Текст книги "Coupe"

Katrina swallowed hard before she began. "I extend to you, Captain Allard, the greetings of the Lyran Commonwealth. With all the gratitude I owe you for past services, I consider this message loathsome and unfortunately cruel. It's a duty I would avoid, but it's best you hear it from me than from anyone else."

She drew in a deep breath. "On the 20th of June, three assassins disguised as members of the AFFS gained access to the Triad. Their papers were in order, and two of them were escorted to my private office. I was chatting amicably with them while we waited for Simon Johnson, head of the LIC and your father's counterpart in my realm. The third individual paid a social call on my daughter."

Dan felt as though his mind and body went numb except for one thought, Jeana, my Jeana, is Melissa's double. That assassin went to see Jeana!

The Archon nodded, as though anticipating Dan's thoughts even as she had recorded the message. "Jeana recognized the assassin as an impostor and dealt with him. She appropriated his pistol, and by traversing a series of hidden passageways in the Triad, entered my office through a secret door. She confronted the other two assassins and killed them before they could do me any harm."

The Archon paused for a moment, biting back tears. "She died without pain, but not before knowing she had succeeded in eliminating the threat to my life. For obvious reasons of security, her mortal remains were cremated. Her ashes have been interred in the Steiner crypt beneath the Triad. If you wish, the crypt will be open to you at any time."

Katrina Steiner looked out of the monitor and gave Dan a brave smile. "In the time she was here, Jeana and I became close friends. She spoke of you often and was overjoyed that her gift had indeed kept you safe. Never doubt that she loved you, Captain Allard, and know that she lives on in our hearts."

The screen faded to black and left Dan with a hollow pit in his chest. His throat ached because of the emotions beginning to choke him, yet his feelings did not flood over him. They were there, waiting, just waiting, like thunderstorms on the horizon.

Dan looked over at Morgan. "I felt I'd known her all my life, yet I knew nothing about her. That she was"—he hesitated at the word—" 'safe' on Tharkad made things easier for me. I knew we'd be apart and that I'd not hear from her, so I just walled off the worry and pain of separation." He shrugged helplessly. "Now I want to feel something, but it's empty ... just a void in me."

He pulled the green silken sash from his head and picked at the knot. "I never even knew her full name."

Morgan hesitated, then began to speak quietly. "Her name was Jeana Clay. She was born in 3002 on Poulsbo, where she lived with her father and mother. Her father died in 3005 in a raid on the Bangor military facility there, enabling Katrina Steiner, Arthur Luvon, and me to escape from the Loki agents Alessandro had sent to kill us."

Stunned, Dan looked up at his commanding officer. "How do you ... ? Why didn't you tell me before?" Anger flashed through him, but ultimately proved as elusive as the other emotions he'd sought to capture. A realization formed itself into one word and he repeated that word in a hushed voice. "Heimdall."

Morgan nodded. "Jeana and her family were Heimdall. I don't believe Clay was her original surname—I only knew her father as Grison. After our return to the Lyran Commonwealth, Arthur Luvon created and had placed into the LIC computers a whole series of new identities for the families and survivors of the Poulsbo Heimdall cell that helped us. In fact, it was through a scholarship created by Arthur that Jeana went to Sanglamore."

Dan sank back into the chair and pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes. "All this sleight of hand. Melissa's double is a woman who belongs to an opposition movement. Duke Aldo Lestrade's son belongs to the same group, and his father does the best he can to cause a whole Heimdall settlement on New Freedom to be destroyed. Secret files in the LIC computer." His hands fell away from his eyes. "Simon Johnson would go mad if he knew about this."

Morgan shook his head slowly. "I don't think so." He stood and came around to sit on the front of his desk. "Simon Johnson is the one who put Jeana's new identity in the computer, and her connection with Heimdall is the reason Johnson selected her to be Melissa's double."

In shock, Dan's jaw dropped. "Simon Johnson, the head of the LIC, is a member of Heimdall?'

Morgan smiled wryly. "Recall that we are a group formed from the loyalopposition. We knew it would be useful for us to have people inside the Lyran Intelligence Corps. Especially after Poulsbo, I must that admit Arthur, Patrick, and I used to laugh about Alessandro's elevation of Simon. The idea of Alessandro relying on a member of Heimdall to help identify Heimdall cells and destroy them is gratifying."

Dan nodded weakly. "You didn't tell me about Jeana because I'm not Heimdall?" Unspoken was Dan's sense of betrayal, but it was expressed in his tone.

Morgan reached out and squeezed Dan's forearm. "You may never have been formally inducted into Heimdall, but you might as well be a member. Regardless, I would have told you that much about her if I'd known it earlier. I didn't get that information until this message came in. Clovis appended the data."

Dan gave Morgan a feeble smile. "Thank you." He looked down at the knotted sash and used it to focus himself. His voice flattened out, barely more than a hoarse whisper. "Do they know who did it... who sent the assassins?"

Morgan drew in a deep breath, then narrowed his dark eyes. "He left no real evidence, and the man Jeana disabled gave up no information. But Katrina knows the plot originated in the Isle of Skye."

Dan unknotted the sash, then wound the loose ends around each fist until he held the cloth taut between them. "Aldo Lestrade." Staring at the garrote, Dan's blue eyes narrowed with rage. "He's been calling a lot of tunes lately. Once we've dealt with the Genyosah,it'll be time for him to pay the piper."

The fury in Morgan's voice matched the anger in Dan's. "I agree."

Dan looked up. "I'll send a message to Clovis. I won't deny him the right to kill the Duke, but I want Clovis to know he'll not travel alone to do the job."

Morgan frowned. "Remember that I said the holovid had gone to Lyons first? Clovis saw it, then forwarded it to us." Morgan sighed deeply. "I already sent such a message via ComStar to Clovis, but only got a reply from Karla Bremen. Clovis is gone."

Godspeed, my friend.Dan let the garrote sag, then snapped it taut again with a crack. Iplace my vengeance in your hands.

39

Kathil

Capellan March, Federated Suns

7 September 3029

The spherical UnionClass DropShip, boldly emblazoned with the death's-head insignia of the Liao Death Commandos, flew through the night sky with the ease of a condor gliding lazily on updrafts. As it slowed to hover, the guns retracted against the terrible heat of atmospheric entry popped out and searched the ground for any sign of the enemy. When the gunners found no targets, the ship began a slow descent.

Only five hundred meters above ground, the DropShip shuddered and drifted sideways. Blue sparks arced from laser mounts and PPCs. One LRM pod sprayed its missiles into the air while another belched a great gout of black smoke. Thelanding jets all pulsed out flame in a haphazard pattern, tipping the vessel right and then left. The ship righted itself and began to fight against Kathil's gravity, then the ion jets quit altogether.

The DropShip hit the ground hard, sending tremors out that Andrew Redburn could feel even in the cockpit of his Marauder.The ship's starboard hull crumpled, then an explosion in an LRM magazine blasted the ship up again. The volcanic detonations continued, spinning and bouncing the DropShip across the dark landing zone. The ship convulsed violently as it landed heavily on the port side, then a blazing red-yellow fireball blew the DropShip apart.

Pieces of hull split open like a naranjirind. Full-sized Battle-Mechs rocked out of the broken sphere, spinning wildly out of control. Andrew watched a Marauderwhose arms flailed madly against the air as its cylindrical body wheeled over and over again. The heavy 'Mech landed on its feet, but the birdlike legs snapped at the knee. The Marauder'sbody broke in half. The cockpit section tumbled across the landscape while the fusion engine in the torso exploded, spitting armor and parts carelessly over the landscape.

Hand trembling, Andrew punched up the communications link that ran through a landline to Morgan's headquarters. "Delta Lion to Pride. The microwaves got the first DropShip, but I make two more coming in low and hot." Andrew hesitated, searching for words to describe the carnage in the landing zone. "Pride, no one survived the landing. That shouldn't have happened to anyone."

Morgan's voice, tinged with regret, filled Andrew's neuro-helmet. "I agree. If I thought they would have given our new people some quarter, I might have had a choice. Alpha reports having a battalion of Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers heading for the Median Power Company plant. Two Unionslanding in your area means we'll have two companies of death Commandos targeting Yare."

Andrew nodded mechanically. "Roger, Pride. We'll stop what we can." Andrew severed the landline with his commander. I hope like hell we don't let much through. Those retired MechWarriors you've gathered as your staff might be all heart, Morgan, but their fighting days were over a long time ago. As good as you are, Morgan Hasek-Davion, you cannot defend that generating station by yourself.

Andrew punched up a magnified view of the two UnionClass DropShips that had settled onto the landing zone. The flames from the burning first ship flickered yellow highlights onto the other two ships' pitted armor. They also provided enough light to reveal the 'Mechs marching from the DropShips' bellies onto the hellground, filling Andrew's guts with ice.

The Death Commandos moved from their DropShips swiftly. Instead of lining up in formation, as some units might have, they spread out to make themselves harder to hit. None of them stopped to check on the condition of their fallen comrades, but instead they used debris and broken 'Mechs as cover. Their scouts moved forward with great caution, searching out any sign of enemy 'Mechs.

Andrew swallowed hard. These guys really are as hot as their reputation. I guess we’ll just have to be better than ours.Seeing a lance of scout 'Mechs move beyond the blast perimeter and onto the edge of the landing zone, he punched a button on his command console. His auxiliary monitor redrew the map of the landing zone, adding two rings of polka-dots around the whole area. The scout lance's 'Mechs appeared as golden triangles in the dark area between the two rings.

The lead scout 'Mech, a Raven,crossed into the outer circle of dots. Its right foot came down on the ground, then shot back up as the mine beneath it erupted. An argent column of flame ripped the Raven'sfoot clean off, spinning the leggy 'Mech back into the safe zone. It squatted, listing badly to the right, but the pilot did not leave his 'Mech. The other scouts, after a short discussion with their commander, carefully began to retrace their steps back toward the DropShips.

Ten meters into the interior ring, the lead Ostscouthit another mine. The explosion blasted up into both of the humanoid 'Mech's legs. Armor sowed shrapnel all over the landing zone as the discharge blew the 'Mech's legs out from under it. The Ostscoutlanded on its back, then rolled, detonating another mine beneath its chest. The second mine ripped a huge hole in the 'Mech's left flank.

Andrew smiled as the 'Mech's faceplate exploded outward. The pilot flew from the damaged 'Mech in his command couch. The gyrostabilizers trimmed the seat's flight, and the pilot directed it back toward the DropShips. First blood goes to the Lions. It'll take them forever to get out of this trap, and we can pick their sappers off with LRM fire from Demon and Archer lances.

Almost before Andrew had a chance to grin in smug satisfaction, the Death Commandos sprang into action, showing just how nasty a force they really were. Both DropShips launched flight after flight of LRMs in a computer-projected pattern that ate its way out through both rings. The missiles and their explosions detonated all the mines for a hundred meters. Fiery blasts shot flares into the darkness and sprayed dirt everywhere. Thunder rattled the Marauderas light flashed from each succeeding barrage.

Andrew punched a button on his command console. "Heads up, Demon and Archer lances. They'll be coming through fast. Fire and move, fire and move. Fox and Cat, be ready to move. The rest of you, stay alert. Our first position won't hold long." Andrew glanced down at the list of 'Mechs and styles his computer could identify. Hell, we'll be lucky if it just slows them down.

Through the smoke and dust poured the Death Commandos. The wounded Ravenand the other two 'Mechs in its lance came into view first. They moved into the line of buildings in the factory town surrounding Yare Industries as the first volley of LRM from Archer and Demon lances hit them.

So many missiles blasted into the Raventhat it appeared to have burst into flames spontaneously. The Waspon its right reeled under the pummeling barrage. The humanoid 'Mech, stripped naked of armor by missiles, collapsed into a two-story-tall adobe building. The lance's remaining 'Mech, a Stinger,started to jet off, but a flight of missiles peppered its head, crushing the cockpit completely. The 'Mech crashed to the ground, blocking one of the town's narrow streets with its corpse.

Suddenly a half-dozen Death Commando 'Mechs ignited their jump jets. The humanoid BattleMechs arced overhead, converging on the locations from which the LRMs had been fired. The scarlet shafts of medium-laser fire wove a deadly energy network above the low hill toward which the Liao 'Mechs flew. The beams sliced armor from the incoming 'Mechs, but stopped none of their advances.

As the Liao 'Mechs sank from sight, Andrew growled out orders through the radio. "Cat lance, hit them now. Archer, Demon, get out of there if you can and fall back to second position. Bulls-eye and Fox, it's our turn. Craon, hold your company until we need it." Andrew glanced at the tactical display that showed some of his Valkyriesjetting away from the assault site, then he turned his attention back to the action in his area.

The main body of the Death Commandos moved through the town along the main road toward Yare. They proceeded as swiftly as possible, clearly uneasy about the shadowed side-streets and darkened buildings surrounding them. Two Centurionsscouted ahead, while two Vindicatorssecured the streets intersecting their line of march.

They never imagined anything by way of an organized defense, and no militia in its right mind would fight them in a city—placing its own homes at risk.As the last 'Mech, a Rifleman,shuffled past the tin-walled warehouse where Andrew's Marauderwas hidden, Andrew severed the connection with the visual sensor pod mounted on the building's roof. He leaned his heavy 'Mech against the warehouse's corrugated wall, and amid a shriek of metal and loud snap of wooden wall studs, he burst into the street behind the Rifleman.

Andrew shoved both of the Marauder'sarms at the Rifleman,stabbing his thumbs down on the firing buttons. Twin bolts of azure lightning knifed through the enemy 'Mech's back, slashing armor into ribbons. Half-melted armor chunks fell to the ground while blue fire raced through the Rifleman'sbody. Autocannon armor started a staccato series of explosions that blew both arms off the 'Mech, sending them spinning off through buildings and houses. Freed of the electromagnetic fields holding it captive, the miniature sun powering the fusion reactor melted its way free of the engine housing and rose like ball lightning up through the 'Mech's head. It exploded free of the war machine, lighting the landscape like noon, then imploded, bringing darkness again.

Missiles and lasers, PPCs and autocannons all fired from within the darkness toward the street and back out again as Bullseye and Fox lances joined Redburn in his ambush. From his left, Andrew saw SRMs fly in from the squat, birdlike Jennersthat made up Bullseye lance, and they were followed up by skilled laser fire from the same 'Mechs. From the right flank, two Jennersin Fox lance struck. The two Panthersthat completed that Lance's complement of 'Mechs unleashed PPC blasts at the most heavily armored of the Liao invaders, then launched volleys of SRMs to capitalize on the damage their particle beams had done.

Fire turned the night into day as chaos reigned. Andrew traded PPC blasts with a Vindicator.The Liao attack buckled armor plates on his Marauder'sright arm, but failed to damage the PPC mechanism. Almost as though the PPC pod had merely absorbed the energy, it spat the cerulean bolt back at the Vindicator,tearing a hideous scar through the armor over the other 'Mech's heart. The medium laser on the same arm flayed armor from the Liao 'Mech's left flank, while the other arm's medium laser sliced through the armor on the Vindicator'sright hip.

The Vindicator'spilot shifted his 'Mech back toward the left to protect his wounded flank. The PPC mounted as its right forearm vomited out another jagged lightning spear, again blasting armor from the Marauder'sright arm. Andrew watched as the computer redrew the 'Mech's right arm with only a minimal amount of armor. Next hit wastes that arm. Best use it now!

Andrew dropped the gold targeting crosshairs onto the image of his enemy and again fired with one PPC and two medium lasers to avoid a heat buildup. As though the 'Mech realized the threat the Vindicatorrepresented, the Maraudervented its fury on the Vindicator'sright arm. The blue PPC beam arced its way up and down the limb, blasting layer after layer of glowing ferro-ceramic armor off into the night. The right-arm laser sliced along the Liao PPCs barrel, splitting the last of the armor, then skewering a heat sink in a spray of green-yellow coolant. The left-arm laser pulsed into the Vindicator'sshoulder. Corded myomer muscle snapped, torn fibers flailing wildly, as the beam slashed through it. The laser tracked up into the joint, melting titanium bones. With a thundercrack and flash of bloody light, the Vindicator'sright arm cartwheeled off into the darkness.

The Vindicator'sneutralization gave Andrew a moment to survey the battlefield. At least two of Fox lance's Jennerswere down and burning, but a Liao Scorpionhad lost its two front legs. On the left, Andrew couldn't see Bullseye lance, but the continued fire coming from and heading back to their position told him that at least some of them still lived. Up on the hill, where Cat lance would have jumped the Liao 'Mechs sent to root out the Valkyrie,Andrew saw two burning buildings and the stuttered flash of autocannons, but could not make order out of the chaos up there.

Despite the damage taken in the ambush, the Death Commandos continued to push their way up the hill toward Yare Industries. They've stripped off their medium 'Mechs to tie us up while most of their heavies head toward the target. I don't want to, but I'll have to commit my reserves.Andrew punched a button on his command console. "Now, Craon, bring Gorgon, Hellion, and Jackal lances in. We have to stop them now!"

Craon led the three Kathil Militia lances out from hiding to cut across the Liao line of march. Gorgon lance, composed of four UrbanMechs,fired their autocannons in unison on the Ostsolleading the Liao advance. Armor exploded from the 'Mech's torso, blasted away by twin sprays of depleted uranium projectiles. One hail of shells ripped off the Ostsol'sright arm, half twisting the heavy 'Mech around with the ferocity of the attack. The fourth 'Mech's fire blasted armor from the Ostsol'sleft leg, yet the Ostsoldid not go down, despite heavy damage.

The Ostsolconcentrated its return fire on one of the UrbanMechs.Two large laser beams shot from the Ostsol'schest, impaling the smaller 'Mech. Armor evaporated under the laser's hellish caress, then internal structures, half-melted, exploded outward in a gout of black smoke. The smaller 'Mech staggered back, sagging into a building, more of its guts running in molten streams down its torso than actually remained in place.

Hellion lance, a matched quartet of Javelins,launched flights of SRMs at the Liao Marauderfollowing the Ostsol.Half the missiles corkscrewing in on their target blossomed into fiery clouds of napalm that covered and clung to the Marauderlike a burning skin. The other missiles exploded after impact, ripping away chunks of the 'Mech's armored flesh, but they neither hurt nor slowed the birdlike 'Mech.

Andrew's mouth went dry. They mixed their SRM loads . . . they're carrying inferno rockets! Are they crazy? That's like strapping plastique to yourself.Even as the thought came to him, Andrew found himself grimly pleased with their action. At least they hit the right 'Mech—damnedMarauders run hot anyway. . .

The Marauderpilot had already picked out his targets and fired both PPCs before he knew what he was facing. The blue fire from his right claw hit one Jennerdead-center, stripping the armor from its chest as though it were a paper label. That Jennerstaggered, but remained upright. The other PPC bolt flayed the armor from its target's left flank, spinning the second Jenneraway and into a small house.

The heat buildup from firing both PPCs and the inferno rockets ignited the autocannon ammo stored in the Marauder. Aseries of explosions bulged the armor on the 'Mech's left side, then burst outward in a jet of silver flame. The blast spun the Marauderaround, tossing it through a building like a ragdoll. Its flaming corpse ignited yet another fire in Yare's corporate township.

Jackal lance moved its four Commandosup to block the roadway, but the next Liao 'Mech scornfully ignored their threat. Heedless of the damage done as their SRM volleys peppered its hide, the hunched-over Cataphractraced forward, battering the two central Commandosaside and bursting free of the Davion lines. Behind it followed an entire heavy lance.

Craon stepped his Hunchbackinto the breach and let fly with the shoulder-mounted autocannon. The heavy gun vomited a stream of metal that blasted armor from the Cataphract'sleft leg, but failed to cripple or stop the 'Mech's headlong charge. Swatting the Hunchbackaside, the Cataphractcontinued its race to the top of the hill. The blow crushed the Hunchback'scockpit.