Brand nodded and ticked the 'Mechs off on his fingers as he spoke. "You, Meg, Eddie, and I make one lance. Major Ward's Wolverineand Fitzhugh's Catapultare there. McWilliams and Lasker have been assigned to Panthersto even that lance out."
Dan wrinkled his nose with distaste and turned away. He grasped the thick branch of a gapel tree, then turned to face his people again. "That only gives us eight 'Mechs for the drop. I don't like it."
Meg looked at Austin, concern on her face. "Jackson and Jones have two more Panthersoperational. Bethany Connor and Cat are being imprinted on them. That gives us ten."
Dan looked up. "What about the Victor!"
Austin shook his head. "It's still on the Mac,and still imprinted for Colonel Kell. No one else here could pilot it anyway."
Dan nodded. "Well, get back to your 'Mechs. We'll be leaving soon, and Patrick wants us ready to drop when we arrive."
Meg frowned. "Hot zone?"
Dan chuckled. "This isKurita space."
Meg nodded. "Silly question."
"Yeah," said Brand. "Well, I have one that's not so silly." His eyes narrowed. "How can we charge a JumpShip so quickly, especially when the solar collector hasn't even been deployed?"
Dan's head came up, and anger frosted his words. "Don't think about it, Lieutenant. You're not being paid to think. When you get to be a Captain, then you can think. Dismissed."
As his two subordinates left, Dan ground his teeth. "And when they pay you to think," he murmured to himself, "that's when you wish you didn't have to . . ."
52
Solaris VII (The Game World)
Rahneshire, Lyran Commonwealth
26 May 3027
Fuh Teng and his mechanic, Tung Yuan, glanced nervously at the black shadows surrounding the cone of light where they stood. "Justin, do you really think it's wise for us to be in Montenegro at this time of night?" He glanced out into the darkness and watched for roving bands of hoodlums.
The MechWarrior chuckled softly. He turned his back to the warehouse wall and shook his head. "We don't have to worry. Gray Noton himself arranged the security for this place."
Yuan grunted and shoved his fists deeper into the pockets of his quilted black jacket. "In that case, his death does nothing to inspire confidence."
Justin laughed, then turned his attention back to the door beneath the sole streetlight. He pulled a key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock. As it clicked, he opened the door and ushered his two companions into the warehouse's dark interior. As Justin shut the door behind them, the utter blackness seemed to swallow them whole.
Justin flicked on the fluorescent lights, which sputtered to life. As their pale pink glow allowed Yuan a first glimpse, what he saw took his breath away. The Tech staggered forward as though drunk or in shock.
Fuh Teng wheeled and stared at Justin through slitted eyes. "You don't mean to use this, do you?"
Justin nodded, a vulpine grin tightening his lips. "I want you and Yuan to go over it. No modifications. Just check all the circuits and make sure it's fully operational for tonight."
Yuan turned. "What about the insignia?"
Justin smiled. "I can think of no better. Let it stand."
* * *
Justin squinted against the glare of the searing studio lights. A buxom blonde leaned over him, gracing him with an intimate view of her ample assets while she patted makeup onto his face. "There, Mr. Xiang," she cooed. "That'll make you look as calm and fearless as I know you are."
God, she's wearing enough perfume to be a Class 3 atrocity under the Ares Convention.Justin forced himself to smile at her. "Perhaps I should just find a power connection for my cooling vest."
She stared cow-eyed at him for a second, then laughed shrilly. "Oh, yeah, the lights are hot, aren't they?" She slowly straightened up. "Well, if you need anything, just let me know." She tucked a slip of paper down the front of his cooling vest. "Any time."
Justin nodded as she walked away, then glanced over at Philip Capet. He looks suitably nervous. Good.Justin shook his head slowly.
Capet's head came up. "What are you looking at, Xiang?”
“A man who is about to die."
Capet parried the attack with a laugh. "I don't see any mirrors, Xiang."
Justin smiled easily. "I hope you open a radio channel to me during the fight. I want to know what you see when your life flashes before your eyes. I want to hear you whimper."
Capet shot to his feet, but the arrival of the program's host forestalled any battle. The heavy-set man looked like a bumblebee in his yellow blazer and black pants. "Whoa, boys, we don't want a fight before the cameras start running." He rested his hands on Capet's shoulders and slowly pressed the champion down into his seat.
The host seated himself between the two combatants, clipped a microphone to his lapel, and smiled directly into the holovision camera as the red light above its muzzle flashed to life. "Welcome, sports fans, to 'Pregame Palaver,' the program that brings you the combatants before the battle. I'm your host, Kevin Johnson, and we have quite a show for you tonight."
The host turned toward Philip Capet. "On my left is Philip Capet, the current reigning champion in the Open Class of warfare here on Solaris. You've all seen him fight many times before.
He's got a double-dozen kills to his credit in the arenas, and even more in his military career. Glad to have you here, Philip.”
“My pleasure, Kevin."
Johnson turned toward Justin. "And here we have Justin Xiang. He's a newcomer, but his rise has been impressive, to say the least. He's fought seven times and killed every opponent he's faced. Those of you keeping track know that those have all been kills of warriors from the Federated Suns. None have escaped him or his Centurion,the Yen-lo-wang.Welcome aboard, Justin."
"Zao,Kevin. I am honored."
Kevin smiled again at the camera. "We'll continue with these two warriors in a minute, but first a word from your LCAF recruiter."
The red light on the camera faded, and Johnson's smile went with it. "O.K., you two. Let's make this entertaining. Got it?" He glanced down at his clipboard. "When we come back, we do a taped piece on Capet's background, and then one on you, Justin. After a brief piece about the Kurita arena, I'll go into the live interview. Watch the language."
He turned toward Justin. "As our final question, I'll ask what you're fighting in tonight."
Justin shook his head. "My contract does not require that I reveal the identity of my machine."
Johnson shrugged, seeing the show's producer wave at him. "On the mark, Kevin," the man said. "Bring the Ishiyama construct up."
Johnson levered himself out of his seat and crossed to where a black "X" had been painted on the floor. A camera closed in on him and a holographic image of the Kurita arena, Ishiyama—or Stone Mountain—materialized in front of Johnson. "Built twenty years ago, this arena in the center of the Kobe District of Solaris City is one of the most popular with fight fans. Its 'Mech-scale tunnels twist and turn through multiple levels. Though all the maps for the arena were destroyed after its construction, there are rumors of hidden passages and movable walls that literally alter the battlefield as war rages within the mountain."
Johnson turned to Capet. "Philip, you've fought inside Ishiyama before."
Capet nodded. "That's right, Kevin. Eight months back, I faced two Stingersand a Pantherin the labyrinth. It was a long battle, but they made a classic mistake. Instead of working together, they split up. I picked them off one at a time."