circumstances.

You’re my strength, Caitlin. You’ve always been stronger than I am.

Remember what I said before? Don’t sell yourself short, Katrina.

Maybe once I did, but no more. Katrina took a deep breath and brushed her hair back from her face. I’m a Steiner and it’s my responsibility to see to it that my people are protected. This government has been on autopilot during the transition. Now that Victor’s people are all on New Avalon with him, I’ll use what Victor’s left me to do what must be done. And the first order of business is healing. Healing the political rifts, healing the pain of the Skye rebellion.

Caitlin smiled. Laudable goals.

Oh, I’ll do more. And healing will be the key. I’m going to focus on medical research, building hospitals, repairing the damage done by the uprising, and healing the hatreds threatening to split the Commonwealth apart. If I can do that, we’ll have nothing to fear from the Clans when the truce expires.

Caitlin nodded. And Victor?

Katrina hesitated, then looked down at the floor. My first responsibility is to my people, the people his actions have harmed. I don’t want to believe Victor is a monster who could resort to murder, but if I learn that he is, then I will have to deal with him. No matter what happens, though, I remember who comes first, and I will never let Victor harm them again.

Daosha, Zurich

Soma March, Federated Commonwealth

Noble Thayer smiled as Ken Fox slapped him on the back. I appreciate the fact that you’re willing to rent me this apartment so quickly, Mr. Fox, but I can’t let you believe I’m a veteran like yourself. Noble ran his left hand back over his brush-cut black hair. Just because I have the same cut you do doesn’t mean I served in the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth.

Fox frowned, resting his hands on his ample belly. A fellow your age would have served against the Clans, am I right?

Noble smiled and set his two duffel bags inside the door of the furnished apartment. Should have, yes. When I heard about the invasion I was living on Garrison and went to sign up with some friends. We had a car accident on the way there, and I ended up with my right leg snapped in two places. Thayer bent and worked one trouser leg up to show the scar from the surgery performed to set the bone. My friends got action and I got traction.

Fox winced and chewed on the end of an unlit cigar stub. I always hated surgeons cutting me open to pull things out. It’s worse than the enemy.

The older man looked Noble up and down. So if you aren’t a vet, how come the haircut and the duffel bags? I mean, I look at you and I says to myself, ‘there’s a guy with self-discipline and a military bearing.’

Noble’s smile carried right up into his dark eyes. ‘The military wouldn’t take me because of my leg. I volunteered for Civil Defense and discovered I was good at explaining things to youngsters. One of my supervisors had a brother who ran a small military academy on Hyde—Stevenson Military Preparatory Academy. Maybe you’ve heard of it?"

Fox gave a noncommittal grunt.

Well, I got a job offer there and spent the last three years teaching chemistry and general sciences.

But why have you come to Zurich? We got no schools like that here.

Noble Thayer nodded. That’s what attracted me to this place.

I don’t follow.

My grandfather died about six months ago and left me some money. I’d told him, once upon a time, that I wanted to be a writer, but I never had the nerve to sit down and do it. This world is so far away from Hyde that I can’t return to the security of teaching or my family. It’s sink or swim.

An inheritance is one hell of a life vest, Noble.

"Well, there is that, yes."

So why Zurich?

Noble shook his head. "I want to write thrillers and, well, about a year ago I saw a holovid bit on a woman doctor who faced down and disarmed a member of the Zhanzheng de guang and I decided I wanted—no needed—that sort of atmosphere to write."

Fox started laughing, his fat rippling up and down under his plaid flannel shirt. Well, you got atmosphere in spades here, Noble. This was that doctor’s apartment.

No!

Oh, yes. Hell, you’re picking up the last month of her lease. Fox nodded proudly. "Dr. Deirdre Lear and her son David lived here. She paid me to keep the apartment open in case she decided to return to the hospital where she’d worked. My daughter used to mind her son.

We got a message from Dr. Lear about two months back saying she was going to stay on St. Ives for a while. Then some of her friends from the Rencide Medical Center came by to pack up her stuff and put it in the storage locker in the basement. They put a lock on it, so you’ll have to wait till they come to get her stuff out. The key to the other lock on the storage area is here on your key ring. Her friends are waiting for a ship heading out for St. Ives—ought to be one within the month. Hope that won’t be a problem.

No, not at all. All I’ve got is in those bags. Noble shrugged. You’re very trusting to give me a key to that storage area before it’s cleared out.

Fox shrugged. "I can judge folks. You ain’t the thieving type. You are going to need some stuff to fill this place, though."

Beds, desks, and chairs ought to be easy to get, Noble said. I figured I could buy some computer gear for writing and all, but I wonder how available such equipment will be around here.

Just a bit pricey, that’s all. My son-in-law, Fabian, can fix you up with something.

Excellent. Noble dug into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a bank check for a thousand Federated Commonwealth Kroner. This should cover rent and deposits. Anything left over you can credit for future rent. We can figure it out when you draw up the lease.

Works for me. Good to have you here, Noble. Fox went out the door, then paused on the landing and smiled back at his new tenant. "I live in the duplex just down the street. If you ever want to hear about some of the things I did with the Twenty-second Avalon Hussars in the War of Thirty-Nine against the Snakes, I’ll show you some real scars."

I’ll bring the beer.

Deal.

Noble Thayer closed the door and looked around the modest apartment. The living room led into the kitchen, and a corridor off to the right led back to two small bedrooms and a full bathroom. The walls had been painted a light blue and the floor carpeted in a deep navy. The furnishings were serviceable enough, but cheaply manufactured and never intended to last long.

That was all right with him. He’d come to Zurich to escape his past and to move toward his future. Ending up in the apartment Dr. Lear had rented ... now that was a stroke of luck he couldn’t have foreseen. No one would believe it.

He laughed aloud and hoped Fox couldn’t hear him. This is the first day of the rest of your life, Noble Thayer. Here’s hoping such good fortune marks the rest of it.

CHAPTER THREE

Neutrals never dominate events. They always sink. Blood alone moves the wheels of history.

—Benito Mussolini

Marik Palace, Atreus

Marik Commonwealth, Free Worlds League

23 May 3057

Sun-Tzu Liao inhaled the peace of Thomas Marik’s candlelit study and resolved to make his case without disturbing the serenity of the chamber. Thomas would expect him to be angry, but he had more to gain by keeping Thomas off guard. If an enemy cannot define you, he cannot begin to destroy you.

I thank you for agreeing to see me this evening, Captain-General. Sun-Tzu held up a holodisk. I received your message and I wished to speak with you personally about it.

Thomas Marik turned from the hearth and its blazing fire to look at Sun-Tzu. The glow of the firelight fully illuminated the left side of the Captain General’s face, leaving the scarred half cloaked in shadow. Please, Sun-Tzu, make yourself comfortable.

The younger man stopped and deliberately snapped to attention before assuming a more casual stance with hands clasped behind his back. The military precision of the movement made Thomas stiffen, as though bracing for a confrontation, which was exactly as Sun-Tzu intended. No emotion showed on his face, but he let the soft tone of his voice bespeak compassion. I am aggrieved to learn of your wife’s worsening condition. As much as I have desired an end to the delay and that a date be set for my wedding to your daughter, it would be inhuman of me to intrude on your grief. If there is anything I or my nation can do ...

Thomas shook his head and the light of the flames flashed white over the scars crisscrossing the right side of his face. She is receiving the finest of care here. Even sending her to New Avalon would only prolong her life another few years at most. Here at home she might have as much as three, though the damage to her lungs is irreparable. Given the debilitating nature of her condition, she has chosen the time of her own passing.

Sun-Tzu’s jade green eyes narrowed. I have misinterpreted your message then. I did not realize she had chosen to end her own life.

Sophina was the Duchess of Oceana before I married her nine years ago. Perhaps because Oceana has never been a rich world, its people have developed a tradition in which the terminally ill do not attempt to prolong their lives. They believe the money and resources are better directed to the good of the community. Thomas stopped as pain furrowed his brow. I would hold on to her for every possible moment more, but I love her too much to see her go on longer than she desires.

Sun-Tzu marked Thomas’ pain and filed it away for future use. "I loved someone that much, I would force her to undergo treatment. You’re a weak, passive fool, Thomas Marik. Aloud he said, You prove yourself a brave man in abiding by her decision. Were I wed to your daughter Isis, I am not so certain I could let her go so easily.

Thomas’ shadowed eye glinted at Sun-Tzu. Though any father wishes a love match for his daughter, I know love is not part of your desire to mate with mine. You love only the power of what she will bring with her to the marriage bed— the chance to rule the Free Worlds League.

No, Thomas, it is a closer tie between my Capellan Confederation and your realm that Isis brings me.

Thomas chuckled coldly. Is that so, Sun-Tzu? And you believe that a good thing?

Sun-Tzu hesitated, unable to read Thomas’ sudden shift in mood. I do, and so do you.

I might at that. Thomas tapped his chin with a finger. "Perhaps I shall propose marriage to your aunt Candace, binding the St. Ives Compact to the Free Worlds League, and then perhaps I shall marry Isis to your cousin Kai. We depose you and merge all three