News of the starport massacre reached the Federated Suns camp on the following morning. One of the astechs still lived in Capital City and had witnessed the incident.

Major Raanan announced afterwards that those responsible were to be tried for Crimes Against Humanity, but many recognized the statement to be the farce that it was. The MechWarrior might be reprimanded for the act, but he was likely following orders. Wolf's Dragoons were known for their disciplined troops, and an elite unit like the Coral Vipers would be no exception.

Kurt Beckett was in the Marauder cockpit, familiarizing himself with the layout. The mech's external microphones were running on a generator, so he heard the astech give his report on the situation in Capital City to Master Sergeant Helm. He also heard the reactions of the techs and astechs. Kurt keyed the external speakers. The indicator light flickered, but stayed on after a few seconds.

"Everyone, I'd like a moment of silence for the dropship crew." He placed his hands on the sides of the control panel. The people he had met in the terminal two days earlier flashed in his memory. Their smiles, despite the unhappy situation. Their good-natured grumbling. Even genuine annoyance. All killed before even getting close enough for the Crusader pilot to find out what they were doing. "Thank you." Noise resumed outside. Instead of angered and shocked voices, it was the sound of technicians getting to work.

Someone knocked on the cockpit entrance. Kurt looked up from the controls and saw Dana halfway inside the BattleMech. "Can I come in?" she asked. A BattleMech was cramped under any circumstances, but the Marauder was a particularly large mech. That meant it was spacious, so far as mech cockpits went. Kurt nodded.

Dana had to keep her head low to fit inside. She sat down in the small space between his control seat and the wall lining the cockpit. "If you and Eli hadn't recruited me, I'd be dead right now." She looked up at him. "I thought I was taking the more dangerous job." Kurt was mesmerized by the fire in her eyes. "Not just this planet. Davion has to win the War. The Dracs are tyrants that deserve to be overthrown. I'm putting my faith in you." There was an "or else" hidden in her tone.

Kurt looked out the forward window. "I assumed it was the mercenaries at fault. You're right; they're only following orders. I wouldn't put this past Kurita." He wondered for a moment how much his opinion came from propaganda. "When the Coral Vipers served Davion, the people loved them. Our enemy is the Dracs."

She looked at him as if to say, "Of course." "How are you going to win back the planet?"

Kurt smiled and unconsciously ran his fingers through her hair. The techs didn't let him touch anything, so his hands were unsullied. "That's for me to worry about. But we have at least twenty-eight days. I'm starting think we can make that time uncomfortable for the Drac stooges."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Nothing specific." Kurt removed his hand from Dana's head and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's too bad we can't use Rebbie here. I can't wait to take her out for a spin."

"Mech jocks," Dana sighed out. "Better than lawyers." Kurt looked at her at that. "Trust me. Why'd you stop?" His expression turned confused. She brushed some hair back behind her ear. "You don't like my hair," she said in a quiet voice.

"Sorry. I don't think it's appropriate. You work for me, after all."

"I work for Eli," she pointed out.

"I'm not invincible. I know everyone assumes that MechWarriors feel like they are, but that's not true. Well, when we're up against BattleMechs it's not." Dana smirked. "The War is just beginning. Colonel Lincoln ... he wasn't a novice. If he can die, so can I."

"I understand," she said, surprising Kurt. "But I think I'd rather lose something I knew I was risking. Not like my crewmates." He suddenly could not look at her.

"So you want me to be your expendable boyfriend." She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "Get back to work. I want to get Rebbie out of here before the Dracs find this little camp." She again tried to explain herself, but Kurt would have none of it. Dana left the cockpit feeling injured.

Kurt knew that wasn't what she meant. He was looking for an excuse not to get involved. In some ways, Dana was a lot more than he had ever hoped to find in a woman. It scared him, that he might fall in love.