Yorinaga's hands tightened into fists. "When my vision cleared, I fired everything at the Archer,but again nothing hit it. The one-armed 'Mech struggled to its feet, continuing to ignore my assaults. Then Morgan made his Archerbow to me."
Yorinaga fell silent as though this last statement somehow explained everything that needed explanation. Akira felt a chill run the length of his spine. There's the conflict. My father both hates and respects Morgan Kell for what he did. With that bow, Kell acknowledged my father as the superior fighter, but robbed him of his victory.
Akira kept his voice low. "It is said you opened your canopy and threw your katanaand wakizashito Kell." Those blades had been in the Kurita family for over three hundred years, and you received them from the Coordinator's hands. What made you do that?
Yorinaga nodded wearily. "I felt I had no choice. After doing everything possible to kill Morgan Kell, I had failed in that duty. I had ceased to be a faithful warrior right then and there. I had to acknowledge him as my superior."
Yorinaga's head came around. "And it is true, I did utter a haiku:
Yellow bird I see.
The gray dragon hides wisely.
Honor is duty.
"Many took it as my death haiku, but it was not. In Morgan Kell, in his ability and intelligence and understanding of our way, I saw something that could destroy the Draconis Combine."
Akira frowned. "I don't understand."
"Neither did I, fully, not until years and long meditations later." Yorinaga hesitated, as though reluctant to reveal a damaging secret, but the look in his son's eyes seemed to make him continue. "With Bushido,we find the discipline to become fearless warriors. Honor is all-important, and our concept of self is secondary to state and family. We are but an extension of the Dragon, and our actions honor or shame the Coordinator."
Yorinaga nodded slowly. "Morgan Kell understood this. He used my desire for honor to save his men. Had I killed him, I would have allowed them to mourn their slain leader, and I would have accepted their pledge of neutrality. The Kell Hounds' freedom would have been purchased not with Morgan's blood, but with the honor he showed me in that situation.
"When he bowed to me, he trapped me. We had agreed to fight so that the victor could be merciful to the vanquished. I had lost, and because Bushidobound me to do so, I was forced to withdraw. To do otherwise might have won the battle, but it would have shamed Takashi Kurita. He could live without Mallory's World, but could he live without honor?"
Yorinaga swallowed hard. "I returned to Luthien and reported what I saw and felt to the Coordinator. I then resigned my commission and asked to be allowed to commit seppuku.The Coordinator exiled me to the zen monastery on Echo V while continuing to refuse my request. Eleven years later, he finally agreed to grant it, provided I first create and lead our elite unit, the Genyosha."
Akira pointed off toward the rubble representing Ryde. "We will meet the Kell Hounds then?"
Yorinaga nodded gravely. "Yes. Just as Morgan Kell studied to know me and use that knowledge against me, so I studied him while on Echo V. I know him ... I share his abilities. Kell and I will meet again on Ryde, Akira. And there we will destroy one another."
BOOK ll
DECEPTION
It is double the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
—Jean de la Fontaine
11
Bethel
Capellan March, Federated Suns
9 April 3029
Justin Xiang stood in the middle of the 'Mech bay in the LeopardClass DropShip Ganjuand stared up at his BattleMech. Over five times his height and massing fifty tons, the Centurionknown to Solaris Vll fight fans as Yen-lo-wangtowered above its master. Humanoid in configuration, its left arm ended in a mechanical hand while the muzzle of an autocannon formed the right arm's terminus. The 'Mech's faceplate had been opened upward, and a rope ladder spilled down the machine's breast to the deck.
Justin smiled to himself. You saw me safely through my battles on the Game World. Let us hope you’ll make this raid work, too.Justin had just reached out for the ladder when he heard someone call his name. He turned, the smiled still on his lips.
Alexi Malenkov, Justin's chief aide on the crisis team, jogged awkwardly in his direction. A black jumpsuit covered the lanky blond from hooded head to feet and gloved wrists. A mirrored faceplate rode clipped to his shoulder, but when in place, would give Alexi complete night vision in addition to cleaning the air of all harmful gases and smoke. A bulky backpack contained his parafoil, and a rucksack belted to his middle contained all his weaponry, except for the needle pistol riding in a holster beneath his left armpit.
Justin's smile grew wider. "I think, were we to drop you alone on the facility, the Feds would surrender straight away," he said, chuckling at the sight of Alexi. "You look pretty fearsome."
Alexi joined in the laughter. "Thanks. After this raid, I'll go into holovids. There's got to be a commando series coming out of this."
Justin nodded. "Malenkov the Mercenary. I can see it now: dolls, holovids, clothes. Probably earn more than the guy who does the Immortal Warriorseries. Hope you remember your friends when you get rich."
Alexi nodded confidently. "No problem." His smile slowly died as a frown creased his brow. "A couple of our people seem to be a little too anxious about notching their guns, though. We'll be down and in gassing the lab while you and the other three 'Mech pilots bring your 'Mechs up. What do you want me to do with any trigger-happy folks?"
Justin frowned. "Our people have to return fire if they're opposed, but if they start shooting things up, you'll have to kill them." Justin pointed toward the Centurion."Once I strap in, I'll remind everyone we're here to steal the golden egg, not kill the goose. When we've driven Davion back, we'll want to use these people to our own benefit."
Alexi flashed Justin a thumbs-up. "Got it. Good luck."
"And to you, Citizen Malenkov." Justin punched Alexi lightly in the shoulder. "Shoot straight, but keep your head down."
Alexi turned away, leaving Justin to mount the ladder to his 'Mech's cockpit. Nimble as a monkey, Justin ascended the ladder and reached the cockpit despite his mechanical left hand. Once inside, he settled into the command couch and touched a button on his right that reeled in the ladder and dropped the faceplate down into position. With a hiss, the cabin pressurized itself.
Justin unzipped his black jumpsuit, revealing the cooling vest he wore beneath it. Plastic tubes of coolant ran between the goretex material next to his skin and the vest's outer layer of ballistic cloth. Justin snaked out the vest's power cord and snapped it into a socket on the left side of his couch. He felt the ticklish sensation of fluid moving through the tubes as the vest pulled heat away from his body.
Through slits on the thighs and upper arms of his jump suit, Justin pressed medical monitoring electrode pads to his flesh. He then opened a panel on the right side of his couch and pulled out four cables. He clipped one end of each to the pads, then snaked the cables up through the appropriate loops on his cooling vest. He let the plugs hang limp at his throat.