Dan eased himself up to the door and peered through the narrow window. He ducked back quickly, then looked again. "Someone's in there. Over by my Val."
Cat sneaked a glance through the window and nodded confirmation. With his left hand, he pointed to Dan and made a circling motion to the left. Then he pointed to himself and made a circle right. Dan nodded, placed his hand on the doorknob, and slowly twisted it. He nodded at Cat again and shoved the door open.
Cat burst through the door and cut right. Dan cleared the door and cut left. Running blindly, he ducked between two crates of parts. Popping up suddenly, he leaned across the larger crate to steady his aim. His finger tightened on the trigger.
Abruptly, Dan eased off the trigger and pointed the gun toward the ceiling. "My God, Jonesy, what are you doing here?" Swallowing hard, Dan stared at the wide-eyed man standing before him.
Sergeant Jones looked even more surprised than he had earlier in the evening. "I'm sorry, sir, but I couldn't sleep. I came down here .. . Well, I came . . ." He looked sheepishly up at the 'Mechs towering silently above him.
Cat stepped from between the legs of his Marauder. "You came to say goodbye." Though he kept his face expressionless, Cat's words carried an air of respect.
Jones nodded slowly. "Hell, you work on these things so long, you begin to think of them as friends." He smiled and pointed at the Jenner that Eddie Baker piloted. "I used to call that one ' Widowmaker' because of the pilots it lost. Then you gave Eddie, a man I had trained, a shot in it. Now I call it the 'Invincible.' "
The two MechWarriors exchanged glances and smiled. "Hell, Jones, you almost said goodbye big-time." He pointed to Cat and himself. "We're out to check the north sensor. Wet leaves again."
Jones shook his head. "Can't be. I put a screen sphere around it to hold the leaves out."
Dan turned to Cat, but had no chance to speak. Outside the
'Mech bay, a fiery red explosion wreathed the jump troops barracks in flame and crushed it like a Poulsbo python. The shock-wave blasted through the same 'Mech bay windows that the explosion had filled with white light only seconds before. Glass fragments whirled through the bay and exploded into sparkling dust against 'Mech legs. The ground heaved and hurled the three men to the ferrocrete floor.
A roar thundered through the 'Mech bay and all but swallowed the secondary explosion that blasted a door from its hinges and sent it cartwheeling into the hangar. Quick figures dressed in black poured through the smoke and fire around the doorway and slipped into the jagged, wavering shadows rippling throughout the bay.
Cat rolled to his feet first. He triggered a long, murderous burst at the Draconians. One ninja, bracketed in the doorway, virtually exploded and flew back outside. Two others, both to the right of the door, smashed back into the bay wall. They slid to the ground like ragdolls, their blood streaking the wall as they dropped.
Jones drew a pistol, but Dan shook his head and gave him a shove toward the rear entrance. "Go to Comcen. Tell Ward." As the Sergeant crawled back along the route Dan had used to enter the 'Mech bay, Dan crawled toward his Valkyrie. As one ninja came around between the legs of Kell's Thunderbolt, he raised his submachine gun to shoot Cat. Before he could do that, Dan's shotgun blast cut him in two.
Bullets whistled and whined as they ricocheted from the 'Mechs. One slug smashed Dan in the stomach and spun him over to the left. He doubled over, then crashed back breathless into a wooden crate. Somehow he managed to get one knee under him before he hit the floor. Biting back a cry of pain, he saw his assailant run from cover. One-handed, Dan poked his shotgun at the man and triggered two clouds of pellets. The first hit the man in the right shoulder and knocked him sideways. The second cut his legs from beneath him and toppled him to the floor.
Dan probed the impact site with his left hand, and pried the shell loose from his body armor. He crossed quickly back to where Cat was snapping off several shots at the advancing ninjas. "Must be a dozen of them, and every one of them with those damned circle-vision visors."
Cat coughed. "Eleven." Dan heard the gun bark once. A strangled, wet cry answered it, and the clatter of a weapon punctuated the sound. "You hit?"
"Bruised." Dan patted the vest. "Stopped the bullet, but I still feel like I've been kicked by a Rifleman."
Cat snorted, then pointed back toward Ward's Wolverine. "See there, past the Panthers we've rebuilt?"
"Yeah. Looks like they're grouping up." Dan frowned. "Suicide charge?"
Cat shrugged. "No figuring Kuritans. Damn! Here they come."
Dodging from shadow to shadow, the Kurita infantry came in with swords drawn. Dan stood up, thrust his shotgun into a ninja's chest, and jerked the trigger. The gun belched a cloud of hot metal and fire that tossed the black-garbed figure backward in a tangle of limbs.
The Kurita commando behind him closed too quickly for Dan to shift his aim. Whipping his shotgun around, the MechWarrior caught the ninja's sword slash on the gun's barrel. The sword bit deeply into the metal and Dan twisted the gun around. In one smooth motion, he tore the blade from the commando's grip and drove the gun's pistol grip into the ninja's circlevision visor. The device shattered, driving shards of metal and glass into the ninja's face. Screaming in his own tongue, the Kuritan clawed at his eyes and reeled away in agony.
Cat stood and fired his autorifle from the hip. He opened a ragged line of holes in one man's chest, knocking him back against Dan's Valkyrie. A second ninja wheeled back into the shadows as the bullets ripped him open from hip to shoulder, while a third pitched over backward as the shells blew through his throat and chest.
Off to the right, Dan saw motion at the doorway as someone shouted, "Kell Hounds, down!" He threw his useless shotgun at the nearest ninjas, then tackled Cat and brought them both down to the ferrocrete floor.
Another explosion ripped through the 'Mech bay as brevet Captain Nicholas Jones triggered the inferno launcher balanced on his shoulder. The twin missiles shot from the launcher on a tongue of scarlet flame, then burst into a searing golden firecloud. Flaming tendrils shot down, covered the open 'Mech bay floor with a carpet of fire, and filled the air with thick black smoke.
Though never intended to be anything but an anti-'Mech weapon, the inferno rockets devastated the remaining Kurita warriors. The explosion killed half the ninjas outright, and ignited most others. Screaming, the burning warriors ran blindly through the bay, careening off 'Mechs and walls until they collapsed and died.
Dan scrambled up and looked out over the burning crates that had sheltered him and Cat from the inferno's fury. The 'Mechs, illuminated by just enough flickering light to make their heads visible, seemed to look down and mock the fire. Those machines have nothing to fear from the flames, hut the men who pilot them do. Dan looked over at his Valkyrie and shuddered. Caught by an inferno, I'd punch out.
Both men retreated to the doorway. Beyond Jones, Salome Ward came running down the hallway. "It's bad, gentlemen. They had assassins targeted for us. We got them all, but one hit Patrick." She pressed her right hand just below her left breast. "Lung is collapsed."
"Assassins?" Dan turned to Cat. "What the hell is going on here?"
Cat narrowed his dark eyes to shards of obsidian. "Payback. The Dragon never forgets."
Dan's jaw dropped open. "That means . . ."
Salome nodded. "The Panthers are three klicks out and coming strong."
47
Styx
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
25 May 3027
Melissa adjusted the headset and brought the microphone into line with her mouth. She reached out over the computer-generated holograph of the mining facility and touched a glowing spot burning in the northern end of the third level above the command center. "Report, Able three."
"The seismic records remain constant. Looks like a drilling decoy. We'll report if anything changes. Able three out."
Melissa nodded, then glanced over at Clovis. "Able three is negative." When she turne
d to look up at Andrew, some strands of her golden hair drifted through the laser construct of the base. "What do you think?"
Andrew stared down at the holographic model. The command core rose from top to bottom of the planetoid like an axle. Each of the six levels had corridors radiating out like the spokes of a wheel from the command core. Each of the spokes dissolved into a tangle of smaller tunnels drawn in green to indicate that they were approximations of what existed.
Andrew pointed down at the green mazes. "These maps make no sense."
Clovis turned to him and growled. "They make sense if you're tunneling after a vein of ore."
"Well, they look like Medusa-hair to me." Andrew sighed heavily. "We know where they're likely to have the decoys, which means they'll probably try two or three sites, like the private docking bay down on Echo level." He frowned. " 'Mechs would assault the large docking bay and come right in here. I don't know where else to suggest."
Melissa slammed her fist into the table. "Dammit, Andrew! Don't give me that. You may not be a jump infantry commander, but you went to a damned military academy. I know what they teach our men in the Commonwealth. Now you use what you learned at the Warriors Hall!"
Andrew whirled, his face a study in anger and frustration. "That's the problem, your Highness. I'm a MechWarrior. I think like a MechWarrior. Give me a 'Mech even just a Locust, and I'll deal with those ISF troops myself. Arrggghhh ..." Andrew's hands bunched into fists and he looked around for something to punch.
Melissa shivered. "You're a warrior, with or without a machine, Andrew. Be true to yourself, and share your thoughts with me."
Andrew closed his eyes and forcefully uncurled his fists. "I apologize. You're right." He even made himself chuckle. "I guess the difference between MechWarriors and Jumpboys is just in the size of their toys."
He returned to the diagram and pointed out two other spots. "There—by the galley on Baker, and here on this level, just down the hall at the recreation center."
Melissa turned and watched as Clovis used his computers to search out information to confirm or deny Andrew's guesses. Looking back at Captain von Breunig and Erik Mahler standing by the door, she wondered, How can these people trust me so much? Those two appointed themselves my bodyguards as soon as I told them my real name.
When she'd confessed her real identity, Melissa had expected the hijackers to immediately radio the incoming ISF ship so that they could barter her life for theirs. She'd realized, as she listened to the discussion, that she would die, no matter what. Her sacrifice, she hoped, would save the others.
Danica Holstein had immediately begged Melissa's forgiveness for what they'd almost done. "We are Heimdall, your Highness. We could never harm you."
With that admission, and the plethora of data Clovis coaxed from his computer, Danica, Andrew, Captain von Breunig, and Melissa had managed to puzzle out the reasoning behind the kidnapping. "Having you vanish from a Davion world would sour the relations between our realms," Andrew concluded. "I can only assume that there are factions on both sides who would gain from such a turn of events."
Danica Holstein agreed with a curt nod. "Lestrade," she whispered in a razor-sharp voice. "Aldo Lestrade."
Those present when Melissa had made herself known were sworn to secrecy. The rest of the passengers received vague rumors of an important Steiner envoy among their number. The Heimdall members living in the planetoid were informed of the truth, however, which served to heighten their fervor to fight. Clovis said it best: "Your father was Heimdall. So are you."
A voice buzzing in Melissa's ear shocked her out of remembrances. "Yes, Echo One," she said. "Go ahead."
"Sensors indicate a slow leak of atmosphere from the small bay. Shall we seal the tunnel?"
Melissa looked at the diagram glowing in front of her. "Don't blow it. Back to Echo Two's checkpoint and get that trap ready. After it fires, blow the explosives and seal the tunnel."
"Roger. Echo One out."
Melissa smiled at the dwarf. "Evacuate all non-essential personnel into the Silver Eagle." He nodded and complied with the order. Everyone present knew that the Kurita forces would not willingly harm either a JumpShip or Dropship, and so they moved all bystanders into them. Machines are more valuable than people, Melissa realized with a start. It makes no sense.
Just then, Andrew and Mahler began to strap a pistol belt around her waist. Melissa straightened up and protested. "No, I won't have it."
"Ja, you will." Mahler tugged the belt snug around her waist. "All commanders must wear a weapon. It is the only way."
Andrew picked up an autorifle and a satchel full of clips. "See you later, your Highness."
Melissa froze him with an icy gray stare. "Where are you going?"
Andrew shrugged. "You're going to be moving your fire teams into position soon. You said it yourself—I'm a warrior, and I've got to be true to myself. I thought I'd go down and add my firepower to one of the teams. Team Tiger is light one gun."
"You can't leave me here ..." Dammit, Andrew, I need you. She looked at him and swallowed hard. "I need your thinking."
Andrew shook his head and ran a hand through his short brown hair. "Between you, Clovis, and Erik, everything will be under control."
Melissa shook her head. How can you leave me in charge? I've never commanded anything before. You make me responsible for over 750 people on a rock in the middle of hostile space. She narrowed her eyes and pleaded silently with the MechWarrior.
Andrew set down his rifle and crossed back to her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently but firmly. "Remember what we spoke about that night of the reception on Tharkad? This is what responsibility feels like. These people believe in you, and they're willing to die for you. You can't question why they're doing that. You just have to accept their sacrifice."
Andrew pointed to the holograph. "Use what you know so that their sacrifice can mean something. If you do nothing, if you fall apart, they'll die for nothing." He tipped her face up with his right hand. "I know you can do it. Just the organization of the defense was brilliant."
Melissa shook her head. "But that was like an intellectual exercise. It was just a game."
Andrew nodded. "As this will be—between you and the ISF commander leading the troops."
Melissa grabbed the lapels of Andrew's dark jacket. "But people will die . .."
Andrew disengaged himself and picked up the rifle again. "Just make sure it's more of them than it is of us." Andrew smiled and nodded at Mahler and von Breunig. "They won't let anything happen to you. You're a leader, Melissa Arthur Steiner. Now it's time for you to be true to yourself as well. Luck ..." He slipped through the doorway and vanished.
Clovis turned as Melissa flicked tears from her face with a shake of her head. "Highness," he said, "we have contact on Echo level."
Melissa pressed her hand to the earphone. "Yes, Echo Two."
"I see them through the viewport. Do I hit them now!"
"Yes, Echo Two." Melissa looked at the holograph and saw some computer-generated figures marching up the corridor toward Echo Two's position. "Fire now!"
Melissa heard the stuttering of an autorifle, but it ceased before she could find out what had happened. A new voice cut in urgently. "Baker Four to Delta Base."
Melissa glanced at the galley two levels over her head. "Go, Baker Four."
"Big breech. They're pouring through. Baker One reports ISF in as well. We need support."
"Roger." Melissa reached down to the radio control on her belt and switched over to a reserve channel. "Teams Panther and Leopard, assist Baker Four." She watched as Clovis moved the icons representating the Panther and Leopard fire teams into position on the holographic projection.
She switched the radio back to the tactical frequency. "Echo Two, report."
Dead air greeted her. Melissa frowned and fiddled with her radio. "Echo One, report." Nothing.
"Echo One, detonate the tunnel!" Clovis whirled. "Radios are dead
."
The bright lights marking Echo One and Two winked out. Melissa stared at the holograph and watched Clovis's little Kurita dragon icons inch their way along the tunnel. Above them, as the dragon icons rolled over their position, Baker Four and One died. The panther and leopard images opposed the dragons. Each image flickered, and then some vanished as Clovis's program correlated data and estimated casualties.
Pain shot through Melissa's heart.
They're dying. They're dying because of me.
"Baker Two here, we're being . . ."
The static that swallowed Baker Two's report shocked Melissa from the vortex of guilt and fear threatening to drown her reason. She shook her head to clear it, then swallowed hard.
She glanced at the icons representing her reserve fire teams. "Jaguar, Puma, Bobcat to Baker level." They winked from existence on the sidelines and then reappeared to oppose the advancing dragons. Below them, more dragons pressed forward on Echo level.
Melissa bit her lower lip and studied her last unit icon. "Tiger, report to Echo level." You better live, Andrew Redburn. Suddenly, she flashed on a memory of Misha Auburn dancing with Andrew back in Tharkad and the image struck her like a blow. My God, what have I done ?
Redburn dove to the side and sprayed slugs down the narrow corridor. He saw one ISF ninja spin as the bullets picked him up and smashed him further down the hallway. Two other ISF agents returned Andrew's fire. Their bullets blew great chunks of plaster and stone from the walls, but failed to hit the rolling MechWarrior.
Two other Tigers followed Andrew down the corridor. One managed to duck into the natural alcove that shielded him. The other stopped dead as though he'd run full-tilt into a brick wall. A shot snapped the trooper's head back. Before he could fall, a burst of bullets ripped through his chest and whirled him back out of sight.
The other man in the alcove clawed at Andrew's shoulder. As the MechWarrior turned, warm blood spurted at him from the huge gash in the man's neck. He looked at Andrew with unadulterated terror in his eyes. When the man opened his mouth to scream, only blood gushed out.
Warrior: En Garde Page 30
