Justin's glass stopped halfway to his mouth as the significance of Morgan's phrase hit home like a missile. Melissa was on theSilver Eagle and we didn't know it!He shot a fearful glance at Tsen Shang. "Tsen, why didn't we know?"

Tsen frowned as he looked toward those seated at House Kurita's table. "Draconian idiots saved face by covering up their failure!"

Just like Hanse to have Morgan put that little tidbit into the toast,Justin reflected. I wonder what other surprises he has in store for us?

ComStar acolytes served the wedding meal with no further incidents of political importance. As Justin worked his way through the salad, he, along with all the others at the meal, discovered that the gold-rimmed, bone china dish was indeed special. Inscribed in gold script around the rim was the date as well as the names of the bride and groom. When Justin had cleared the bowl of its salad of lettuce and thin purple rinioshslivers, he discovered the crest of a world in the Lyran Commonwealth.

Candace smiled at him. "I got Izar in my bowl? What did you get?"

Justin narrowed his eyes, looking down at the stylized lightning bolt and the legend beneath it. "I got Pacifica, better known as Chara III. My brother served with the Kell Hounds on that world."

Candace winked at him. "Do you think it's a message?"

Justin shrugged, shaking off his uneasiness. "The Spirit of Blake alone knows."

The main dish came in two different selections, and Justin noticed again that the Acolytes showed no hesitation in serving the guests. He received a plate of beef in wine sauce, with pomteraand another vegetable he utterly failed to recognize on the side. Candace, on the other hand, was served fish steamed in rice wine, with nearasprouts and water chestnuts on a bed of rice.

She smiled at him. "ComStar apparently chooses not to recognize your change in allegiance, Citizen."

Justin nodded reluctantly. "Is it treason if I enjoy the meal? It's been a long time since I've eaten the foods I grew up with."

The Duchess of St. Ives pretended to reflect for a moment. "I think, Citizen Xiang, that with the proper presentation of your argument, I might be convinced to grant you pardon for such an unforgivable crime."

Justin smiled. "I look forward to our legal discussion."

The dinner plate bore gold decorations similar to those Justin had found on his bowl. Though the Federated Suns world image he found on his plate did not surprise him, he began to lose his appetite as he uncovered more of it. He continued to eat mechanically, but his thoughts were on more than food.

Kestrel. The world owned by the Allard family.Justin looked up from the image of a falcon clutching a Davion sword in its talons. So, Hanse, did you command ComStar to deliver me this plate, or was it merely my bad luck to get it?

As if in answer to his unvoiced question, the Prince smiled enigmatically at Justin just then. Justin nodded curtly, then looked over at Candace's plate. "I see you have uncovered Axton, Duchess."

Candace nodded. "Do you know it?"

Justin forced a smile. "When traveling to my first assignment, my duty on Spica, I spent two weeks on the beaches there. The ocean is a deep blue and the beaches are blacker than night on a moonless world. Volcanic activity warms the oceans, making the coastal areas livable. The rest of the world is a polar wasteland, though many people praise the skiing found there."

Justin smiled to himself. It's also one of the worlds where I believe Hanse Davion has hidden his secret NAIS 'Mech Research Facility. How curious it is that Candace ended up with that world. An omen, perhaps?

While some ComStar Acolytes cleared the plates, two others carefully wheeled a four-tiered wedding cake to a spot directly before the head table. Hanse assisted Melissa down from the dais, then stood with her beside the cake. Huthrin Vandel, Precentor New Avalon, handed the Prince one of the swords used earlier in the wedding ceremony.

Grasping the sword together, Hanse and Melissa cut the first two slices from the cake. Hanse returned the sword to the Precentor, then he and Melissa returned to their places at the head table. An acolyte delivered the first two pieces to them, but the newly weds waited until other Acolytes had sliced up the remaining cake.

When they saw all their guests served with pieces of cake, Hanse and Melissa stood. Justin glanced at his plate to see what world this one represented, but the paper doily beneath the cake totally obscured the world's identity.

Melissa lifted a small piece of the cake toward Hanse. "Husband, in honor of our marriage, in addition to this cake, I give to you a regiment of BattleMechs and the means to support them in perpetuity." Though her eyes glinted mischievously, Melissa fed the piece of cake to Hanse gently.

Hanse smiled when he was done, every bit of him exuding the wily confidence that had earned him the nickname of "the Fox." His clear voice filled the hall with happy sounds, but filled Justin with uneasy terror. Something is wrong. Hanse, what are you doing ?

"I thank you for the gift, beloved," began the Prince of the Federated Suns. He lifted a piece of cake in his right hand. "Wife, in honor of our marriage, in addition to this morsel, I give you a vast prize." He slipped the doily from his dessert plate and held the dish aloft in his one hand for all to see. "Here, my love," he said, looking at Melissa with laughing eyes and a triumphant expression. "I give you the Capellan Confederation!"

Book IV

Remise

41

St. Andre

Sarna Commonality, Capellan Confederation

20 August 3028

A missile exploding against the DropShip's hull shot static through the auxiliary monitor's picture of the Dropmaster. The woman turned from the camera, then looked back at Andrew Redburn. "No sweat, Redburn. They just flamed that bird." She glanced at the time at the bottom of the screen. "Mark, one minute until drop. We're hot, so your children better have their brakes on."

Redburn nodded. "Roger." He reached out and switched his radio over to the tactical frequency. "Fifty seconds to drop, campers. This is the real thing. Archer and Demon Lances will harass the targets. Bullseye, Cat, and Fox Lances, go in. Hit your jets when clear of the egg. Remember, we'll be facing 'Mechs lots bigger than we are, but the others in the First Battalion have them occupied. We're the sting. Make it good."

Redburn gave his couch harness an extra tug to pull it tight over his cooling vest. Sending an assault lance of light 'Mechs against Assault 'Mechs? The intelligence on theseGoliaths better be right or thisFirestarter they've got me in will be my coffin.Stinging sweat dripped down into eyes as he waited for the seconds to tick off the digital display on his monitor.

Redburn felt two more explosions rock the OverlordClass DropShip Firewalker. I hope like hell this baby makes it to the drop zone.Above him, he heard the deep roar of the ship's auto-cannons as they spat clouds of metal back out at the Liao fighters swarming around the ship. He switched his radio back to speak with the Dropmaster and caught the piece of a transmission heading for her.

"Roger, Firewalker.We copy. Intercept in fifteen seconds. You sow the dragon's teeth and my Aerowing will keep the gnats off your hide."