“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.