Without responding, Aidan set his Summoneron a two-jump trip to the point where Joanna was trading fire with the Gargoyle.The Dire Wolf,a notoriously slower vehicle, was closing in. Aidan calculated that they had approximately twenty seconds before the pilot could bring the 'Mech's massive firepower against them.
"I cannot see why you need me, Joanna."
"Do not make jokes. You know I do not understand humor."
"I was not joking."
"I suggest you occupy the Dire Wolf'sattention."
"Gladly, Joanna."
As Aidan moved toward the Dire Wolf,he sang, louder this time: "Five little BattleMechs, playing tough at war. One got a stomach cramp, and then there were four."
Just as he was launching a salvo of SRMs at the Dire Wolf,he glanced through his viewport and saw that Ter Roshak was definitely in dire trouble with his Mad Dog.
Roshak should have seen the move coming. The Mad Dogpilot suddenly pointed his Ultra autocannon down and chipped away at the Nova's right-foot armor. Feeling shudders up through the 'Mech's right leg, Roshak knew something important had been hit.
There was no longer any sense in going head to head with this BattleMech, he thought. Engaging his jump jets, he leaped nearly the full capacity of 150 meters, getting closer to where Aidan and Joanna were in the midst of a furious battle. When he landed, however, it was on the damaged foot, and his 'Mech lost its balance. It would have fallen flat on its back had Roshak not manipulated the joystick frenetically to bring the 'Mech down to one knee, with the other leg slightly sprawled out. As it came to rest, the Novawas slightly tilted but operable.
It had to be operable, for the Mad Dogwas lumbering slowly but steadily toward it.
* * *
Aidan did not cease his onslaught as he closed with the Summoner.He spent his remaining Thunder LRMs, but the Dire Wolfpilot merely steered his ponderous machine around the bomblets they dropped. Aidan recognized that the pilot of this 'Mech was a conventional warrior, the kind who plods on and usually wins through sheer endurance and determination. That is, until he or she runs into a particularly daring or foolish opponent. Aidan knew he qualified in one of the latter categories, but was not sure which.
The Dire Wolfpilot, to avoid the heat buildup of its massively augmented weaponry, was firing only two of its large lasers at a time as he slowly moved to close the range. As for Aidan, he had no intention of overheating his machine in a long-range duel, and to trade blows at close range was suicidal. It was time to test fate once again.
Turning directly toward the Dire Wolf,Aidan brought his machine up to full running speed. As the distance closed, he watched his secondary screen.
600 meters.
400 meters.
Seeing Aidan moving directly toward him, the Dire Wolfpilot stopped, heat visibly venting from the 'Mech's legs and back.
350 meters.
200 meters.
The arms of the Dire Wolfcame up and pointed directly at the charging Summoner.As the eight arm-mounted lasers were brought up to full charge, static discharges crackled across their muzzles.
175 meters.
150 meters.
Raw energy leapt from the Dire Wolf'sextended arms as Aidan slapped the jump switch. Up over the deadly fire, Aidan's Summonerrose. The arms of the Dire Wolftried to track the airborne target for a second shot, but it was too late. Seventy ugly tons of BattleMech landed feet first onto the cockpit of the Dire Wolf.
As Aidan worked his 'Mech free from the wreckage, the rhyme kept running through his head: "Four little BattleMechs, sliding down the scree. One ate a Summoner,and then there were three."
* * *
Aidan could not, for a moment, decide which way to go. Coming fast toward the fray were the two 'Mechs that had not yet played any significant part in the battle, a Warhawkand a Summoner.Nearby was Joanna, holding her own against the Gargoyle,though she could probably use help by now. And Ter Roshak was half-down, his 'Mech looking almost numb as the Mad Dogapproached.
What good was life without choices, Aidan wondered.
* * *
Ter Roshak was indeed numb. Not only had he reached the end of his rope as an effective warrior, but he had no feeling in his legs. There was no wound there, no way any shot from the Mad Dogcould have reached his legs. Perhaps the numbness was from sitting too long in his pilot seat, the stiffness just one more sign of age.
The battle had taken too much out of him, so apparently they were right about the uselessness of old warriors. He never wanted to admit his age to himself, but this test had brought out his infirmity only too well. He was old. He deserved to die. Why could not this Mad Dogfire the shot that would finish him off once and for all?
He closed his eyes, waiting for the final moment. He would not eject, he knew that. Then his eyes shot open again. That was neither the way of the Clans nor the way of a good warrior. If he was to meet death, it must be with his eyes open.
Aidan did not know whether it was wise to tackle the Mad Dogcoming at Ter Roshak. His 'Mech's legs were damaged from the jump onto the Dire Wolf.It looked like his engine shielding had taken a hit, too, for he could not move at full speed. Lastly, his long-range ammo was depleted, leaving him only the short-range missiles and autocannon.
Coming at the Mad Dogfrom the side, in a tactic sometimes known as blindsiding, Aidan fired off a cluster round from his LB 10-X, grateful for its greater range as it did considerable destruction to the heavy 'Mech's left side. The autocannon would normally have been no more than the sting of an insect, but Roshak had already created deep lines of damage in the machine of his relentless opponent. A sheet of flame erupted from one of them, shooting out like a flamethrower.
The Mad Dogcame to an abrupt stop, the pilot apparently dealing with whatever had caused the sudden fire. For a moment, Aidan drew a blank. He did not know what to do. The pilot of this 'Mech would regain control of his machine and return to the battle. The two oncoming 'Mechs would arrive. Joanna's battle would end in victory or defeat. There were too many factors and insufficient solutions.
He wanted to curse, but the only one strong enough among Clan Warriors was "freebirth," and his experience among freeborns had removed that oath from his vocabulary. The way this Trial of Refusal was working out seemed unfair. They had, the three of them, started out against nine. Already they had defeated five.Five was an impressive number, but in a Trial of Refusal, the challengers could win only by defeating every one of their opponents. They had come close, but that was not enough.
And his chance to win a Bloodname was riding on this Trial.