Britain, France, Germany, and Austria had all begun preparations for a dynastic war decades before the actuality. It was a war between the old dynasti... rulers, the Habsburgs and the Hohenzollern, with their hatred and fear of the very idea of democracy, and the democratic states of Europe. The Central Powers rightly feared the democratization of Europe and intended to bring back the autocratic states of old, once and for all. They plunged the continent into war on the flimsiest of pretexts, and. "Not good, that's what it is." It responded as it continued to enter commands on the tactical display. "Lanvy, do we have visual on the Morgalon?" Negative, attempting uplink with closest satellites."The Remote Interface Unit jumped from the console it was working on and motioned for Spaz to move out of its way. "Pardon me sir, but I need to get in there. I apologize but there is no time to explain," it stated as it continued to bring up screens and displays. "Activate combat drones. Fifteen. There were more walled outposts, and caravanserai with permanent guards posted to protect the traders. They were staffed with soldiers from the eastern emperor, probably as a punishment duty. Sometimes a commander just got too popular, either with the soldiers, or with some official's wife. In any case, they ended up in the back of beyond, keeping filthy traders from being attacked by misbegotten barbarians.They drank a lot of plum wine, and some had taken up the habit of inhaling the smoke of. I'd been lusting after Camile as well, and feeling guilty about it, both because I didn't know if she liked girls, and because I was so confused about my sexuality. Steve helped me there, too, by accepting the idea that I might want to have sex only with women, or with both, or only with men. I knew that he'd defend my choice if it needed defending, so I was free to try everything. I found out that sex with him was wonderful, and that sex with a submissive woman was fun too."Of the two, I.