Scott leaned back heavily against the mountain's granite face. "The Genyoshamust have stopped them." He shivered, but not from the cold. "God almighty, they came after us with a vengeance. We couldn't stop them. I really screwed up this assignment."
Tommy lowered his field glasses and glanced back over his shoulder at Scott. "Listen, Scott. You can't take responsibility for this assault. The 5th Deneb Light Cavalry is the real garrison of Northwind. Ptomaine poisoning knocked half of them out, then the 5th Sword of Light used the 36th Dieron Regulars to lure the rest of the Light Cavalry out of their defensive position. The Sword cut them apart. It's not your fault."
Scott took a deep breath, then exhaled a vapor cloud. "I know that, Tommy, but I can't forget the sound of the Light Cav boys calling to us for help. It just goes on and on in my head." Scott met Tommy's ice-blue stare. "I mean, a battalion should have been able to crush the Genyoshaand then head out to help the Light Cav. Bradley's Bravos turned out to be nothing more than glorified gunnery targets."
Tommy shook his head vehemently. "I saw the Genyoshain action when our First Battalion popped down to pry their jaws free of your ass. The Genyoshaare very good—better than the 5th Sword by a long shot." Tommy narrowed his eyes. "Come to think of it, the MHO put out an advisory that said Yorinaga Kurita was running that outfit."
Scott bowed his head. "He was." Scott balled his left fist and smashed it against the rock. "He piloted a Warhammer.I could have had him . . ."
Tommy's eyes grew distant. "Me, too. He's the one that got the Doc. I had him right in front of me, but. . ."
Scott's whisper came wreathed in frost. ". . . But the damned computer wouldn't give me a lock."
Tommy nodded and shivered despite the warmth of his thick parka. "I've never seen anything like it."
Scott stiffened, then looked up into Tommy's eyes. "I have. Mallory's World, 3016—only that time it was Morgan Kell defying Yorinaga to hit him. Back then, it confused me. Now it just makes my blood run cold."
Both men sat silently for a moment. The wind howled hungrily, raking clouds of sharp, stinging ice crystals over their faces. Each man turned from the wind and found himself staring back out at the forces closing on the mountain stronghold. Scott broke the silence first. "How is Doctor Banzai?" Tommy shrugged quickly, but Scott easily read the pain on his face. "Medics say the Doc has stabilized, but it's still very serious. Lost lots of blood, they tell me."
Scott smiled carefully to keep from cracking his chapped lips. "Guys were line up all around the caverns down there waiting to donate blood. Not just your people, but folks from the Bravos and the Light Cav."
Tommy nodded. He lifted the field glasses again to study the Draconis troops. "It's going to get nasty when they come for us."
Scott grimaced. "Do you think they're waiting for the Genyosha!"
Tommy laughed for a half-second. "No, if the Genyoshawere coming to this party, the 5th Sword would have already begun the assault." Seeing the puzzled look on Scott's face, Tommy explained. "We've been listening to their radio chatter. There's no love lost between the 5th Sword and the Genyosha."
Tommy smiled openly. "I guess they didn't tell you. The Genyoshacame to Northwind because ISF sources told them they'd find the Kell Hounds here. From what we can make out, the ISF learned that the Kell Hounds hit the Genyoshabase while they were here kicking us around."
Scott grinned. "That's something, for certain. Serves those bastards right." Way to go, Morgan. Wish I coulda been there with you.
Tommy crossed back to Scott, ice and snow crunching beneath his boots. He squatted and laid a long-fingered hand on Scott's right forearm. "Look, when they come tomorrow, we'll hold them off. The Hong Kong Cavaliers," Tommy snorted, "or The Cavaliers combined with the remnants of the Blue Blazers and the Radar Blazers will fight a delaying action. That should give the Bravos and the Light Cav enough time to get the Doc to safety through the northern passes. Once you get into the jungles beyond these mountains, the Snakes'll never find you." Tommy winked at him. "The Prince will send more help."
Scott shook his head. "Face it, Tommy, Team Banzai wasour help. You managed to save a company of mine, and two very disorganized battalions of Light Cav, but it cost you two-thirds of your regiment." Scott swallowed hard. "It's time we pay you back."
Scott held up his left hand to forestall any argument from the slender mercenary. He raked his fingers through his windblown tangle of black hair, then glanced down. "I made some quick trades with the Light Cav. I've got the Bravos arranged into an Omega company ..."
Tommy shook his head. "You can't..."
Scott nodded solemnly. "We've already loaded inferno rockets into all of our SRM pods . . ."
"No!" Tommy shook his head vehemently. "Inferno rockets are too volatile. They're just jellied incendiaries. If one of your 'Mechs gets hit..." Tommy opened his hands in a mock explosion.
Scott smiled weakly. "Tommy, we're dead anyway. The infernos will cook a few Snakes in their 'Mechs, and will scare lots more. It'll give you more time."
"I don't like it," Tommy said.
"Not up to you to like it. Weapons are at full, and so now it'll be up to The Cavaliers to get the Doctor clear. I'd appreciate it if you'd take the wounded Bravos." Scott glanced at his own broken ankle. "The seriously injured Bravos, that is."
Tommy nodded, patting Scott on the shoulder. "Consider it done, Major Bradley."
Another man, dark-haired and ruddy-faced, charged onto the ledge from below. He brandished a portable radio transceiver. "Tommy! Tommy! You gotta hear this!"
Tommy stood. "What is it, Reno?"
The excited man smiled and flicked on the radio. "Listen."
Static crackled from the speaker, then cleared, but the transmission was so faint that all three men huddled around the radio. The first voice they heard, coming in somewhat stronger than the others, Scott identified as coming from the Team Banzai member named Rawhide. "Banzai Base to incoming DropShips, please repeat identification."
The reply, coming in a woman's voice and featuring slightly rolled r's, ignored the question. "We show considerable activity near the Rockspire Mountains. Please confirm, Banzai Base."
Rawhide replied quickly. "Roger that. Two, repeat, two Kurita Regiments. Fifth Sword of Light and 36th Dieron Regulars approximately ten klicks south on the plains. Please identify yourself."
The female voice again let the question of her identity slide by. "Copy. Fifth Sword of Light and 36th Dieron Regulars. Anything else?" A strange squealing echoed beneath her words, but Reno's adjustment of the radio did nothing to clear it up.
The three men on the mountain ledge laughed as Rawhide's surprise crackled through the speaker. "Isn't that enough?"
"For a while, luv," she laughed in return. "For a while it might be."
Scott glanced up over Tommy's shoulder and saw a dozen glowing white sparks against the blue sky. Too bright to be stars at this time of day.Suddenly, it dawned on him what they were. Stabbing his crutch at them, he shouted, "Tommy, look! DropShips coming in!"
Tommy snatched the radio from Reno's mittened hands. Hitting the transmit switch, he broke into the conversation. "Rawhide, we see DropShips incoming!" He glanced over at Scott and got a nod to confirm his unvoiced question. "They're coming this way."
Rawhide's voice took on a strong edge. "Unknown forces, please identify. Are you the incoming DropShips?"