The Bear and the Dragon.

[arvg]

The Premier of the Coalition had been sitting silently, the silver pen spinning back and forth through his fingers as he contemplated the discussion, and the ramifications of the malfunctioning battleship program.

He looked up, "I want the XR-2 recovered," he said, his voice quiet as he rose from his chair, walking slowly around the table. "After all we have been through, war, strife, depression... we cannot afford another catastrophe. Colonel Rhade, you will proceed with General Blackblood to recover that ship, where ever it is gone."

The charismatic Premier turned his eyes on the table. "Let us not forget that Yue Fei's rebellion, though crushed, had many supporters in the Engineering corps. And Fei would benefit greatly if a battleship were to fall into her hands."

---