AUTHOR'S NOTE: Short chapter this time, but to make it longer would ruin the next chapters, so here you go. Incidentally, for those of you who care, this is the first chapter I've written where the Clans take center stage and we see the war more or less from their point of view.

I believe that, in Battletech canon, Vandervahn Chistu was the saKhan of the Jade Falcons. I've changed this slightly so that it is the character of Cavell Malthus. Cavell is a canon Battletech character, and was the Jade Falcon representative at Phelan Kell's Trial of Adoption, detailed in the last chapter of Lethal Heritage. There is a literary reason why I do this. Really. Trust me. Again, the fact that the Jade Falcons are on Planting at all isn't canon either, but that is explained in this chapter.

Marion Rhialla's medal—the snarling tiger—indicates that she is a member of the Order of Tamar Tigers, awarded for exceptional bravery while fighting in the Tamar March. Rhialla is rapidly becoming one of my favorite characters to write: a female version of Clint Eastwood's character in Heartbreak Ridge.

As always, thanks for the reviews. Kat, this chapter should answer your question. SulliMike, the Dragoons actually just invited Calla Bighorn-Vlata to the Outreach conference; the Snowbirds aren't mentioned. But Jaime Wolf hasn't forgotten about Sheila, either.

Peregrine Keshik Headquarters, Second Try

Planting, Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth

6 December 3050

SaKhan Cavell Malthus watched the snow fall gently to the ground outside his headquarters. He had set up in an old museum, because it appealed both to his sense of history and aesthetics. Malthus considered himself somewhat above his fellow warriors, some of whom seemed to live to only stomp around in the mud and fight until they died. Malthus had long ago decided that a violent death awaited him, but until then, he saw no reason to simply devote his time to war, food, coupling, and sleep. He planned on leaving his Clan more than simply a genetic legacy and a note in the Remembrance, the epic poem that all Clans kept as a record.

He glanced at the sky, which was a light gray. Sunshine crept through gaps, and Malthus knew that the sunshine heralded a warming trend. It would melt the snow, which might expose his trap for the Inner Sphere forces. Some of his commanders had been angry at his use of vibromines, preferring to attack and conquer, or die in the process. Malthus shook his head. Not only would it be a waste of materiel and warriors, it would avail Clan Jade Falcon nothing. The Federated Commonwealth forces would still take Planting. They probably would in any case. Malthus had no intention of fighting until the death. Planting belonged in the Wolf Clan's invasion corridor; the Falcons had seen an opportunity to quickly take the planet earlier in the year, before the AFFC could organize a proper defense. But now that they had returned in force, Malthus had little trouble deciding to cede the world to them, and then let the Wolves spend their blood to take it back. Of course, he planned to make it a very bloody victory for the Inner Sphere, and so far he was succeeding.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Malthus said, without turning.

He heard boots against the polished marble floor, then the smack of synthleather as someone came to attention. He turned slowly, and smiled. It was Star Colonel Senefa, looking resplendent even in her thickly-padded brown and green field uniform. "Sir," she said. "There is someone here to see you from the AFFC forces." Senefa looked momentarily confused. "She came under a white flag, and will speak only to you. I had no idea what else to do, so I brought her here."

Malthus raised an eyebrow. "Has she been searched for weapons?"

"Aff, ovkhan. All she carried was a knife. I told her she could retrieve it later."

Intrigued, Malthus put his hands on his hips. "Show her in. This should prove interesting, quiaff? Remain here, Senefa."

"Aff, ovkhan." Senefa turned and barked an order at the two hulking unarmored Elementals standing guard at the door. There was the brief sound of a scuffle, along with a harsh voice proclaiming that she would not be pawed at. Malthus put his hands behind his back and waited.

The woman that walked into the office was dressed entirely in white and powder blue. Covering her left breast were campaign ribbons that showed this woman had seen a great deal of combat, even if her face did not reveal that fact. Malthus was slightly taken aback by the warrior's age; she was easily in her forties, well past the age that Clan warriors either died or acted as sibko trainers. He was particularly intrigued by a decoration below her campaign ribbons that showed a snarling tiger in a field of opaline blue. The woman came to attention but did not salute. Malthus quickly took in the way she leaned forward slightly, the tenseness in her body, the way her gray-speckled hair was combed over her shoulders, and the glint in her eyes. This was an old but dangerous warrior. Briefly, he thought of the recently-returned Natasha Kerensky of Clan Wolf.

"Are you saKhan Cavell Malthus?" the woman said without preamble.

Malthus nodded. "Aff."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "Is that a yes or a no?"

Malthus resisted the urge to smile or laugh, though he saw the Elementals and Senefa going to great lengths not to do so. It was too easy to see these people as barbarians; apparently the lessons learned on Twycross had not sunk in yet. "Yes," Malthus replied.

"Good." The woman drew herself up to her height. "I am Major Marion Rhialla, of the Snowbirds Special Missions Combined Arms Team, Sentinels Regimental Combat Team. I have the honor of representing Commander Calla Bighorn-Vlata, acting commander, Task Force Planting, and speak on his behalf." The words sounded rehearsed.

"Your message?" Malthus asked, in an even tone.

Rhialla took a deep breath. "Commander Bighorn-Vlata wishes to ask what forces defend Second Try."

Malthus could not help smiling at the looks of shock on the faces of the other Falcons in the room. So, they will fight honorably after all. "Are you here to negotiate a batchall?"

Rhialla looked a little lost. "I'm here to deliver a challenge, saKhan. A Trial of Possession."

Malthus stiffened slightly, and saw Senefa's mouth drop open. The Spheroids were learning, and learning fast. "Do you know what you are asking, Major?" He suspected she did not.

Rhialla shrugged. "I suppose so. It's a duel. We negotiate–I think you call it a 'bid'–what forces we're going to stake. Then we fight it out. Last man standing wins the fight, and Second Try. Right so far?"

"Aff–yes." He nodded. "I will require some time to speak with my officers. Please inform Commander Bighorn-Vlata that I am honored by his request, and will respond within twenty-four hours, if that is acceptable." Malthus paused. "Tell him as well that I would like to meet face-to-face, under a flag of truce, in twenty-four hours. I will present my answer to him then, quiaff?"

Rhialla's lips curved into a snarl. "So you can get all of us together and kill us? Fuck that." There were gasps from the Elementals and Senefa. They knew what the swear word meant, and it had far greater impact in Clan society than in the Inner Sphere.

With effort, Malthus controlled his temper. "I will be there as well, Major. If my forces fire on yours, I will be in as much danger as your commander." He let out a long, angry breath. "Your commander is a honorable man. He will understand."

"Very well. Tomorrow, then. I'll deliver the message. If we're not there, don't hold your breath. Any further instructions?" Malthus gave one shake of his head. "Good." She turned to one of the Elementals. "Escort me back to the perimeter." The tone was commanding, and the Elemental automatically came to attention. Rhialla glanced over her shoulder. "The last Clan son of a bitch that challenged me, I put a Gauss round through his head. I just wanted you to know that." She snapped off a parade-style salute, and strode out, leaving the Elementals to catch up. Senefa closed the door behind them. She turned to her Khan, about to launch into a tirade on the dishonor and sickening ways of the Inner Sphere, but to her surprise, Malthus was chuckling.

"Sir?"

Malthus grinned. "There, Star Colonel, goes a warrior. Despite her foul tongue, she is a leader of men, and has no fear. Deep in her enemy's camp, she is not afraid to hurl an insult into our face."

"She knew we would not hurt an envoy."

"Does she?" Malthus' eyebrow raised again. "Remember, to they, we are the barbarians." He looked down at his desk, and the old paper map spread over it. "Assemble the Trinary commanders, Star Colonel. We need to bid for what force we will use."

Senefa hesitated, then came to attention. "Permission to speak freely, ovkhan."

"Granted."

"I think that this Commander Bighorn-Vlata has gotten hold of a little information about our ways, and hopes to turn it to his advantage."

Malthus nodded. "Of course he has. He also knows that I am honor-bound to reply, quiaff? I cannot deny them that right. To do so would imply that I am afraid of losing."

"We cannot lose–"

Malthus held up a finger. "On the contrary, Star Colonel. We can lose. The Smoke Jaguars thought the same way on Wolcott, and it cost them heavily. Naturally, if we lose Second Try, we have lost Planting. There is no other good defensive ground, and once we are clear of the city, we will undoubtedly be set upon. The word you are looking for is that we should not lose, quiaff?"

"Aff." Senefa paused. "Ovkhan, do you trust the Sentinels to not assassinate you tomorrow?"

"Aff. To some of these Spheroids, I think honor is merely a word. Perhaps even to that Major Rhialla. But Calla Bighorn-Vlata, I know. He has been scrupulous in treating our prisoners well. He has not interfered with our medics."

"What about Persistence, and the other unit–the Eridani Light Horse?"

"Persistence, he had little choice. He was a soldier, and he has his orders from his Archon. The Eridani traces a direct lineage back to the old Star League. We can trust their honor–even when they refused to join the great Kerenskys on their Exodus, their reply was eloquent and honorable." Malthus shrugged. "It is a small matter. If I die, then the Clan will find someone else, and the fight for Second Try will be that much harder. Calla is no fool. He will not break the truce."

Senefa nodded. "I understand. Then I ask of my Khan a favor."

"What is it?"

"I would like to represent our Clan."

"That is up to the bidding."

Senefa shook her head, a small smile on her lips. "Neg. I know of a way to win the bidding, unsettle the barbarians, and if not guarantee our victory, then to make it more likely."

Malthus sat down. "By all means, Star Colonel, explain." When she had finished, Malthus' grin was back, fuller than before.