by Hilary Ayer
Morgan Kell has known many deaths in his time. There can be no more painful loss than the one he is suffering now. The short, promising life of Phelan Kell is ended. The editor and staff of BatIeTechnology salute Morgan Kell in his sorrow, and extend our condolences to Col. Kell and his grieving family. 10 August 3010 Dear Morgan, It is with deep regret that I write to tell you of the death of your cousin, my dear husband, Arthur Luvon. By now the busy vultures of the media will have scurried to break the news of his slaying. I am sure you gave them no satisfaction, showed none of your grief for the shocked pleasure of 'the viewers at home'. Only you and I can know the full worth of the friend and counselor we have lost. If your obligations permit, Morgan, come to me on Tharkhad. I cannot leave my back undefended here. It is only to you that I say I feel very much alone, lost in a court of flatterers. Arthur will never see his child. I share your grief, Katrina Steiner, Archon, Lyran Commonwealth 26 May 3027 Morgan Kell: During your absence from your command, Yorinaga Kurita has reappeared. He has formed a new unit. In a battle to defend the Archon- Designate, he killed your brother Patrick. Patrick's last words were, "Tell Morgan I understand." I don't. Are you ready to return yet? Or shall I just have all personnel stand to attention and cut their own throats? Major Salome Ward, 1st Co, 1st Bn, Kell Hounds (Undated)
Katrina, Yorinaga Kurita died by seppuku this morning. I stood with him. His son Akira Brahe acted as his second. I still cannot accept his reasoning, yet certainly his life had been paid for many times over. He had a right to do with it as he saw necessary. Brahe and others of the Genyosha have joined the Kell Hounds. Now that the war is over and before the ceremonies begin, Salome and I are taking leave to Arc Royal. I need to see earth that has no recent scars of war. I need to see a child that is not cringing in fear. Morgan 21 October 3013 "...his Atlas took that bad cockpit hit about 14:00. The doctors estimate that First Prince Ian Davion died at 14:40. He was dying as we came onto the field of battle! We drove away the Second Sword of Light under Yorinaga Kurita after some difficulty. By then all we could save was Prince Ian's body. None of us can stop thinking it -- half an hour earlier, just half an hour, and he'd still be alive!" Hypatia Donahue,
5 Jan 3040 Dear Cousins, I'm so sorry. My mother Katrina Steiner died in her sleep last night. She had been having great trouble breathing after this winter's bout with pneumonia. The strain on her heart - all of the strains on her heart - were too much for her at last. She loved you both very much, I know. She dreamed of you a night or two before she died, Morgan. It was a happy dream. We have scheduled the state funeral for February 16. If that is not enough time for you to arrange things so you can get here, let us know as soon as possible so that we can revise the date. Do bring the children. They shouldn't be subjected to the full honorific horrors, but they can be with their cousins. I feel the family should all be together at this heavy time. All my love,
Kell Hounds Back to BattleTechnology 13 Table of Contents Back to BattleTechnology List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1990 by Pacific Rim Publishing. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |