AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm having a lot of fun with this story, and since I've recently learned that my summer's going to be a lot busier than I thought, I figured I'd better be hitting the keyboard before things get so busy I can't update. In any case, a pretty talky chapter, but one that's very necessary: Sheila's briefing on the Snowbirds' raid.

I had to make some educated guesses as to where the Clans' front lines were in October 3051. Both the Wolf Clan Sourcebook and the Invading Clans Sourcebook are pretty reliable, but the Jade Falcon Clan Sourcebook is basically worthless in this regard: it lists Alyina has having fallen in August 3050, whereas Blood Legacy very clearly states that it doesn't get attacked until January 3052. Since Kai Allard-Liao couldn't have disappeared on Alyina in August 3050 and be on Outreach in January 3051, I can only surmise that somebody was asleep at the wheel at FASA when the Jade Falcon Sourcebook came out. Whatever. Anyway, the listing was as accurate as I could make it. I also mention that the Clans have resumed their offensive, which may not be accurate. However, in Chapter 26 of Blood Legacy, both Ulric and Natasha Kerensky imply heavily that attacks have begun, and in Chapter 28, Shin Yodama tells Omi Kurita that Marshdale has already been hit. Mainly I did this so the Snowbirds can get off their butt and I can write some 'Mech battle stuff.

I've also added some asides to the 1st Somerset Strikers (the unit in the infamous Battletech cartoon series) and Rhonda Snord's attack on Camelot Command in the Dark Nebula. There's also a certain familiar MIIO agent here too…

Finally—FINALLY!—I have added an updated TO&E for the Snowbirds. Now you'll know where everyone is! That's why the chapter is kind of long too.

REVIEWER'S CORNER:

SulliMike: Yeah, I've lost my share to tanks too. Friggin' SRM carriers.

FraserMage: I talked a little about that in this chapter, feeding tank crews along with MechWarriors. It's simple: rob the nearest WalMart. (I figure they will still have WalMart in 3051. Hell, WalMart will probably be its own House by 3051…)

Flashpoint: Thanks. Nobody cares about generic characters. And thanks for the correction on "das Panzerlied," though I've always heard it referred to as "der Panzerlied." From what I remember from high school German (which isn't much), I'm pretty sure "das" is the correct form. (Just wait until Sheila starts butchering the Japanese language.)

Rouge: Well, all I did was say "hi" to Pappy Boyington; I was ten at the time and scared out of my mind. My dad spoke with him extensively, though. I just sat there and listened and hoped Pappy wouldn't eat me. (Hey, he was intimidating as hell.)

MUSIC CORNER: "The King of the Golden Hall" from The Two Towers is good, as is the "Top Gun Anthem." And for some reason I've been listening a lot to the "Robotech March" lately too.

AFFC General Headquarters Clan Front

Reichenberg, Sudeten, Federated Commonwealth

10 October 3051

Sheila Arla-Vlata smoothed her uniform for about the fourteenth time since they had left the hotel, Max saw. She had picked up a nervous tic in that the fingers on her artificial hand would twitch—the result of involuntary nerve impulses being sent to the myomers in the arm. "Sheila, relax," he whispered to her. "It's a good plan. We went over this with a finetooth comb last night. Everyone said it was a good plan. It'll be okay."

Sheila looked at her hands. Both were trembling. "Look at me. I told off Sun-Tzu Liao to his face on Outreach, and here I'm about ready to wet my pants." She gave him a brittle smile. "It's a good plan…but it has to work." Max took her hands in his and held them reassuringly. They were alone in the dimly lit briefing room. Everything in it screamed House Steiner-Davion bureaucracy and might. The briefing table was polished black marble with the Federated Commonwealth's sword-and-sunburst worked into it. The carpet was deep and gray, the same color as the chairs, which were pressure sensitive and adjusted automatically to the persons seated in them. The flags of the FedCom, both Houses Steiner and Davion, the AFFC, the Tamar March, and Morgan Hasek-Davion's personal emblem surrounded the podium where Sheila would have to deliver her plan. The walls were dotted with the obligatory portraits of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner-Davion, along with Duke Selvin Kelswa, the ill-tempered leader of the Tamar March, and other AFFC luminaries. They were also dotted with a checkerboard of inset squares, which were not there for decoration, but to absorb sound. A holoprojector squatted in the middle of the table like some spider's lair.

The door hissed open, and both Sheila and Max shot to their feet as a number of people entered, all of them with stars on their shoulderboards. Morgan Hasek-Davion, Marshal of the AFFC, was first. He was followed by Calla Bighorn-Vlata, commander of the Sentinels RCAT and Field Marshal Rainer Poulin, who commanded the Tamar March's forces. There were two other men who Sheila did not recognize, neither of which wore rank insignia on their uniforms, and then an older woman whom Sheila did recognize: the legendary Ariana Winston, who commanded the celebrated Eridani Light Horse.

There was no round of handshakes or niceties other than muttered greetings. Calla sat opposite of Max and gave her a quick wink and a smile. The door slid shut and there was an audible click as it locked. Morgan took his seat at the head of the table, folded his hands in front of him, and nodded to Sheila. It was time to begin. Max gave his wife a surreptitious squeeze of her hands, and Sheila stood and went to the podium, willing her legs not to be wobbly.

She resisted the urge to clear her throat, but did take a deep breath. She let it out. "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Sheila Arla-Vlata. I have the honor of being the commanding officer, Snowbirds Special Missions Combined Arms Team, Sentinels RCAT. I thank you for taking the time to come here today to listen to my proposal for an offensive raid on Clan occupied territory. However, before I go into the details of this operation, I hope you will indulge me and hear me out on why I believe this operation is important." She noticed her father incline his head slightly: this was a deviation from the script they had practiced the night before.

"I have heard some say that the idea of a raid is a stunt." Sheila barely fought down the impulse to glance at Morgan Hasek-Davion. "I can well understand why that is so. The objectives of this operation are limited. I will not propose to you, sirs and ma'am, that my operation will win the war all by itself. It will not. However, its objectives are threefold, only one of which is directly military in origin: the destruction of enemy supplies. The others are based in morale: ours and theirs. It will boost the morale of our citizens, by proving that we can still strike at the Clans without simply waiting for them to strike at us. It will lower the morale of our foes, by proving that they can still be hurt, that they can be struck in a spot of our choosing, not theirs, in a place where they believed they would be safe." Sheila paused. "I think I can speak on behalf of my men and women in the Snowbirds in that there is no other cause so important as to bring us so far away from our homes and from our comrades. This is our purpose. This…is Operation Rubicon."

Sheila motioned to Max, who switched on the holotank. A two-dimensional map of the Inner Sphere's coreward sector swam into resolution behind Sheila, who stepped out of the way. She extended a light pointer, which glowed where it touched the hologram. "We had originally planned to forward base at Planting, but the recent evacuation of that world has resulted in our decision to launch from Sudeten itself." Sheila tried not to let the bitterness in her voice show. After the loss of Vantaa, it had left Planting isolated. Hanse Davion, in August, had decided to abandon the planet to free up reserves for holding the main line of resistance, or MLR. While it made sense strategically, it did not sit well with the Sentinels or the Eridani Light Horse, which had spilled so much blood to retake Planting.

"The current line, as you may be aware, runs from Roadside to Evciler on the Jade Falcon front." Twycross stuck into the Jade Falcon holdings like a thumb; there was no question that Twycross would be held, as it had more strategic significance than Planting.

"Against the Wolves, the occupied zone is much deeper, running from Vulcan to Radstadt." Sheila noticed Poulin lean forward at that: it was obvious that the Wolves' next target would be Tamar, the district march capital. Selvin Kelswa had demanded that the AFFC strip the front of as many as five RCTs to defend his homeworld, a request that Hanse and Melissa had refused, because it would mean leaving huge gaps in the line. Sheila knew that an infuriated Kelswa had begun building a Maginot Line-like fortification around the planetary capital, ignoring the AFFC's pleas to fight a mobile campaign.

"The Ghost Bears hold the narrowest front, only two planets wide: Goito and Soverzene." This had surprised Sheila, because the Bears were facing a divided opponent: the Rasalhagians held one half of the line, Kurita the other, a situation that had existed since the Clans first invaded. Yet the Ghost Bears had been rather limited in their attacks. Either the Bears were more cautious than any other Clan, or the Wolves were that much better.

"Finally, the Smoke Jaguars hold the line Byesville-Jeronimo. Wolcott is in the center, but according to information we received on Outreach, the Clans have pledged never to assault that world after their defeat there last year." That had been incredible news, something Senefa had confirmed. The arrogant Smoke Jaguars had agreed to a Kurita proposal not only to leave Wolcott alone if they lost, but also to give up several Clan OmniMechs and Elemental armor suits. When Kurita had beaten them in a ridiculously easy ambush, the Jaguars had kept their word, although the Jaguars' commander paid with his loss with his life.

"When planning for this operation began, we initially had intended for our strikes to be limited to the Jade Falcon Occupied Zone. However, at the request of Marshal Hasek-Davion, we have switched our emphasis from the Jade Falcons to the Wolves. This is due to the wider dispersal of the Wolves, the comparatively greater threat they pose, and to support our allies in the Free Rasalhague Republic, which have suffered the greatest loss of territory." Sheila didn't mention the other reason Morgan had mentioned: the very real threat that the overextended and badly hit Royal Kungsarme of the FRR was in danger of collapsing against the Wolf onslaught.

She touched the first world. "Our initial objective will be Mozirje. We believe that the Wolves built up an extensive supply point of arms here in preparation for an assault on Planting. Though they have since moved their forces further forward to the MLR, the people of Mozirje have been cowed enough that the Wolves believe this is a secure area and have little defenses there."

Sheila then moved upwards—corewards—slightly. "Our next target will be Kirchbach, the location of Swedenborg Heavy Industries, a producer of ammunition and autocannon and missile parts. Our objective here is also to make the Wolves believe we are raiding coreward back along the way they came in, perhaps make them even think that the Clan homeworlds are our target. Sadly, that's not the case." Sheila added that line mainly for dramatic purposes; a tiny battalion in the middle of as many as sixteen other uncommitted Clans would merely be the 31st Century version of Little Bighorn.

"Instead, we'll swing this way—Maxie's Planet, inside the Clan Jade Falcon OZ. Again, this is a known supply point, and we also have reason to believe that there is an active resistance still onplanet, possibly led by a Major Remke, who we do know ran a brief but effective raiding campaign against a Jade Falcon cluster there when the world fell. We'd like to get him and his men out if possible, even add them to my own force.

"After we hit Maxie's Planet, we will return to Wolf space by hitting New Caledonia. Once more, we have reason to believe that there may be active resistance on the world from the remnants of the planetary militia." That information had come not from the AFFC, but from the Drakon twins, who had contacts in the Tyr political party of Rasalhague. Tyr had its origins in the anti-Kurita resistance, and with the loss of so much territory to the Clans, had reverted back to its partisan ways. "There is also active mining for steel and diamonds onplanet, which is used in the production of 'Mech armor. The Wolves have stepped up production here, and we'd like to shut it down.

"Finally, we will strike New Bergen, which will be our most ambitious strike yet, due to its relative closeness to Rasalhague itself. Following the destruction of supply caches there, we will not return to the Federated Commonwealth, but to the Draconis Combine at Wolcott. There, we will report to the DCMS, rearm if possible, and make a decision as to whether or not to raid our way back across the Clan areas or return via Fort Loudon to Sudeten."

Sheila switched off the light pointer. The five planets glowed gold in her wake. "Ladies and gentlemen, that's Rubicon in a nutshell. We intend to strike at the Clans' supplies, rescue or supply the efforts of resistance efforts behind the lines, gather information on conditions in the Clan zones, force the Clans to redeploy forces to chase us rather than assault planets, and bolster cooperative efforts between the Federated Commonwealth, Free Rasalhague Republic, and the Draconis Combine. It is ambitious, but I believe it will achieve those efforts. If I didn't, I wouldn't be leading it. I open the floor to questions and comments."

There was silence for a few moments. Ariana Winston, to Sheila's surprise, spoke first. "Quite impressive, Commander. What is the makeup of your force?"

Oops, Sheila winced. She had meant to do that first. "My apologies, General—I should've provided that right off." She reached down and touched a button on the podium. Holograms shimmered into life in front of all the assembled staff. Sheila reviewed the Snowbirds' table of organization and equipment herself, and wished she hadn't. It seemed pitifully small.

SNOWBIRDS SMCAT

Alpha Company

Alpha Command ("Snowbird's Own")

LCDR Sheila Arla-Vlata, Shruiken

MechWarrior Kaatha, Griffin

MechWarrior Marcus Drax, Phoenix Hawk

MechWarrior Frederick Matria, Chameleon

Alpha Recon ("Tessya's Talismen")

Lance Commander Tessya Blackthorn, Wasp

MechWarrior Philip Scott, Valkyrie

MechWarrior Kassy Holliday, Commando

MechWarrior Ariel Munroe, Phoenix Hawk

Alpha Assault ("The Sasquatches")

Lance Commander Max Canis-Vlata, Battlemaster

MechWarrior Bien Canonizado, Victor

MechWarrior Chuck Badaxe, Atlas

MechWarrior Cecilia "CeeCee" Masterson, Zeus

Bravo Company

Bravo Command ("Snowbird's Wicked Clanners")

Major Elfa Brownoak, Loki

MechWarrior Mary Scott, Puma

MechWarrior Larry Stohr, Dragonfly

MechWarrior Michael Vragel, Ryoken

Bravo Heavy ("Snowbird's Falcons")

Lance Commander Senefa Malthus, Thunderbolt

MechWarrior Maysa Bari, Rifleman

MechWarrior Togan Nordkoping, Warhammer

MechWarrior Kahvi Falx, Dragon

Bravo Fire ("The Rakes and Rogues")

Lance Commander Robert Copeland, Crusader

MechWarrior Daniel Polycutt, Dervish

MechWarrior Stefan Jones, Banshee

MechWarrior Tam Seneca, Archer

Charlie Company

Charlie Command ("Tigerstripe's Legionnaires")

Major Marion Rhialla, Palladium

MechWarrior Alfred Dennison, Palladium

MechWarrior Brefudd Dari, Axeman

MechWarrior Glynnis Griffin, Panther

Charlie Fire ("Kku's Boxahell")

Lance Commander Tooriu Kku, Awesome

MechWarrior Eric Jerome, Archer

MechWarrior John Lawson, Spartan

MechWarrior Fabian Cynmar, Catapult

Charlie Heavy ("Snowbird's Wolves")

Lance Commander Peter Nicholas, Marauder

MechWarrior Maria Thyatis, Wolverine

MechWarrior Michelangelo Burke, Grasshopper

MechWarrior Troms Fiordur, Warhammer

Charlie Medium ("The Ferals")

Lance Commander Megan O'Reilly, Wolfhound

MechWarrior Felisanna, Wolfhound

MechWarrior Robert Drakon, Blackjack

MechWarrior Betsy Drakon, Blackjack

Delta Company

Delta Command ("Snowbird's Claws")

Major David Moore, Pegasus

Sgt. John Williams, Pegasus

Sgt. Jacqueline Shaw, Hawkslayer

Sgt. Vincent Lian, Patton

Delta Combat Support ("The Long Bombers")

Tank Leader Shasti Buena, Chuikov

Sgt. Natasha Tal, Sturmfeur

Sgt. Jackson Dinson, Sniper

Sgt. William Griffon, Sniper

Delta Elemental Hunters ("The Doom Bunnies")

Tank Leader Fianna Cassidy, Ontos

Sgt. Dennis Dorinson, Ontos

Sgt. Susan Johnston, Manticore

Sgt. Henri Fromage, Von Luckner

Delta Rifle ("Snowbird's Rifles")

Tank Leader Archibald Backs, Lynx

Sgt. Eric Sykes, Lynx

Sgt. Nisa Kinosh, 21 Jump Infantry

Winston nodded appreciatively. "You seem to have enough striking power here. I especially like the fact that you have added an armored force, artillery, and infantry. Moreover, you have a number of Rasalhagian names here, which will give you knowledge of the ground. However, that is not enough to face a Clan Cluster."

"I know, General," Sheila answered. "It is my intention to avoid combat as much as possible. If we run into too much opposition, I will withdraw from the planet rather than risk a pitched battle against superior odds. Also, the planets I have chosen have either light garrisons or none at all. This is true especially in the case of the Wolf OZ—it appears ilKhan Ulric Kerensky has shoved everything forward to try to push through to Terra before the other Clans. However, my force should give us enough power to get ourselves out of trouble if we do run into heavy opposition."

"I also don't see any airpower here."

"We intend to assign the Snowbirds a full squadron of aerofighters, General," Calla put in. "We just haven't made the selection yet." Sheila knew that was because the Sentinels Aerowing was still in flux, choosing a new commanding officer in the wake of Elizabeth Dowlings' death on Vantaa.

"How accurate is this information?" Field Marshal Poulin wanted to know.

"I believe I can answer that, sir." This came from one of the two men in unmarked uniforms. Now that he was closer, Sheila realized he was a big man, taller than herself and much more broad. "My name is Curaitis, of MIIO. We have verified all of Commander Arla-Vlata's information, with the exception of the resistance movement on New Caledonia. Nonetheless, we do consider that a reasonable possibility; in any case, the objective on New Caledonia will be the mines, not necessarily contacting partisans."

"Very well." Poulin seemed less than satisfied with Curaitis' answer, but since the MIIO agent also didn't look like he would be more forthcoming in any case, continued on. "Commander, I will agree with General Winston that this Operation Rubicon is quite impressive. However, I can tell you what Duke Kelswa will say: it is a propaganda stunt and it will detract from the defense of Tamar and Sudeten."

"Yes, sir, I understand," Sheila said, though inside she was seething. Hadn't she already made this point? "Permission to speak frankly, Field Marshal?"

"Certainly." Poulin leaned back in his seat, looking amused. "Speak your mind, Commander."

"Rubicon will do more to blunt the Clan offensive than sitting inside Tamar City waiting for the Wolves to attack. It has always been my father's belief—among others, such as Patton, Wellington and Alexsandr Kerensky—that fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man. It is my belief that those walls will not save Tamar or Duke Kelswa, but merely make it easier for the Wolves to destroy him." Sheila put her arms behind her back, mainly to hide their trembling. She was risking her career here, but she also knew she was right. "I reiterate, sir, that the Snowbirds cannot win the war by themselves, nor should we try. But at least we will be striking the enemy as close to home as we can get. The Clans won't know if this is an isolated raid or merely one of many. Rubicon won't save Tamar…but it's better than sitting there, waiting to be hit."

Sheila worried that she had offended Poulin, who was one of Kelswa's appointees, though he had a reputation as being competent in his own right and not merely a toady. Apparently that reputation was true, because he nodded and smiled. "Well said, Commander. I have been trying to make that point to the Duke myself. However, that doesn't address the defense of Sudeten."

Sheila hesitated. She didn't feel qualified to speak about that, and knew it was a private worry even with her father. It was Winston who answered. "Field Marshal, I think we can spare a battalion. There is no guarantee that Sudeten will even be hit while the Snowbirds are gone. What's more, with the arrival of the Gray Death Legion, we're not exactly shorthanded."

"True, but was it not Wellington who said that a battle can be decided by a single battalion?" Poulin obviously relished cutting Sheila with her own knife.

"Wellington won the Peninsular War with the assistance of Spanish guerillas," Calla said. "Napoleon had to devote whole divisions to guarding his supply lines, robbing him of striking power at the front. Moreover, Wellington attacked." Military history was Calla's chosen field of expertise; Poulin was at a distinct disadvantage here, and knew it.

"Enough," Morgan proclaimed. "I agree with General Winston: we can spare the Snowbirds." Decision made, he turned to the second man. "Chu-sa, your opinion?"

Sheila was taken aback. Chu-sa was a Kurita rank, but the other heretofore unidentified man was not Oriental; his features were if anything Scandivanian. He nodded to the others. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Lee Nakamura. I have been assigned by Gunji no Kanrei Theodore Kurita to act as DCMS liasion to the Snowbirds." He looked at Sheila. "I apologize, Commander, for not making my presence known to you sooner. I have been undercover, as it were—which is why I'm not in uniform. It was believed that a Kurita officer at Marshal Hasek-Davion's command post would arouse suspicion. In the interests of secrecy, I have been instructed to report to your unit only if Rubicon is approved." He glanced around the table. "It is my belief—and in this matter I am qualified to speak on behalf of the Kanrei—that this operation should be approved. Besides its obvious military applications, Commander Arla-Vlata is entirely correct: it will serve as a morale boost to my nation as well. For too long, certain factions within the Imperial Court have opposed the Kanrei's attempt at a united front with the Federated Commonwealth, despite our past history as bitter enemies. Having a FedCom unit arriving in Kurita space after taking the fight to the Clans will help relieve those fears. Moreover, we too will benefit from whatever information the Snowbirds gather, as we too intend to launch raids throughout the Smoke Jaguar zones."

"I hadn't thought of it that way," Poulin admitted. "With Snord's Irregulars hitting the Dark Nebula and the 1st Somerset Strikers refitting for another strike, we could really do some damage." He turned to Morgan. "I approve of the plan, Marshal." Morgan gave him a nod, but Sheila could see barely suppressed anger there. She had a feeling that the information on Snord and the Somerset Strikers was supposed to be secret.

"I only have three more questions," Winston said. First she looked to Nakamura. "The Snowbirds are mercenaries. I expect that will not go over well with the Kurita people—given that they've been taught to hate us."

Nakamura shrugged. "We would prefer a House unit, of course, but given the political dimension of sending needed House line units to the front, we will be satisfied with mercenaries, for now." Sheila read between the lines on that one: if she failed and the Snowbirds were annilihated, the excuse could simply be made to the DCMS that only so much could be expected of mercenaries, after all. It also meant that she and the Snowbirds were expendable.

"The other question is for Sheila," Winston continued. "How do intend to recharge your Kearny-Fuchida drives on your JumpShips? It's a long shot from New Bergen to Wolcott."

That one she was ready for. "We intend to use uninhabited systems to recharge." It was an old smuggler's trick, highly effective because it was very difficult to track a JumpShip once it made a jump. All that was needed to recharge a KF drive was a sun, and there were thousands scattered throughout the Inner Sphere that didn't support life. "We also intend to use Brocchi's Cluster to recharge our drives before making the final jump to Wolcott." Brocchi's Cluster was a globular star cluster with no less than forty stars inside of it; tracking anyone through it was virtually impossible.

"Excellent. One last question: supplies."

"We'll take enough for two major engagements. There will be two DropShips along with the two the Snowbirds will be using for transport."

"After that?"

"We live off the land." Sheila knew that would be controversial. While feeding MechWarriors was easy enough on all but the most barren of planets, resupplying and repairing 'Mechs was much tougher. It meant having good techs and better scroungers, but even with that, it was a byword among tacticians that modern BattleMech forces simply could not live off the land as Napoleon's forces had done a thousand years previously.

Poulin looked doubtful again. In fact, he looked shocked. "And how do you plan to pull off that miracle, Commander?"

"My techs have assured me that they can adapt Clan munitions to ours. We also have locations of hidden caches on those planets of spare parts and such—which factored into our choosing them. Basic repairs can be done with captured Clan equipment—bearings are bearings, myomers are myomers, and such like. The Clans, like us, build their parts to be universal to a certain extent, so we can use those. If for some reason the Snowbirds do take too much damage, we can always return home."

"I see that, but I've been told adapting Clan munitions to our launchers and autocannons is difficult, if not impossible."

"Your information is incorrect, Field Marshal—with respect." Curaitis steepled his fingers in front of him. "We have extensive reports that the Wolves have already begun using captured supplies to refit their own forces. In fact, that is why MIIO recommended the Snowbirds strike Swedenborg Industries on Kirchbach. Unlike the other Clans, who seem hesitant to use captured equipment, the Wolves have done so on a widespread basis. It's one of the reasons why they have been so successful. The other Clans paused after the third wave of attacks to refit and resupply, but the Wolves did not—they launched a fourth and fifth wave weeks ahead of the other Clans. One reason is that Khan Ulric—now ilKhan Ulric, as we understand—wasn't pausing and waiting for his supplies to come from the Clan homeworlds. He was using captured supplies. Since we have made so many references to ancient military history, let me play as well." A small smile graced Curaitis' features. "This is akin to Patton using captured German gasoline to refuel his tanks to make up for a supply shortfall. Yes, it only gained him a few more kilometers—but it was a few more kilometers closer to Germany. The Wolves are merely doing the same: perhaps only one more planet, but that is one more planet closer to their goal."

"You really think you can supply a 'Mech force in the field this way?" Poulin asked Sheila disbelievingly.

"Yes."

"Despite the fact that everyone says it can't be done."

"Maybe that's because no one's ever tried it…sir," Sheila hastily added.

"You're crazy." Poulin suddenly smiled widely. "I like that."

Morgan rapped his knuckles on the table. "I think it's time we took a vote. All in favor of approving Operation Rubicon?" He raised his hands. Every other hand went up at the same time; Poulin laughed and put up both his hands. "Very well," Morgan said. "Commander Arla-Vlata, Operation Rubicon is a go. When do you plan on leaving?"

"Sir. I'd like to train my people a little longer, then give them a bit of a rest. We were figuring November 28, sir, after Thanksgiving. They're going to have to spend Christmas away from their families as it is, sir—figured I'd at least give them that."

Morgan shook his head. "Sorry, Commander, that won't happen." He pointed to a single sheet of paper in front of him, all that he had brought into the room. "I received this from MIIO an hour ago. The Clans are back on the offensive. The Jade Falcons have struck Goat Path and Apolakkia, while the Wolves are reported on Cusset and Maestu. The Smoke Jaguars are reported to be on Marshdale—that's not confirmed, Chu-sa Nakamura, but considered quite likely. Nothing from the Ghost Bears yet. There's also been a report, unconfirmed, that two other Clans have arrived in the Inner Sphere, Clan Steel Viper and Clan Nova Cat." Morgan glanced at Sheila. "Don't worry, Commander, they're nowhere near where you're going." Morgan folded his hands atop the paper. "I'm sorry, Sheila, but you must be ready to leave Sudeten no later than October 30. Is that possible?"

"Yes, sir. Absolutely," Sheila replied, though she wondered if she could. That was only 20 days away. They would find a way, somehow.

"Good. Maybe you'll be back for Christmas, at any rate." Morgan stood, quickly followed by the others. "Ladies and gentlemen, our little lull is over. We're back at full-scale war."