Wolf's gaze met Takashi's. The Coordinator knew instantly whom the mercenary was seeking.
Wolf started down the stairs in Takashi's direction, the crowd melting away from him. Even the gallant senior officers and officials who surrounded Takashi slipped out of the mercenary's path. All except Yorinaga Kurita.
Takashi read the tension between the two ‘Mech Warriors as they stood face to face. Almost imperceptibly, Wolf nodded. Yorinaga relaxed. Satisfied that Wolf was no physical danger to his cousin, Yorinaga Kurita nodded in return, but held his ground.
Takashi laid a hand on Yorinaga's shoulder, signaling his acceptance of the mercenary's presence with a squeeze. The younger Kurita bowed and stepped back to take a watchful position a few meters away.
Wolf stripped the fabric from his burden. As the paired swords came into view, Yorinaga took a half-step forward. ComStar had forbidden all weapons at the festivities, but somehow Wolf had managed to bring in these. Yorinaga halted when the weapons clattered to the floor at Takashi's feet.
Takashi looked down at the swords. The shorter one had landed atop the longer. A dark reddish stain marred the lacquer on the upper sword's hilt and covered one of the monsymbols. The other symbols were still clear and white against the black background. He recognized the Tetsuhara family crest.
When Takashi raised his eyes toward Wolf, the mercenary launched into fluent and rapid Japanese of a blunt and disrespectful form.
“Those are all that is left of a good man! When you return them to his family, you won't have to lie. You can tell them he stood by his honor till the end. I hope you're satisfied with what you have arranged. You were a fool to force him to this.”
Takashi's face was hard. By sheer force of will, he restrained his anger. He started to speak, but Wolf forged ahead.
“You thought you could do better than Anton Marik, didn't you? Thought you had the answers he missed. You were wrong!
“You certainly spilled more blood. You even cost us more property, but that counts little against the lives you took. We Dragoons set great store by our people. No one touches them and gets away with it. No one!
“It's all been for nothing, you know. You've failed. The Dragoons are clear of the Combine and ready to fight. We have survived both your puny schemes and your overrated military might. We've whipped your Warlord and left him licking his wounds. You really should get a better thug to do your dirty work.”
Wolf paused, his immediate rage spent. The gold braid cord looped under his right armpit trembled with the tension in his body. When Takashi spoke, his voice was calm and even, like one trying to calm a dangerous beast. “You misunderstand, Colonel Wolf. This,” he said, indicating the swords at his feet, “was never my wish. I valued Minobu Tetsuhara.
“Samsonov did not act with my approval. I warned you that others would take independent action ...”
“Save your lies for the gullible,” Wolf snapped. “You've paid a high price and you don't even know the whole of what you've bought. If I thought you were an honorable man, I'd make it personal.
“From this day, the Dragoons are at war with you and your House, Takashi Kurita! If you think you can take us, go ahead and try. We'll see you in ruins. Watch your border!”
Wolf stopped, slightly out of breath.
Takashi could see that Wolf might have run out of words, but that his store of rage was far from emptied. Nothing Takashi could say could change the man's heart. The Coordinator bowed slightly to acknowledge his understanding.
Wolf's nostrils flared and his jaw clenched. He turned his back on the Coordinator and stalked off across the hall, black boots striking hard against the polished surface of inlaid marble.
With a peremptory gesture of his hand, Takashi summoned one of his officials. His face was a mask, only the eyes alive. They never left the retreating back of the mercenary Colonel as he spoke, “I want to know how Wolf got here before I was given word of the result of the fighting on Misery. Find out who is responsible and have him shot.”
The nervous official started to leave, but Takashi stayed him with a lifted finger.
“Also arrange for the delivery of Grieg Samsonov's head. His bungling has cost too much this time.” The official scurried off.
Takashi frowned as he watched Wolf fall into conversation with Morgan Kell. While he pondered the possible subject of the mercenaries' conversation, Yorinaga returned to his side. “Wolf is strong-willed,” he said. “A dangerous man.”
“Yes,” Takashi agreed. He smiled at his cousin. “But then, so am I.”
Across the room, Wolf suddenly looked up to meet Takashi's gaze. In Wolf's steely eyes, Takashi read hatred and defiance, masking a well of pain. No compromise with this man would be possible. The Wolf would not be satisfied until his jaws had closed on the throat of the Dragon.
Glossary
Throughout this book, the Kurita officers are referred to by their ancient Japanese rank names. The equivalent ranks in English are:
Warlord General of the Army
Tai-sho General
Sho-sho Brigadier
Tai-sa Colonel
Chu-sa Lieutenant Colonel
Sho-sa Major
Tai-i Captain
Chu-i Lieutenant
List of Abbreviations
CLG
Combat Loss Grouping. A measure of mean time to failure of the combat systems in a BattleMech unit.
DCMS
Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival.
HPG
HyperPulse Generator. An interstellar communications device controlled by ComStar.
IFF
Identification: Friend or Foe. IR Infrared.
ISF
Internal Security Force. The Kurita Secret Service, a combination CIA, FBI, and KGB.
LAM
Land-Air 'Mech. A BattleMech that may be modified into an AreoSpace Fighter. The LAM has some of the advantages of each and the disadvantages of both forms.
LOS
Line-of-Sight.
LRM
Long-Range Missiles, indirect-fire missiles with high-explosive warheads.
MAD
Magnetic Anomaly Detector is a system used to detect hidden or camouflaged BattleMechs.
MHQ
Mobile Headquarters. A command vehicle stocked with communications and tactical planning computers.
PPC
The Particle Projector Cannon, a magnetic accelerator firing high-energy proton or ion bolts, is the most effective weapon available to a BattleMech.
PSL
Professional Soldiery Liaison. The branch of the Kurita military responsible for coordinating mercenary units with the regular military.
SRM
Short-Range Missiles, direct-trajectory missiles with high explosive or armor-piercing explosive warheads.
VTOL
Vertical Take-Off ILanding vehicles, including helicopters and other rotary-wing aircraft.