The leaders of the various Inner Sphere nations gather on Outreach to learn the origins of the Clans and train to defeat them. Meanwhile, in Clan space, Phelan Wolf, now adopted into the warrior caste of Clan Wolf, learns more of the Clans firsthand and trains for his Trial of Position. The Clan grand council elects Ulric Kerensky as the new ilKhan, and the invasion resumes. The Wolves take several key worlds, including Radstadt, which Phelan captures singlehandedly. Combined Smoke Jaguar and Nova Cat forces invade Luthien, to be repelled in the largest battle to date in the Clan invasion. Forces under Victor Steiner-Davion's command strike back against the Jade Falcons, though a disastrous raid leaves Kai Allard-Liao apparently dead. An assassin in Romano Liao's employ strikes at the St. Ives Compact, apparently killing both Justin Allard and Candace Allard-Liao.