The Merchants' War The Merchant Princes

the merchant s war fourth book of merchant princes, published in 2007. protagonist miriam beckstein on run in world of new britain after narrowly escaping attack in gruinmarkt. clan struggles war on 2 fronts: 1 against prince egon s coup forces control of gruinmarkt, , against secretive government taskforce investigating clan.

in new london, equivalent of new york city on earth , niejwein in gruinmarkt, miriam seeks out 1 of erasmus burgeson s leveler contact lady bishop aid , shelter. situation in new britain not good: king has dismissed parliament, colonial war rages overseas, , treasury paying bills printing money, leading stagflation. levelers wish create democratic system, wary of moving until burst of war-fueled government support wears off. miriam still fears elements of clan out murder her. reconnects erasmus, dodges both clan agents , police, recovers laptop stowed boston, , heads west erasmus meet noted leveler intellectual , leader. however, miriam feels strangely sick, while briefly world-walking gruinmarkt evade police.

duke angbard lofstrom of clan charges agent briliana d ost recovering miriam, or, failing that, ensure no longer poses threat clan. situation complicated fact miriam s mother seemingly arranged artificially inseminated prince creon during examinations, meaning pregnant heir throne. pregnant world-walkers cannot safely travel if child world-walker themselves, though, , miriam comes world abortion legal if find out condition. angbard summons huw, mit grad student, , charges him investigating both lockets , exploration of potential new worlds. experimentation had largely been forbidden fear of losing valuable couriers before, base in united states under threat, clan needs seek out alternative options. huw , staff discover lee family locket, while ineffective in massachusetts , new york in united states, works in maryland, , leads fourth world in grip of ice age polar sheets covering northern states. fourth world seemingly empty, shows signs of highly advanced, dead civilization.

on normal earth, mike fleming recovers injuries sustained in escape miriam s wedding banquet. luckily him, infection in leg not resistant penicillin, overuse of antibiotics has not affected gruinmarkt s bacteria. while fleming recovers, viewpoint character shifts colonel eric smith, superior. eric considerably more ruthless fleming in viewpoint , morality. introduced government scientists have figured out how send tiny cell samples on own without need captured clan couriers; managing attempts use mike s contact olga negotiate on clan s nuclear weapons; , attempting hunt down (with of nirt) potential nuclear weapon ticking time bomb in boston planted defector. in long term, government seeks deal peak oil via potentially invading alternate-universe texas.

prince egon confounds clan intelligent tactics designed minimize clan s advantages in technology , firepower. takes field, keeping moving small detatchment; not dress in royal frippery, normal officer, , keeps body doubles around; , has elite guard armed modern earth weapons such mp5s. renders assassinating him chancy. in battlefield strategy, splits forces small groups raid clan manors, execute vaguely related clan, melt forest. causes panicked requests aid clan s lesser allies, spreading clan forces thinly; compared strategic hamlets in vietnam war, similar insurgency tactics used. after spreading clan out, egon seeks concentrate core clan members can wiped out; requires risky concentration of own forces, through misdirection , treachery, , ally baron otto neuhalle takes key hjalmar palace clan held. not known if has world-walker ally keeping him informed, or adeptly using information gained grandmother on clan s powers , limitations.

the family trade organization under colonel eric smith finds second nuke, tracks down enough clan members find them planning retake hjalmar palace. clan forced act in haste; retake palace, @ cost of being unable return united states in location. miriam , erasmus arrive in california, finds deadly reception british sheriff has orders arrest. briliana, huw, , huw s assistants sweep in save miriam , ambush police advanced american weaponry. miriam offered path clan , aid progressive faction against conservatives.