Bakunin made his blood boil, but Angar forced himself through the drivel before moving on to the rest.

He found 'God and the State' far from the worst of it, with many of the works written by unholy cretins preaching viler blasphemies.

But as he read through the titles and slates, his understanding shifted, and hours bled away.

Profane and Heretical though many were, these works, taken as a whole, formed a sacred, Holy arsenal.

Together, they forged a jagged, unyielding key to mastering warrior societies, power, and control, how to tame the chaos of this unruly realm, as well as exposing the mind of the jealous and feeble, those proving misery loved company.

From Xenophon's marches to the applications of Marx's total state on Clausewitz's total war, each work carved a lesson into his soul.

Angar leaned back on the creaking cot, his mind buzzing with shifted plans for Sulfuron 9. And not just his world, but far beyond.

He was so lost in thoughts and plans that he almost forgot about his meeting at seventeen hundred. He cursed under his breath, stowing the slates and grabbing his hammer before bolting out the door.

He rushed to the Le Cheval Noir, the marble facade screaming of power. It was beautiful, a sight he'd never tire of taking in.

In the lobby, a large fountain mesmerized with choreographed water jets dancing to the music of an always-live ensemble, all illuminated by vibrant lights against the backdrop of elegant shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Spotting the couple was no challenge. The man, Slavo, stood encased in ridiculously bulky power armor, a hulking mass brimming with plates, armaments, and hydraulics.

Twin miniguns jutted from his forearms, fed by ammo conduits snaking to a massive machine-like pack on his back. Shoulder-mounted turrets and a chest-cannon added to the menace, and his frog-mouthed helm sported a massive optical lens over the left visor-slit, giving him an almost alien look.

His wife, Iyita, was a stark contrast. A single pistol hung low on her hip, and it was a nice hip. She was unarmored, clad in a men's-cut gubernator's jumpsuit, not the women's version. That wasn't illegal, but it bucked tradition. The men's version covered more skin, so he didn't see it as an issue.

She was old, mid-twenties or so, with olive skin, green eyes, and brunette hair tied back simply.

And pretty, with a dimpled smile as she waved him over, but not beautiful, being a far cry from the otherworldly allure of Ecstasy. There was an innocence to her too, a quiet warmth.

Slavo, unhelmed, revealed a bland face that seemed perpetually distracted, lost in another world, his eyes only sharpening when they fell on Iyita, sparkling with love.

They were newlyweds, barely a month bound, trying to start a family, their hope almost tangible.

The interview went well enough, if lasting too long. As candidates for a Free Agency ran by a famous Saint, they were expected to be far more candid about their background and builds than usual.

Both Iyita and Slavo hailed from the Lay Commandos, the largest and most elite Lay combat-arms faction mostly independent of the Imperial Military.

Iyita had served as a gubernator and flight leader in the Aces group of the 3rd Commando Wing, part of the storied Aces over Queens Squadron, sister to the renowned Aces over Kings.

She claimed the wing commander, a figure she'd never met face-to-face, began granting her unearned commendations, approving sacred rites and cybernetics reserved for ground troops, not gubernators.

When she was informed of an unrequested leave being approved to 'vacation' with the commander, she fled, going AWOL.

Slavo, ground support in the Ironmen, the famed 121st Mechas Platform Brigade, on his return from a deployment, spotted her weeping alone in a dim corner of a station's concourse.

Awkward and reserved, he'd always struggled to speak with anyone, let alone women. But, somehow, not knowing where it came from, he mustered the courage to approach her.

Their connection was immediate, profound, and inexplicable. That same night, they bound their fates in Holy matrimony, and Slavo went AWOL, joining his wife in exile.

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Hidetada, provided they proved worthy and joined his crew, could fix their status, and expunge their tarnished records.

Slavo held the Techanic Class, with Abilities enhancing his custom-made power armor. He wasn't so much an engineer as a skilled technician and mechanic hybrid, adept at repairing and maintaining complex machinery from ship engines to armor.

Iyita, surprisingly, was a Volatorius, a drone-controller Class, though Angar spotted none with her.

She did most of the talking. With her sweet voice, she explained the strategic edge a woman could bring to missions, even if she were to become pregnant.

Her confidence was admirable, claiming unmatched skill behind a ship's yoke, untouchable in the chaos of combat.

Slavo would be a great addition, both aboard and during combat missions. He'd be willing to repair and maintain Angar's suit, and do so far more capably than Kong, as the crew technicus was a specialist in cybernetics, not power armor.

Angar disliked the idea of a mixed-gender crew. It shifted dynamics and culture, and always for the worse.

Even having conquered lust's hold, he preferred facing that battle off the ship, not constantly and always, in the close quarters of his home aboard, with no relief from it.

But Hidetada had a point. Veerta was part of the crew. Currently, if not for much longer.

Their desire to join the Peregrines proved beyond doubt they weren't cowards running from battle, so Angar wouldn't hold fleeing their units against them.

And he couldn't and wouldn't let the fire of his youth snuff out a newlywed couple's dreams and ambitions. He figured, at worst, her piloting would free up Stek for missions, letting him join the fray.

He revised that sentiment. At worst, there'd be babies in the Zephuros crew.

Angar left the couple, offering no promises, striding toward his guest quarters in the Wardens' bastion, the station's artificial dusk casting long shadows across the thoroughfare.

He had plans to meet with the couple again in the morning, at the foundry, as Slavo had an idea he'd like to try out on Angar's armor, a way to add a Psy Crystal dock, and cheaply, without getting in the way or hampering the retractable gauntlet modification.

Through his comms, Angar hailed Deli. "The interview's done. Iyita and Slavo are competent, and I believe they'd be strong additions to the crew and Free Agency."

Hidetada's voice cut in, hijacking the channel as he often did. "How fares the reading assignment, young Knight?"

"A worthy task," replied Angar. "I enjoyed it. Thank you for loaning me the slates. The texts sparked many ideas. I have new and modified plans for Sulfuron 9 I'd like to discuss with you."

"Enjoyed?" Hidetada's tone dripped with skepticism. "Past tense?"

"Yes."

"Which works did you read?"

"All of them."

Hidetada's laugh was a harsh crackle. "Every book on every slate? In, what, thirty-four, thirty-five hours, at most?"

"I read through the night," Angar replied, enjoying surprising his grand marshal once again. "Fascinating works. Their combined purpose is clear. Your mother chose extremely well, even the fictional tales."

"Nonsense," Hidetada snapped. "Skimming without comprehension is not reading. The task was to digest, to understand."

"I read them all in full," replied Angar. "For works like 'The Art of War,' 'Leviathan,' and 'The Republic,' where every sentence, phrase, and argument is carefully constructed and carries significant meaning, I had to take more time."

The Saint scoffed. "Prove it," he stated, his voice growing colder. "From 'The Book of Five Rings,' what does Musashi say is the warrior's path to victory in all conflicts?"

"To perceive the rhythm of the enemy's collapse," Angar answered.

"From 'The Prince,' what does Machiavelli advise a ruler to do when faced with two enemies, one weaker and one stronger?"

"Ally with the weaker to destroy the stronger," Angar said.

"From 'Nicomachean Ethics,' what is the name Aristotle gives to the virtue of proper pride?"

"Magnanimity," replied Angar.

"From 'My Disillusionment in Russia,' what did Goldman call the brutal crushing of the sailor rebellion?"

"A total betrayal of revolutionary ideals and liberty, in favor of centralized tyranny," Angar said.

"From 'The Iliad,' what sinful flaw sparked the central conflict among the Greeks and led to Trojan victories and gains?"

"Agamemnon's hubris, followed by Achilles' hubris," Angar answered.

Silence hung on the comms, and heavily, causing Angar's lips to curl slightly.

Hidetada's voice returned, grudgingly measured. "A typer is being sent to your guest quarters. Write a report on the topics and plans you'd like to discuss. And I want a summation of your thoughts on the interview, including their personalities, strengths, foibles, possible issues, all that."

"Understood, Saint."

After a brief pause, Hidetada asked, "What was your favorite Tokugawa quote?"

Angar didn't have to think about it. "Convince yourself that suffering and inconvenience are the natural lot of life, and there will be no room for discontent and despair.'"

Hidetada grunted. "There's no definitive primary source verifying that quote. It's likely a paraphrase or fabrication."

"I can guess at yours," said Angar. "Only the strong, manly ones in life understand the meaning of the word patience."

"No," replied Hidetada. "There's no definitive primary source verifying that quote either. I've said mine to you before. 'Forbearance is the root of all quietness and assurance forever.' Possibly, 'Life is like unto a long journey with a heavy burden. Let thy step be slow and steady, that thou stumble not,' a longer phrasing of 'festina lente,' to make haste slowly. Picking only one is difficult."

"Agreed, Saint."

"I hope you took one of the most important lessons imparted by these works, young Knight, and realize what patience truly is, why it's a necessity to master."

Angar smiled, quoting Sun Tzu, "We've heard of stupid haste in war, but cleverness has never been associated with long delays."

Hidetada didn't reply, so he quoted Machiavelli. "It is better to be impetuous than cautious."

Silence still, so he quoted Clausewitz. "In what activity is boldness more at home than war? It is the noblest of virtues."

He could go on, but he didn't want to anger his master. Hidetada remained silent as Angar trekked back to the guest quarters.

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