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As her foot flicked out again, Phelan caught her ankle and kissed it. "As always, Ra
"Had I visited this place before you won your Blood-name and became a Khan, I would have said it was impossible for this environment to produce a warrior such as you."
"Why?" Phelan allowed himself a wry grin. "The Hounds may not be Wolf's Dragoons and Arc-Royal may not be Outreach, but the Kell Hounds were always considered one of the top mercenary units in the I
"As you have said on more than one occasion, my love." Ra
Ra
"It is something more than that, Phelan." Ra
"Here, though, the opposite seems true. I went to the cemetery where you bury and honor your dead. The Kell Hounds provide housing and schooling for the dependents of those who have died in battle. They do things for the offspring of the fallen that the Clans would never consider because of the stigma of failure those offspring bear."
Ra
"You're right, and I want them to be able to do that." Phelan sighed heavily and shook his head. "That's why I chose Mark to be in my Star. As a boy he was always a bit of an a
Ra
"I think that you should go, Ra
"Fine. I will suggest to Evantha Fetladral that she also attempt to honor these customs."
Visions of the two-and-a-half meter tall Elemental being loaded down with boxes after an expedition to the shops of Old Co
Ra
"Your question borders on treason, Star Captain."
"Does it? Apparently you underestimate our foes. Captain Moran's company may be only medium weight, but they pack mostly missile boats. Besides that, they have already fought against the Nova Cats and Smoke Jaguars, so they are familiar with our tactics and equipment."
"Michelle Moran does not worry me. She is, and always has been, a tenacious fighter, but she never withdraws from a fight until a bit too late. She believes that one more exchange will win the day, and it tends to cost her."
Ra
"I expect Galen Cox to give me the measure of Yodama. As for Victor, well, getting his goat was never much of a problem when we were children. Once Victor is angry, he stops thinking at all. You can take him easily."
Ra
Phelan nodded slowly. "It's odd, but when I was a child I heard lots of speculation about who would have won in a battle between my father and Kai's father. Justin Allard had also been the Solaris champion, and my father, well, he is a very rare pilot indeed. Someone once did a computer projection of the battle, arranging it under Solaris-type conditions."
"Who won?"
"Depended on which time the battle was run. All the fights ran for a longtime and both 'Mechs were hammered by the time one could not continue. I think a series of a hundred bouts resulted in Justin Allard wi
"And?"
"Replacing the computer's burned-out logic boards was expensive."
"I see, I think. So, in your parlance, the sins of the fathers will fall to the sons?"
"Right, Kai's mine." Phelan cracked his knuckles. "Once I've dealt with him, I can start to make amends for having offended people tonight."
"A wise plan, my Khan," she teased.
"Have you any ideas in that department, Star Captain?"
Ra
Phelan scooped his arms under her knees and pulled her toward him. Leaning forward, he rested his hands on either side of her head and used his body to press her flat on the couch. "And after that?" He kissed her.
She kissed him back. "Another kiss and another. The rest of my ideas can wait until morning."
7
Arc-Royal
Federated Commonwealth