"Is it, Xiang?" Capet's laughter filled Justin's cockpit. "Here's your surprise, Capellan. How do you like these tactics?"
Infrared images filled Justin's sight. The computer painted the silhouette of a 'Mech to his right, and another one to his left. Justin glanced left and saw a handless, humanoid Firestarteremerging from the tunnel mouth. An UrbanMechshuffled into view on his right. That's why the director's light was flashing. They wanted to warn me . . .
A high, keening wail echoed within his neurohelmet as the computer warned that each foe had a weapons lock on the Legend-killer.
"One more thing, Justin." Capet's voice was triumphant. "It seems I willcommand the regiment the Prince has offered for your head. It's time for you to die."
53
A2341CA
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
26 May 3027
Patrick Kell's voice filled the steel womb of Daniel Allard's Valkyrie."So that's it, ladies and gentlemen. Because we have Kurita forces incoming, we're going to jump out of here ahead of them. Let me stress that the Kearny-Fuchida drive is fully charged, through we did not deploy the solar collector. Everything reports out at 100 percent effectiveness."
Just from the sound of his voice, I know he's not lying. If there were trouble, he'd tell us,Dan thought. Though all the equipment had checked out, none of the instruments could measure damage on the "molecular" level. Dan knew that Patrick believed every confident word he spoke, and that heartened him. From your lips to God's ears, Patrick.
The Kell Hound CO continued his video briefing. "Once we enter the Styx system, the Nuadawill be launched. We expect our reception to be friendly and well-negotiated by radio before the Nuadaarrives. But we'll have an ace already played if things get nasty. The Nuadawill drop its two reinforced lances over a small docking bay on the dark side of the mining planetoid. It's on the side opposite the main bay entrance, but has a direct link to the docking bay.
"Our aero wing will deploy to cover the Cm. Captain Vander-meer will keep us at his pirate point, and we'll begin to use our engines to recharge, much as we have done here. If things look friendly, we'll move the Cuin and draw power directly from the planetoid."
Kell's image furrowed its brows. "I'll not kid you. All of this is dangerous. It could be the end of the Kell Hounds if we have a drive failure here or if someone anticipates our arrival at Styx." Patrick shook his head. "We'll make it, though, and that'll irritate Takashi Kurita more than bad sushi. There's no one in the Inner Sphere who deserves it more. Luck to you all."
And to you, Patrick. I wouldn't wait behind for all the beer in the Free Worlds League.Dan flicked switches on his command console. The on-board computer executed thousands of checks in mere seconds, then reported the results on the screen previously occupied by Patrick Kell. Dan opened a commlink. "Alpha Leader is at 100 percent," he said.
"Likewise, Captain," reported Austin Brand. "Alpha Three is green all the way." Following Meg's report, Eddie Baker added. "Alpha Four is aces up." Dan smiled to himself. "How about you, Cat?”
“All systems go." The man who normally piloted a Marauderquickly amended his statement. "The machine is ready, but I think my left hand will wither for lack of something to do."
"Yeah." Dan switched his radio over to the command frequency. "Salome, Alpha Lance is operational."
"Good. Beta is all green as well. You're the Tactical Commander on this drop, Dan. My Wolverineand Mike's Catapultare here for support because you've got the superior grasp of light 'Mech tactics. Let us know where you need us."
"Roger." Dan glanced at the timer ticking down on his console. He switched his radio over to the battle frequency for the whole assault team. "Ten seconds and counting. Brace, because we'll be in-system and away almost immediately."
Following his own advice, Dan slipped his hands from the joysticks down to the arms of the command chair itself as the clock revealed three seconds to jump. He felt the familiar, yet unsettling thrum of the K-F drive engaging. What was that? Is something wrong?Questions ripped through his brain as he sought to match his current feelings to the faded memories of all the other jumps he'd made.
Lights flared and twisted as always, but instead of the mosaic of soft, melting pastels, hard, crystalline daggers of intense color stabbed at his eyes. Glittering fragments of reality raked across his consciousness like nettles. They caught and tore, then shattered as he cried out in pain. Spinning away, they winked out of existence like fairy dust.
Dan snapped his eyes open. He felt the lurch and vibration as the Nuadadisengaged itself from the Cucamulus.He floated up in his seat for a half-second, then his restraining straps caught him. From beneath his feet, he felt a strong tremor, then the gravity induced by the Nuada'sengine thrust smashed him back down into his command chair.
Almost instantly, Patrick Kell's voice filled his neurohelmet. "Bad news, Dan. We've got two Kurita JumpShips at the zenith point. One DropShip is on a return vector for the JumpShips, but a scan reports traces of an ion trail heading in toward the planetoid. The ship must be on the sunside."
"Roger, Patrick. Thanks." Dan opened the battle frequency. "Heads up, campers. We'll have playmates when we hit solid ground." Dan reached out and flipped a switch. "Captain Helmer? Dan Allard here. What do you show on the planetoid?"
Captain Thomas Helmer of the Nuada Argetlananswered carefully. Dan could almost see the man studying a sensor screen as he selected his words for accuracy. When he spoke, however, there was not a trace of fear or anxiety in the Captain's voice. "The surface is full of pitted valleys and canyons. It's got enough metal in it to make the magscanners useless. Because we're coming in on the dark side, IR should work, but I'm getting nothing at this range."
"I understand. Have you located our target?"
"Affirmative. It actually has an active homing beacon. Wait! What's this?" Dan heard Helmer snap an order at someone on the bridge. "Patching visual through to you, Dan."
Dan watched as computer-generated topography filled an auxiliary monitor. A grid of green lines formed themselves into rolling hills and jagged mountains. In the distance, winking occasionally from between two particularly sharp mountains, Dan spotted the yellow rectangle designating their drop target. The computer added five yellow asterisks bouncing along on a direct course for the bay.
"What are those?"
Helmer coughed lightly. "I'm not sure. Mass marks them as thirty-five tons, give or take. Probably Panthers.”
“They haven't seen us, have they?"
Helmer laughed. "No, and it wouldn't make any difference if they had."
Dan frowned. "I don't understand."
"No Comsats, Dan. They're on the dark side. Until they get into the mining facilities, they can't communicate with the Drop-Ship or anyone else."
Dan nodded. "I see. We better beat them in. Would you mind goosing this baby?"