Highlander Gambit

by Blaine Lee Pardoe

  "We have spare 'Mechs, but with the current situation, I doubt you'd want to become a target in one. If things get hot, the odds are pretty high that you'd be the center of this fire storm."

  The thought didn't bother Loren. He'd already faced death so many times in his career. He was more concerned that if he wasn't present matters might actually defuse. It was critical to the success of his mission that the Davions go head to head with the Northwind Highlanders.

  "I only hope that I'm there to see the Highlanders in action," he said softly. "It would be fitting that a Jaffray once again fight alongside Highlander kin." Loren wondered what part of his words were truth and what part was simply the script he needed to fulfill his mission.

  Reports had filtered in all morning of the Consul Guards gathering on the tarmac of Kohler Spaceport at the far edge of Tara. Davion protesters had also been lining the public entrances to The Fort. Loren had not gone out to see them, but Fuller had told him that some of the protesters were carrying signs calling for his arrest. Colonel MacLeod was burned in effigy, and Loren had heard two other MechWarriors describe the burning of the Highlander and the Capellan banners.

  The mission briefing was equally tense. Loren overheard several officers discussing whether he should simply be turned over. Among them were people who had voted against the Chancellor's initiative. Colonel MacLeod knew the sentiments of his troops, but told them they must overcome their desire for vengeance. They had a mission to accomplish and orders to fulfill.

  The mission itself was not easy. With the Consul Guards in positions all around the spaceport, the Highlanders would try to surround them, interposing themselves between the Davions and the city, cutting off any escape route except through the wild country to the south. MacLeod would deliver his formal reply to Consul Burns' demand in person, then would order the Consul Guards out of Tara. And he was willing to back it up with force.

  The rules of engagement were clear as well. If the Highlanders were fired upon they were to return fire, but only against enemy forces engaged in hostile actions. MacLeod had made it clear that restraint was to be the governing force. The last thing anyone wanted, especially the Highlander CO, was for someone to trigger an all out-war between the Northwind Highlanders and the Federated Commonwealth. Everyone knew that this was as hot as it could get without a formal declaration of war.

  Loren watched the faces of the officers and again felt a twinge of guilt. The Highlanders were some of the best warriors in the Inner Sphere, and, by his mere presence, he was drawing them into a conflict with the Federated Commonwealth. If his mission was successful, many, if not all, of these people were going to die. And he, Loren Jaffray, would be responsible. He was no longer sure how he felt about that.

  Chastity Mulvaney had just come into the briefing room. Like the rest she had donned a cooling vest and was carrying her neurohelmet under one arm. She looked tense, the muscles of her face held tight and her teeth gritted together. She walked over to several of the other command company members and handed them orders. Then she strode up to Loren.

  "Major Jaffray, I assume, by the way you're dressed, that you've not gotten your orders?"

  Loren shook his head. "No, Major."

  "Very well, then. Colonel MacLeod has asked that you take the jumpseat of his Huron Warrior. He wanted you assigned your own 'Mech, but I convinced him that considering your status as a Capellan, it would be best if you only rode shotgun." Some 'Mechs, like this variant of the Huron Warrior, had cramped little fold-down seats behind the pilot's command couch. They did not have controls themselves and were risky at best for the rider. At least I'll be there, Loren told himself.

  "You opposed my being assigned a 'Mech?" Loren didn't try to disguise his irritation.

  Mulvaney smiled slightiy, seeing that she had managed to get to him. "Yes, Major, you have your assignment. If you don't want it you can remain here at The Fort with the other noncombatants."

  This is not the time to fight her. Best to cut my losses. "Yes, sir," he replied. In this situation Mulvaney was his superior.

  Mulvaney raised her voice so that all the lance commanders could hear her. "Listen up, you dunderheads! This is the final intel briefing before we set out. Our scouts report civilian mobs at the west gate so we'll be using the north gate for departure.

  "Maps should already be unloaded in your battle computers. Review them. The Consul Guards are deployed along the south edge of the spaceport near the open fields. Our reports show they have a full lance of light hovercraft that we didn't even know existed. Command Company is going to take the center, with First Strike Company on the right flank with Second Assault Company'on the left. Behind us is Second Battalion's First Gurkhas. The First Border Armored Cavalry is on the right flank and will form a rear guard if we need it. Any questions?"

  Captain Sullivan of the First Strike Company was the only one who spoke up. "What's the temperature of our Davion hosts, Major?"

  "Tensions are high, people," Mulvaney said. "Repeat, tensions are high. Local news has been playing it up that we're renegades and they're doing a pretty good job of keeping the Davion natives whipped up. We're not looking for a fight, but we may get one. Keep your heads clear, check your connects, and don't think that just because this is Northwind there isn't any danger. Colonel MacLeod's calling the shots and we do it his way and by the numbers."

  She looked around and made sure that her message had sunk in. "All right then, Highlanders. Mount 'em!" Mulvaney led the way, With the rest filing out behind her and to their respective 'Mechs.

  It took a full twenty minutes for Loren to reach MacLeod's Huron Warrior, but a lot less to climb up the footholds to the cockpit, where the Colonel was already in the pilot's seat. He motioned Jaffray to the tiny rear jumpseat, which was a tight fit, high and behind the pilot. Loren found it equipped with a duplicate secondary monitor and controls and communications gear. The stiffness of the light cooling vest made the tiny seat feel even more uncomfortable.

  "Run through the pre-operations checklist, laddie," the Colonel said as he began to power up the 'Mech. The BattleMech's computer systems ran through their start-up boot procedure and Loren downloaded the map data. Then he pulled up the battle computer and did a full review of the terrain. The streets leading to Kohler Spaceport were narrow urban passes except for the main thoroughfare that the Regimental Command Company was going to take. The 'Mech's DI computer showed that two of the armor plates on the rear leg had bad sensor-feed connections and would eventually need replacing, but there was nothing that would impede combat.

  "I appreciate the opportunity to ride as your second, sir," Loren said as he finished his on-screen checklist.

  "It's good having you close by, Loren. The chance to pilot with a Jaffray in combat is something that these old bones have been looking forward to for decades. I like to think that you'll bring us the same luck as your grandsires."

  MacLeod carefully piloted the Huron Warrior out of the bay and formed ranks with the rest of Regimental Command Company. They were not deploying to the spaceport as in a normal military operation. Instead they would march in a two-abreast column formation to meet with the Consul Guards. According to MacLeod there was no point in provoking matters further. He would do enough of that himself with his reply.

  The formation passed out of the north gate of The Fort, which was more tunnel than gate. Wide enough for two 'Mechs to pass side by side, the tunnel ran through the massive granite wall and out to the street. MacLeod's regimental march to the spaceport was quiet, with none of the usual chatter Loren would have expected corning over the commline. They're as professional and disciplined as any Death Commando unit. They're facing death but no one expresses fear.

  The spaceport was essentially a large open tarmac that stretched out for two kilometers square. The ferrocrete was designed to withstand the heat and weight of the massive DropShips that landed there. Liquid hydrogen bunkers were kept kilometers away, their fuel piped in deep under the tarmac. W
hat made most spaceports like Kohler functional were the supporting buildings and transport systems. Less then ten years old, this was one of the most modern that Loren had seen.

  What made it different was the formation of BattleMechs and tanks out in the middle of the tarmac. A full company of twelve 'Mechs stood in single file squarely facing the Highlander Command Company. Surrounding them were two full companies' worth of armored vehicles and supporting infantry. The Northwind Consul Guards stood silently as MacLeod in the Huron Warrior led his forces into position.

  As the Command Company stopped a mere two hundred meters from the Consul Guards, Mulvaney opened up a communications channel and ordered the lances to deploy in a square against the Davions. Loren did several quick short-range sensor sweeps from his jumpseat's system and confirmed that the other Highlander flanking forces were moving into position at the far edges of the spaceport, should they be needed. The time had come, high noon. The time of Colonel MacLeod's response to Burns' ultimatum.

  "Colonel William MacLeod of the Northwind Highlanders, by decree of Northwind Planetary Consul Drake Burns of the Federated Commonwealth, I demand that you turn over the spy and saboteur Major Loren Jaffray." The message was beamed on a wide band so that all the Highlanders and Consul Guards could hear.

  MacLeod waited several seconds to respond. "Colonel Catelli, I implore you to withdraw your Guards and stand down."

  "I'm afraid that you do not give the orders here, Colonel. I say again, turn over Major Jaffray." The smugness in Catelli's voice was obvious.

  "Why isn't the Consul here himself?" MacLeod returned. "Doesn't he have the stomach to face the Northwind Highlanders like a man? Or is it you who is behind all this, Catelli?"

  "I speak for the Consul in this matter, Colonel. Turn over Jaffray or face the consequences."

  "I refuse."

  "Colonel MacLeod, I have uncovered evidence implicating your guest in several suspicious activities, the least of which is the attempt on your life. The Capellan Confederation has recently begun a major invasion of the Federated Commonwealth. They are enemies of the state. His travel papers and passport have been rescinded and he is to be turned over to my custody."

  "Do you think that I'm an idiot, Catelli?" fired back MacLeod. "Turning him over to you would be his death. And as for enemies, the Capellan Confederation has not attacked Northwind or any Highlander units. Just because they are your enemies does not mean they are ours. Your battle with them is an internal affair."

  "He is a spy."

  "He is our honored guest."

  "Colonel, we intend to transport Loren Jaffray to New Avalon."

  "He will remain with my regiment and if you attempt to take him you will be met by force."

  "Your answer stands then, Colonel MacLeod?"

  "Yes, it does."

  Loren felt perspiration form on his body despite the efforts of his lightweight cooling vest. The Huron Warrior's cockpit was no hotter than before, but the tension level was definitely higher. He expected Catelli to order a full attack next, but MacLeod did not seem either tense or fearful. His fingers simply drummed the environmental control access panel as if he were bored.

  "I had hoped it would not come to this, Colonel," said Catelli in a low, menacing tone. "By order of Field Marshal Morgan Hasek-Davion, I hereby relieve you of command of the Northwind Highlanders and the troops known as MacLeod's Regiment therein. The duty falls to your second in command, Major Chastity Mulvaney, who is ordered to report to me."

  Suddenly Loren wondered if it would be MacLeod who ordered an attack rather than Catelli. What shocked Loren and probably most of the Davion Consul Guards was MacLeod's response. Over the wide communications band came the sound of laughter. A roaring guffaw that was impossible for a man to fake. It went on for nearly half a minute before MacLeod issued his more formal reply.

  "Colonel Catelli, who are you to say who can and cannot serve as the commanding officer of the Northwind Highlanders, let alone my regiment?"

  "I have been granted the authority by the Federated Suns Command. As such I ask you to step aside, Mister MacLeod." His use of a civilian tide was not lost on Loren or the other members of the Command Company.

  MacLeod's voice changed to a much sterner and formal tone. "I do not acknowledge your right or the right of the Federated Commonwealth to interfere in the internal affairs of the Northwind Highlanders. You have no authority over me or my troops."

  "Very well, Colonel Mulvaney, as the acting CO of this regiment, I order you to turn over the spy Loren Jaffray."

  Loren looked at his and MacLeod's short-range scanner and listened intensely to his own headset communicator for Mulvaney's response. How she would respond was a total mystery. Loren saw a flicker on the Warrior's communications console, an incoming transmission of only a few characters. It was not jamming, but a deliberate message of some sort. Before he could react, Mulvaney began her reply.

  "Colonel Catelli, I—" Her response was cut off by the squawk of warning sirens and short-range sensors in the cockpits of every 'Mech on the tarmac. Incoming fire! The sensors told Loren that the 'Mech was under fire, but he did not feel the usual impact of shells or lasers. Rather than question the sensors, he braced himself for a wave of impacts from the assault. Glancing across the field in that first instant of the battle he saw nothing. No missile air-trails, no glare of lasers. No lightning bursts of PPC fire. No smoke. Nothing! Yet the Huron Warrior shook several times as if it were taking hits, and from what he saw on the secondary display, the 'Mech seemed to be taking damage.

  Jaffray told himself that it had to be a mistake, but MacLeod reacted immediately to the sensor data. Loren, not wired to the BattleMech's DI system with a neurohelmet, was reacting more as a man not tainted by the false images. The Huron Warrior's sensors told him the Highlanders were under attack, but his own eyes told him differently.

  Loren twisted in his seat as MacLeod drove the Huron Warrior hard to the right and broke from the ranks. The sensors were screaming that they were being fired upon. All around him he saw both Highlanders and Consul Guards breaking formation to turn and open fire.

  Loren punched up the regimental command company's communications frequency and monitored the activity. He felt frustrated, like a man blindfolded. Without a 'Mech of his own to pilot, he was limited to being a spectator—a spectator who saw that the scene unfolding was a false one. As the lead 'Mech, MacLeod had just taken the Huron Warrior a step forward when his sensors registered an autocannon hit to the right torso. There was no explosion, only a slight buffeting of the 'Mech as it stepped. From his high jumpseat Loren saw the cockpit's primary screen. Though he had not seen anything incoming, it showed a pair of short-range missiles streaking past them to hit a Highlander Warhammer that was falling back in the ranks behind him. What struck him was that the sensors did not paint the missiles as targets.

  No explosions, no signs of damage, yet their computer indicated they were under attack. Where was the impact of those first shots? Why hadn't he seen any missiles or laser fire? The Huron Warrior's computer told one story, but Loren's own senses told him another. He stared at the secondary screen and suddenly remembered the comm signal just prior to the attack. Some sort of coded command had been transmitted to the Huron Warrior and to all the other 'Mechs, Davion and Highlanders alike. It was a short code and looked like it read directly into the DI computer. Why would somebody transmit to every 'Mech in the line unless ...

  With his right hand Loren reached over and hit the command channel control on the communications control board. "Colonel, we have a problem here."

  "This isn't the time for chatter, Major," MacLeod said, leveling the massive Gauss rifle for a shot across the shimmering black tarmac of the spaceport "Colonel, this isn't right. A transmission was sent to all our 'Mechs. This whole attack is some sort of program running in our battle computers."

  MacLeod targeted the rifle and fired. The Huron Warrior recoiled as the shot went off. "What are you saying, la
d?"

  "We have to stop this, Colonel. It's a mistake. I don't know how, but we have to stop this now!"

  16

  Kohler Spaceport Tara, Northwind

  Draconis Combine, Federated Commonwealth

  23 September 3057

  "It's a trick!" Loren shouted. "We've got to stop!"

  The Huron Warrior strained and almost slipped on the ferrocrete tarmac as MacLeod ceased cutting to the right flank and fell back slightly. A barrage of autocannon shells, real shells this time, followed the 'Mech's movements, only grazing the left arm of the Warrior before losing their weapons lock. The impact tugged at the arm, sending a spray of destroyed armor plating to the rear.

  "Are you sure?" MacLeod asked.

  "It's a trick, Colonel," Loren repeated desperately, knowing that the false attacks were now being replaced by real ammunition, lasers, missiles, and cannon fire. Both sides were being sucked into fighting a battle they thought the other had started.

  MacLeod pulled up the same data Loren had on the cockpit's secondary monitor. He reviewed the strange signal and the flight telemetry data from the missiles and weapons being fired.

  "Damn Catelli!" MacLeod hissed, then opened a communications channel to all forces fighting across the open spaceport. "This is Colonel MacLeod, command code Alpha Tango Five. All Highlanders cease fire. Repeat, hold your fire. Pull back one hundred meters and regroup."

  "Colonel, sir?" came the familiar voice of Chastity Mulvaney.

  "Major, this is no game. All troops disengage. This whole bloody attack is some sort of Davion trick. I'll not be a party to starting a war. Check your communications system and you'll see that something is running in your 'Mech's computers that makes you think we're under attack."

  There was as long pause. Mulvaney's response was short and direct. "Damn!"

  A Highlander Crab only a few meters away kept firing as it moved slowly backward. MacLeod sidestepped the Huron Warrior and to Loren's surprise struck the cockpit of the Crab with the Warrior's damaged left arm. The impact did no damage but reinforced his orders. The Crab ceased its attack and fell back. Despite the sudden change of tactics, the Consul Guards continued to press their assault.