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They turned toward it, striking out over the grassy campus toward the cluster of buildings that rose behind the Guardian.
“I still say that there are better ways to effect change,” Mark said, catching up Je
Evan nodded. “Two years.” After his initial application to the military had been denied. “I was a fund-raiser. Not a bad one, either, and it got me noticed for a liaison position later, between one of the Governor’s aides and the HungLi Military Base.” That earned him a second look at his aptitude tests, and entry into Bulics. Evan had qualified for the Conservatory, but was bumped by lower-qualifying students who had already picked up Republic citizenship. Residents went to the bottom of the list. “Never met the Governor, though.”
“My point is, we got a world governor very sympathetic to the pro-Capellan movement. A
“And that future will always include The Republic,” Je
Mark had no easy answer for that, and an awkward silence descended over the group as they passed by the Men Shen.
Lord of all it surveyed, at eight meters high and fifty-five tons the Guardian appeared more avatar than machine. Evan felt an initial thrill for the power it had once represented. Of course, that thrill always darkened to an empty hollow in the pit of his stomach. The Guardian was not a functional ’Mech. The Republic did not waste such resources on decoration, though Evan had read that during the military buildups of the Succession Wars it was considered a status symbol to embellish important locations with actual, working BattleMechs. The Lyran Commonwealth throne, so legend said, had been guarded by two ’Mechs. Two!
They were probably more effective symbols than the Guardian. The Men Shen drooped a bit at its turret-style waist, where age and neglect had caused the joint to fail. Strong welds sealed all access ports, including the cockpit hatch. Its weapons were nothing more than open ports and sealed barrels, and the fusion engine which was the heart of any ’Mech had long since been ripped out. He could only imagine now what it had looked like, stalking forward in a swaggering gait, its feet stomping out a warning against the ground. Boom. Boom.
And just for a second, Evan swore he felt one last footfall shake the ground.
Then another.
“Hey.” David stepped to one side and pointed. He sounded disappointed. “Man, that was fast.”
The ’Mech-heavy steps not only continued, they grew louder. From behind the Men Shen’s resting place a ConstructionMech stomped into view. Painted bright, industrial yellow and swinging its clamp and bucket arms alongside in a simian swagger, the IndustrialMech walked around the frozen Men Shen and then angled along one of the reinforced walkways as it headed for the Conservatory’s Great Arch.
“They’re going to take down the Arch,” Je
Others had come to the same conclusion. Closer to the gate, students began shouting, “Yóng yuăn… Liào Su¯ n Zı˘!”
Even with such shouts being thrown out in protest, Evan couldn’t help thinking that the Men Shen now looked a touch sadder as the industrial machine left it behind. And wrapped up in his thoughts concerning the gutted ’Mech, he missed Je
“Huh?” he asked as she prodded him in the side. Her fingers were strong, and left uncomfortable aches where she had dug at his ribs. Or maybe that was something else.
“I asked if you believe it is true. Forever lives Sun-Tzu Liao?”
Evan felt David’s stare and, more importantly, Mark’s warming the back of his neck. He thought of the many ways that could be answered, including not answering at all. But Je
He shrugged. One of his favorite answers when his friends pried too much. Then, “I don’t know, Jen. Sometimes I’m not sure what I believe.” Which wasn’t exactly a lie. He listened to the fading, distant shouts of the disaffected students, and glanced over once more at the gutted Men Shen. “I guess I believe that things are changing, which means anything is possible.”
And that wasn’t exactly a lie either.
4
CEO
Pro-Capellan terrorists have seized the world Governor’s mansion on Menkar! Governor Charles Kincaid and his family are being held hostage. Demands made by the terrorists include putting the Governor on live (interstellar) trial for treason against Menkar’s true citizens. Menkar is one of only three worlds in Prefecture V with HPG capabilities…
Pelago Estates
St. Andre
Prefecture V, The Republic
8 May 3134
Jacob Ba
“Fear is the result of weakness,” he was fond of saying. “To show fear is to let your competition know where they may attack you.”
For twenty-one years Ba
So why did he immediately fear the tissue-wrapped package resting in the middle of a foyer table?
Dagger Di Jones coiled up against a paneled wall near the hallway entrance. As far from the package as she could get, Ba
Pelago Estates was Ba
And still someone had secretly invaded his domain, leaving behind a present wrapped in golden tissue and green ribbon. The colors told Ba
Ivan leaned the Intek laser rifle against the table. His large hands framed the small box, moving it around so that Ba