its growing industrial base and technological development, as well as to end their conflict with Masada, a conflict on which diplomacy is impossible. Manticore is more reliable for the Grayson leaders (who also want to modernize their society) than the voracious People's Republic.Masada has just one goal: to conquer Grayson and restore the "true Faith" to their original world. In the eyes of the Masadan leadership, an alliance with Haven is nothing more than a provisional deal with a bunch of "infidels", a deal from which both sides may get benefits, but nothing more than that. The characters Manticorans HMS Fearless Honor Harrington - Captain of the List, Royal Manticoran Navy The commanding officer of Fearless and virtual commander of the small Manticoran squadron sent to Grayson. She takes over and organizes the defense of Grayson following the first devastating engagement between Grayson and Masada. Nimitz Honor Harrington's treecat. During the novel, Nimitz and Honor develop an empathic link between the two of them, allowing Honor to sense the emotions of others. Andreas Venizelos - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy Fearless executive officer. Rafael Cardones - Lieutenant Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy Tactical officer on board Fearless. Carolyn Wolcott - Ensign, Royal Manticoran Navy Junior officer serving under Lt. Commander Cardones at Tactical. Tomas Ramirez - Major, Royal Manticoran Marine Corps Commander of the Marine detachment on board Fearless. Iris Babcock - Sergeant Major, Royal Manticoran Marine Corps Fearless senior Marine non-commissioned officer or "Gunny".HMS Apollo Alice Truman - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy Commanding officer of the light cruiser HMS Apollo. During the novel, she sets a speed record during her transit between Yeltsin's Star and Manticore to warn the Manticoran Admiralty of the situation in Grayson.HMS Troubadour Alistair McKeon - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy Honor's former XO on the old Fearless, now in command of his own destroyer.HMS Madrigal Jason Alvarez - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy Commanding officer of the destroyer Madrigal. Survived the destruction of Madrigal after the first battle with the Masadans, but was later tortured and killed by his captors at Blackbird Base. Mercedes Brigham - Lieutenant Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy''' Executive Officer of HMS Madrigal. Also survived after the destruction of her ship. Suffered torture and rape at the hands of her Masadan captors before being rescued by Fearless Marines. Mai-Ling Jackson - Ensign, Royal Manticoran Navy Another survivor of Madrigal. Together with Mercedes Brigham, she is