(A basic overview of the general situation and what happens to the main
characters between this story and the next one [either already written,
or just planned] that they appear in.)
Although the White Order rebellion was the shortest in Imperial
history, its active phase lasting only slightly over an hour, it was
the most disruptive. Its purpose was to replace the nobility and key
military/administrative personnel; the Order members who were to be
those replacements, after killing their predecessors, were in place and
ready to strike days or weeks before Thark set the time. In spite of
Ranger Losinj's warning, many succeeded, either because their targets
did not believe the seriousness of the threat, or because Talent was
able to overcome the precautions that were taken.
When all the reports were in, Imperial losses were staggering. Three
Rangers were dead, one seriously injured, and over a third of the
ruling nobles, some with their heirs, had been killed--along with
approximately a quarter of the top-ranking planet-based military and
Admin Service officers.
Once the full extent of the disaster was assessed, Rangers Medart and
Losinj were reassigned, to separate missions. Because of Losinj's
familiarity, however brief, with Chang's crew, Medart decided to change
ships rather than having her do so; he chose the Empress Lindner,
formerly Ranger Tarlac's ship. Rangers Fenn and Scolacz were recalled
from Sector Traiti, which was unaffected by the rebellion because the
White Order had not had time since the War to infiltrate. Rangers
Kennard and Forrest were also sent out on missions to help the
recovery; only Ranger Wang was kept on her original mission, but with
another sector added to her responsibilities.
In a brief meeting before Medart and Losinj left for Irschcha, Nevan
asked Medart's advice on how best to prepare himself should Ranger
Losinj accept his personal fealty once he felt he had enough experience
to be a suitable thakur-na. He acted on that advice, though it proved
extremely difficult at times, and succeeded in a number of dangerous
missions; one of those earned him a second Sovereign's Medal, and was
followed within months by his second mission with Medart.