Grayson's hand pressed the Locust'scontrol stick forward, and the 'Mech leaned forward, one armored bird's foot clawing at the soft sand slope before it. The machine lurched and seemed to stumble slightly, then Grayson heard the whine of protesting servos as the 'Mech's computer drew on his sense of balance and struggled to remain upright.
One giant foot found purchase, and the other foot lifted. The 'Mech's head lurched above the rim of the canyon. Now he saw the scene directly throught the Locust'ssensors on the 180-screen. He struggled with the stick, willing the machine up and forward. One flat, four-clawed foot cleared the edge, the flanges spilling sand, and then the Locustwas up and onto the hard, flat desert surface. The Locust'sbird-like form leaned forward and its spindly legs swung up, forward, and down with shifting, mechanical movements.
In theory, Grayson knew there was no way one 'Mech could sneak up on another across open terrain. BattleMech hulls mount sensors that cover the entire spectrum, infra-red to ultra-violet, as well as sound, laser ranging, and radar. The 'Mech's computer creates a composite 360-degree scan of the entire battlefield that is instantly available to the pilot. In practice, things were not so simple. MechWarriors are human, and, caught up in the excitement of battle or the thrill of a chase, a pilot might override or ignore a computer's signals.
Grayson was counting on the humanness of the two 'Mech pilots he was stalking now. Lori had said Enzelman was less experienced than she at 'Mech operations. Though Sergeant Mendoza was experienced, his first instinct would be to focus on the decoy convoy of speeding vehicles two kilometers in front of the targets.
Grayson could see the HVWCs off to the side, turning now under a pillar of dust that mushroomed into the sky. There was a flash of light ahead. The enemy Wasphad fired its laser at long range with no visible effect. He touched a control. The screen shifted to battle mode, the landscape subdued, the enemy ‘Mechs outlined in light and bracketed by readouts giving range and sensor-detected information. Drifting red crosshairs showed the aiming point for the laser.
The decline of technology during the Succession Wars had keenly affected the science of weapons manufacture and design. No longer could the complex control systems for fire-and-forget missiles, for long-range particle beams or lasers be packed into units small enough and cheap enough to be casually expended in combat. BattleMech engagements tended to be brutal, short-range affairs, with individual ‘Mechs closing to a few tens of meters to deliver killing shots.
Theoretically, the laser under the Locust'schin could hit anything in line-of-sight clear to the horizon. That range was sharply reduced, however, by the quality of the weapons controls systems that pointed the heavy barrel. Grayson could not count on hitting anything with that laser at ranges greater than about 300 meters. He'd begun his charge when the enemy was one kilometer away. At top speed, he would close to firing range in less than 30 seconds.
The Waspwas between Grayson and the Stinger,blocking the Stinger'selectronic scanners. That was a small piece of luck, for Lori had told him that the Stingerpilot seemed to have had some combat experience. More, certainly, than her comrade in the Wasp. Range 800 meters.
For that reason, he was locking the crosshairs of his laser sight on the rear bit of the left hip joint on the Stinger.The experienced MechWarrior would be the more dangerous of the two.
Range 600 meters.
Well, listen to the old hand talking, Grayson thought wryly. This is YOUR first time in 'Mech combat, he told himself. Even that Wasppilot has seen more action in a 'Mech hotseat than you. Training is great, but remember what Griff was always telling you about there being no substitute for experience. Just then, a flashing blue light on his console told him he was being probed by radar.
Range 400 meters.
The Stingerwas slowing, dropping behind the charging Wasp.It pivoted on stiff legs, the long, black muzzle of its laser coming to the point.
Grayson's throat was suddenly tight, his mouth sand-dry, his nose running, his stomach twisting. Oh God, don't let me screw up, he prayed to he knew not who.
Range 300 meters.
The Stingerfired as Grayson twisted his running 'Mech to the side. There was a momentary dazzle, but the battlemode imaging system controlled the light level, protecting Grayson's eyes. His thumb came down on the red button, and white light pulsed across the Stinger'ship joint.
Hit! Flakes of metal glittered in the midmorning sun as they scattered on the sand, and there was a trace of oily smoke near the Stinger'swaist. The Stingersidestepped, moving rapidly to make itself a more difficult target. Grayson spun, swinging his laser up to bear on the back of the enemy Wasp.
The Stingermust have called a warning. The Waspturned before Grayson could fire again, and the laser hit the Wasp'sleft side instead of the broad, almost unarmored back. The Waspstaggered as armor unable to dump the heat of Grayson's beam exploded in bright, molten globs. The beam was attentuated somewhat as the stricken machine continued to turn beneath it, creating a ragged black scar across its flank.
Lights went red on Grayson's control panel, and there was a shock that made the Locustshudder and twist. The Stingerhad fired, catching him on the right torso. The armor seemed to have stopped the worst of the beam, but there was minor damage, and another hit there would certainly penetrate.
He swung and fired at the Stinger,aiming low. There was a flare and a whirl of sand as the Stingerwent airborne on flaring jets. Grayson reacted without thinking with a twist and a lurch that evaded three quick-spaced shots that cratered the sand where he'd been standing. He rolled up and fired as the Stingerdescended.
Miss!
The Locustswung about, targeting the Stingeras it dashed across his field of fire. He triggered the laser and saw liquid metal splatter. He'd hit the upper left arm. There might be some damage there.
He pressed the control stick, and the Locustlurched forward. A flash... and another! Two shots, almost together, had missed. With the range down to less than 80 meters, he fired at the Waspand caught it square in the chest.
So far, most of the damage had been confined to the 'Mechs' armor. Very soon now, the shots would be falling on still-hot scars, burning their way into the delicate electronic innards of the machines, and then the issue would be settled. Grayson wiped his hand ineffectually across his brow under the impulse helmet's rubber padding. He was drenched with sweat, and the net shirt clung to him unpleasantly. The heat in the sealed cockpit stifled him, pressed in around him, making him light-headed.
The Waspspun before him. He lined up for a quick shot at the blackened upper chest, fired, and missed. With his left hand still on the control stick, his right hand found the jointed wrist and finger control that guided the Locust'stwin machine guns. Machine guns were generally used for firing at enemy troops, but as he had proven in his uneven duel with the Waspin Sarghad's streets, a heavy-caliber machine gun could penetrate 'Mech armor, given time and a bit of luck. Even in the padded and pressurized interior of the Locust'scockpit, vibrations hammered into his body by his seat. Tracers arced, crossed, and floated into the wildly twisting Stinger.He saw metal chips fly from the already damaged hip, saw the Stinger'sleft leg suddenly go stiff. Hit!