11
Alpha Regiment MHQ, Fasolht, Quentin IV
Draconis March, Federated Suns
21 June 3023
Minobu was almost alone in the Alpha MHQ. Major Yukinov and his immediate subcommanders had left to oversee an assault on a Davion strong point at the Independence Weaponry manufacturing complex, leaving a skeleton staff to monitor operations. While Hawken dozed in the far corner, Minobu switched on the holotable. Accessing the Stratops file, he replayed, at compressed speed, the maneuvering since the action in Fire Rift four days ago.
Wolf's improvisation to the basic plan had worked perfectly. Davion intelligence missed the concentration of Dragoon forces, and so their forces were taken in by the deception. The Federated Suns commander stripped Fasolht and Carson of their mobile forces to catch a nonexistent Dragoon force in the flank. Once the Federated forces were committed, Wolf led the main BattleMech striking force of Delta Regiment into Davion's own flank. The 'Mech battles were brutal, especially when the fighting spilled over onto the Plains of Glass. More 'Mechs were lost there to heat problems than to enemy action.
At the same time, the Dragoon aerospace forces began to reassert themselves, scuttling any Davion hopes of shuttling troops by DropShip from the southern capital at Barnaby or from the lesser continent of Aja Minor. The defenders were tenacious. Even though Dragoons held the prime orbital lanes, Davion atmospheric fighters still contested Dragoon control of atmospheric space over the continent.
Once the bulk of the Davion forces was engaged, Major Yukinov led his team into the foothills of the Ridge Mountains to attack Fasolht. Progress was steady, and Dragoon gains came at little cost. Because the Davion commanders had been caught off guard, their opposition was spotty. As the Dragoons neared Fasolht, resistance stiffened, but not enough to worry Yukinov. The fighter pilots of the Fasolht Defense Team had proven too aggressive and competent for his tastes, however. He canceled the combat drop by Gamma Regiment, deeming the advantage of extra BattleMechs not worth the risk of losing the expensive machines. Instead, Yukinov pushed forward with the troops on hand. Perhaps Major Yukinov was regretting that decision, for the assault had bogged down yesterday.
The sudden commotion of Yukinov and his officers returning wrenched Minobu from his studies. The Major secreted himself in the secure comm booth while his subordinates busied themselves with their duties. One wiped Minobu's map clear to ready the holotank for new data. He made no apology.
Wakened by the disturbance, Hawken watched carefully. The rapid activity indicated that something was up, and Minobu recognized the smile twitching at the Sworder's mouth as a sign of anticipation. Hawken no doubt hoped that the Dragoons had found a way to embarrass themselves.
Yukinov left the booth and joined his staff at the holotable. “I've informed the Colonel. He can't break any of Delta free and wants Gamma down on the double.”
“Unity! There goes the capture bonus, split all ways to Sunday.” That from Major Patrick Chan, a strong note of protest in his voice. “Kelly, we'll take that dump in a few more days. Why can't Gamma just go on cooling their butts in orbit and leave the loot for us?”
“That's what we all hoped for, Pat, but things have gotten a little sticky. The Davion intel has finally twigged to what they're facing. A 'Mech force of the White Witches has punched through Dumont's screen around Port Gailfry and is headed to reinforce the Federated troops on the Plains of Glass. It could shape up into an expensive slugfest. The Colonel wants us to finish up business here before that happens.”
With a smug expression, Hawken rose and sauntered over to the table. “You paid soldiers have no heart for battle,” he said.
As the Sworder had so obviously planned, all eyes turned to him. Minobu watched Yukinov's face darken with anger as he spoke. He had risen easily to Hawken's bait. “I suppose you could do better?” he snapped.
“Of course.” Hawken shrugged.
A Captain whispered in Yukinov's ear. He nodded. “What if I give you a chance to eat your words?”
The Kuritan smiled in reply. It was a shark's grin, reinforced by his cold, hard eyes.
“That's the bottleneck,” Yukinov said, pointing into the holotank. “The Independence Weaponry complex. Think you can take it by tonight?”
Hawken looked over the holomap. “Those are your best estimates of the enemy strength?” When Yukinov nodded, Hawken barked a short laugh. “We will dine in their commissary.”
The Sworder started for the door of the MHQ, then stopped to face Minobu before he had taken three steps. “Tetsuhara, I don't suppose you'd want to come along and see some combat.”
“My orders do not include participation in assaults.”
“Thought so.” Hawken turned and headed for the door again. He didn't bother to check the reaction to his parting shot. “Well, we wouldn't want you damaging borrowed property anyway.”
Minobu's cheeks burned.
Yukinov put a hand on his shoulder, no doubt intending a show of comradely concern. Minobu simply stared down at it. The Major quickly removed his hand.
“Uh, Colonel, I plan to watch this show from my 'Mech. I'd appreciate it if you would join me in yours.”
Minobu stared at the man. He must be obtuse to have missed Hawken's reference to borrowed property. Something in Minobu's face made the Major flinch. Minobu Tetsuhara could not join him in his'Mech. He owned no 'Mech.
“I will join you in the Vindicator”Minobu said as he turned and headed for the door.
* * *
“Tol' ya, didn't I, Jenkins? Them wolf bastards was gonna come dis way. Dinna tell ya?”
“Yeah, yeah, you told me, Gramps.” Too many times, old man. Why did you have to be right?
“They're too damn sneaky. Fought 'em up in Marik space back when they's working for old Max Liao. Their tricks are too fancy by half. Whupped my company damn good.”
“You told me that story, too, Gramps.” Jenkins was tired of the old man. He was tired of the losing fights against Wolf's Dragoons. He was just plain tired. He rolled over, hoping the old man would decide he was trying to catch some sleep while there was a lull. It didn't work. Gramps went right on. He told the whole story of his ill-starred merc company, right on through the slaughter of his family by the Kuritas on Bergman's Planet up to his joining the Snake Stompers for revenge.
The story was similar to Jenkins's. Hellfire, it almost was his own. Different details, different locations, but the same loss, the same need for revenge. Every ‘MechWarrior in the Stompers hated the Snakes with good reason. All you had to do to join the Stompers was to swear “Death to Kurita!” That's what he wanted, to kill Snakes. Not mercs, least of all the thrice-damned Wolf's Dragoons. With them, it would be all blood and no payback. His ghosts would get no release. If only the raiders had been Kurita Regulars.
The Dragoons had brought blood with them, all right. They had suckered the Davion command right and proper. Now things were really in the pot. After the Fire Rift disaster, Stomper command had called for what was left of the detachment at Fasolht to join the rest of the battalion at Carson. They were to go with the mobile forces to hit the Dragoon flank. The lance had refused, the Lieutenant insisting that it was a diversion and that the real attack was coming down on Fasolht. Command wouldn't believe him, not even when Captain Edison, now commander of the mercs and the survivors of the Batan Defense Team who had fallen back on
Fasolht, had agreed with Stomper Lance Leader. Their arguments were for naught.
The Hard Riders, the other 'Mech unit defending the city, marched their machines out of Steel Valley, along with the armor and APCs of the Fasolht Defense Team. The Davion planetary ruler had horned in with threats to haul the mercs who refused to abandon the city before the ComStar Contract Review Board. Edison had told him to go to hell. Eloquent lady.