Theodore Kurita
Saves His Father's Life!

News Service

by Hillary Ayer

Imperial City, Luthien, Pesht Military District Jan 9,3040

Usually the arrival of the Heir to the Dragon is attended with ceremony. Not so today. No notice had been received of the Kanrei's arrival until his JumpShip arrived insystern at a "pirate" jump point neither at nadir or zenith, but closer to Luthien itself. Kanrei Theodore Kurita had made the journey from Proserpina in the Benjamin Military District in under a month! His destination had been announced as the Dieron Military District, where remnants of the Federated Commonwealth-incited rebellions still smoulder. But suddenly, he was here.

An honor guard was assembled and drilled as the Kanrei's DropShip, the Tetsuwashi, flashed towards the planet. Port officials rehearsed nervous speeches of welcome; the red carpet was brushed.

Ignoring protocol, the Kanrei was the first man off of his hip. He hurried to the hovercar his pilot had ordered for him, and, sirens braying, accelerated toward the Unity Palace. His aides brushed startled courtiers aside while Prince Theodore sought out his father, Coordinator Takashi Kurita for a private meeting.

Whatever the subject of this urgent meeting, it was interrupted in a manner even more urgent. A nekekami assassin dropped from the rafters to assault the Coordinator. Only the Kanrei's skill with a handgun saved his honored father's life.

A moment later a group of hastily assembled buso-sensei guards from the Ryo-no-tomo (Dragon's Friends) arrived, led by Sho-sa Fuhito Tetsuhara, a trusted assistant to the Kanrei. Kanrei Theodore Kurita had given them orders to secure the area if the Otomo, the Coordinator's Palace bodyguard, were unable to keep him safe. Fortunately, they were not required.

N.S. Kadagawa, Press Secretary to the Palace, issued a statement late this afternoon. In part, it reads:

"The attack was due to a misunderstanding. The nekekami are not making a target to the Coordinator. This is an isolated incident which may now be forgotten.

"Chu-sa Ii, Commander of the Otomo, has found the incident to be too much for his honor to bear, and has committed seppuku. His temporary replacement is Sho-sa Fuhito Tetsuhara."

Kadegawa declined to comment when asked if he thought the incident would bring a new closeness to the relationship of the estranged father and son.

BattleTechnology News Service

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