About a week had passed, Fiona was back in the routine of exercises with the unit, and there were no further incidents. There was still plenty of venom from Joanna and her assistant, but Fiona was determined to not let it get to her. Today was different. Today, the entire unit had been assembled at once, elementals included, and arranged in parade formation on the main tarmac. 

        They had been assembled there for a few minutes when Star Colonel Aidan Pryde appeared and strode over to the podium at the head of the group. The assembled group shuffled anxiously, knowing that if the commander was addressing them, something of consequence was about to happen.

        "Falcon Guards! I have exciting news for all of you. I know you have all worked extremely hard over the past weeks, and this unit has become something to be proud of indeed. You have shown me that you can come together as a unit, and now the time has come to show everyone, the Khans, all of the other clans, and the Inner Sphere! We have been chosen to fight in a great trial, an extraordinary battle for the fate of our great crusade! In two days time, we will board our ships for the world of Tukayyid, and there, we will face the warriors of ComStar in a trial of possession. The prize of that trial is nothing less than the jewel of Terra herself! When we defeat the ComGuard, we will take possession of Terra, and the clan that earns the greatest glory on Tukayyid will have the title of ilClan forever!"

        The speech was a rousing one, and went on for a bit longer, but Fiona could not help but feel a pit of nervousness forming in her stomach. A single trial, one battle to end it all, it was too good to be true. She knew it was. She did not know the details, but somehow she knew it was the same thing she had done when she first encountered the clans, exploiting the trial system.

        When the assembly broke up, Abigail slapped her on the back. "This is incredible news, quiaff?"

        Fiona tried to put on a brave face and nodded.

        Abigail saw through the facade. "What is wrong, surat?"

        She shook her head. "Do you not see? This is exactly how I was able to achieve victory when I first met the clans. The trial system. These ComGuards will find some way to exploit it, I am certain. ComStar is nothing if not devious."

        Abigail grabbed her by the shoulders. "They may be devious, but we are Jade Falcons. You achieved some success, yes, but ultimately you were defeated and made a bondsman. The clan prevailed. That will happen here as well. We will triumph over whatever deviousness they have planned, and we will prevail. We must, we are clan! Now, tell me, what do you know of this Tukayyid and these ComStar warriors?"

        She scratched her head. "I have never heard of Tukkayid. The Star Colonel said it lies in the Free Rasalhague Republic. It is not one of their major worlds. As for the ComGuards....I know very little. For much of the time after the exodus, no one knew that ComStar even maintained a military. Their primary defense was their control of the HPG network, nobody dared strike against them. But slowly, over the last several decades, it has become increasingly clear that they have stockpiled arms and equipment, and have been raising an army. I do not think anyone knew of the size of it. An army large enough to take on all of the clans? I do not know. They will be inexperienced, but they may have vintage Star League weapons. There is no way to know."

        "It will be glorious though, quiaff? Imagine, we are now mere months away from Terra. From completing the crusade. You and I shall stand on Terra's soil together. That is a dream come true."

        Fiona cautioned her friend. "It is not yet achieved. The battle still must be won. Much can go wrong."

          Abigail shook her head. "It cannot. We will not let it. We are Jade Falcon."