Текст книги "Coupe"

Capellan March, Federated Suns

14 April 3029

Captain Andrew Redburn stared at the auxiliary monitor in his Centurion."Say that again, Captain? What the hell are you telling me?"

The Captain of the OverlordClass DropShip gritted his teeth against the anger in Redburn's voice. "I said we've been had, Redburn. They had a goddamned Leopardhiding in the Overlord'sshadow. It's broken off and is heading back toward your base."

Andrew slammed his fist against the arm of his command couch. Andrew, you’re a flame-brained idiot! Sure, you learned how to anticipate the landing zone for incoming enemies, and you got your people here, but who taught you that little gem? Justin Xiang Allard!Andrew stiffened and clenched his fists so tight they went white. Dammit! Justin must have planned this little raid, and he knew I'd take the bait like a raw recruit. Maybe he's even on theLeopard.

Redburn looked at his primary monitor and saw that all of Delta Company, save himself and three others, had already gotten off the Defiant."Listen up, Delta Company. We've got a Leopardheading back toward our base to rip things up while we're here. Bisot, de Ridefort, St. Armand, and I haven't unloaded yet, so we'll head back. Drew, since we're pulling two of your Valkyries,fold your lance in with Archie's fireteam."

"Roger, Cap."

Redburn shifted radio frequencies to the command frequency he shared with his second in command, Leftenant Robert Craon. "Robert, this is your play. You've got twenty-three 'Mechs in perfect working order. Their Overlordcan carry thirty-six 'Mechs, though it's probably light. Hit and run until you can size them up, then hurt them. If they decide to break off, let them run. But guard any salvage."

Craon's voice came back strong and nearly devoid of nervousness. "Copy, Captain. Be careful."

Andrew nodded slowly. "Words to live by." Punching a button, Andrew brought the Defiant'sCaptain back on screen. "Captain, how about boosting us back to the western perimeter of our base, low arc, high speed."

The older man smiled. "Course plotted and locked in. We'll be there in just under fifteen minutes."

Andrew shuddered as he felt the vibrations of engine ignition thrum through the ship. Sweat trickled down his spine. They've got to be going for the lab, but how could they know about it? The garrison officer I took over from said the true identity of the lab had been passed only from commanding officer to commanding officer, Couldn't have the garrison too big because Bethel is a nothing world. All they do is raise some grain on the plains and there's that infant wine industry here in the mountains.

Andrew keyed the radio connection to the three other pilots in his hastily formed lance. "Listen up, campers. This could be nasty. A Leopardpeeled out of the Overlord'ssensor shadow and has headed off toward our base." Andrew drew in a breath. Better made this sound good."TerraDyne put out some press releases a couple of months ago talking about a breakthrough in miniaturization. Had an alert about it because they thought some local Maskirovka might take an interest. It looks like someone on Sian bought the story bigtime."

Odo St. Armand's voice crackled into Andrew's neurohelmet. "What are we looking at, Cap?"

Andrew punched some commands into his computer and patched his primary monitor into the ship's computer. The computer filled his display with a representation of the Leopard's,deceleration, handling, and energy output levels. "According to the computer, it looks like it was running with 'Mech weight, something slightly heavier than we are. Given Liao preferences, maybe a Centurion,a Vindicator,and a couple of that new thing they have . .. the Raven!"

Andrew typed in another request for information, and the computer gave him a tactical readout on the Raven.Birdlike, the 'Mech sported two medium lasers on its right wing, a six-shot SRM pod on the right side of its body, and an Electronic Counter-Measures package on its nose. Below that, the computer confirmed that his estimate of enemy strength would fit within the parameters suggested by the Leopard'sflight data.

Andrew smiled. "The computer says there's an 80 percent chance my configuration is correct. The Ravenhas tissue paper for armor, but the ECM pods make them tough to hit. Watch for them to ambush us. The Vindicator'sthe only one of their 'Mechs that can jump. Its PPC will make short work of your Jenner,St. Armand, so steer clear unless you can get inside."

"Roger, Cap." St. Armand laughed aloud. "I'll take out the Raven,guys, if you want the Vindicator.I figure the Captain will want to go mano-a-mano with the other Centurion."

Redburn chuckled lightly. "That sounds fine, St. Armand. We'll see if their new Centurionswork any better than the one I'm sitting in." Suddenly, a memory clawed its way up from where he consigned nightmares and unpleasant thoughts. Two years before, on a ship traveling from the Lyran Commonwealth to the Federated Suns, Andrew had seen the holovid of a battle on Solaris. Justin took part in that battle, and he fought in aCenturion.

The instant that thought occurred to him, he knew that Justin was the pilot of the Liao Centurion.Conflicting emotions swirled through Andrew's mind. Mostly he was angry because he saw this assault on his planet as a personal insult. He's struck back at his father and at the Prince. Just over a year and a half ago, he sent assassins to kill me and the staff of Delta Company. He rejoiced, no doubt, when he found we were here protecting his prize.

Andrew ground his teeth, then felt his stomach flip-flop. No, that can't be what happened. If nothing else, the Justin Allard I knew was not a murderer. He’d not have sent assassins. I didn't believe it then, and I have no reason to believe it now.Nausea soured the taste in his mouth. How could I think such horrible thoughts about a man who was my friend?

A third emotion seared into Andrew, and his mind recoiled against all its implications. Whether or not he's the same man you once called friend, he's still a better MechWarrior than you’ll ever be. You saw what he did with aValkyrie in combat with aRifleman. Sure, theValkyrie lost the fight, but there was enough armor blown off thatRifleman to build aJenner. You'll be going up against him in evenly matchedCenturions, which means you're still outgunned. He's forgotten more about Mech-Warrioring than you’ll ever know.

Captain Porter's face appeared on Redburn's primary monitor again. "We're coming in, Redburn. Get your people ready!"

Porter's voice shocked Andy out of his brooding. "Ready or not, gentlemen. We're on."

Porter had the 'Mech bay doors halfway open before the ship hit the planet's surface. The DropShip settled roughly to the ground, and St. Armand's Jennercleared the hatch before the ramp had fully extended. De Ridefort and Bisot likewise used their jump jets to leave the ship's hold. They set themselves up in a defensive perimeter as Redburn's Centurionlumbered from the Defiant.

The Centurionpointed west with its autocannon. "Let's move it, but stay with my speed." Redburn started his 'Mech sprinting down the road at 68 kph, its maximum speed. "You quick things can use your speed when we get into combat. Won't be long now."

Gerald de Ridefort's bass voice rumbled through the speakers in Andrew's helmet. "Rules of engagement, sir?"

Andrew swallowed hard. "If it moves, kill it. We'll sort things out and apologize later."

Around a bend in the road and up a slight incline, the Valkyriesbegan to outstrip the Centurion.From a dark copse on the left, Andrew saw a series of bright, arrowlike flashes as the two hidden Ravenslet fly with SRM volleys. Explosions battered de Ridefort's Valkyrie.Two missiles blasted armor from the 'Mech's thick left thigh while another wreathed its right ankle in a halo of orange flame. The last missile detonated beneath the Valkyrie'spointed chin, snapping the head up and around as it chipped armor plates away. The missiles that had missed peppered the hillside with brilliant bursts of vermilion and gold.

As de Ridefort's Valkyriestumbled back away from the ambush, Andrew turned his Centurionto face the shadowed grove. The Centurion'sautocannon swept up and locked on target as the targeting crosshairs shot like a meteorite across Andrew's holographic display. The golden cross flashed once, confirming target acquisition, and Andrew hit the trigger.

The Luxor autocannon growled like a wild beast as it vomited fire and metal. Phosphorescent tracer rounds drew frozen lines of light from the gun's muzzle to the target, then shot off at sharp angles as their fragments ricocheted through a cloud of armor debris. Silver light flared vividly from one Raven'sright side as autocannon shells ripped its right wing off and sent it sailing through the night sky.

St. Armand's Jennerlanced four medium laser beams through the woods, igniting the trees they touched. Three of the ruby energy lances burned into the as-yet-undamaged Raven.Two beams carved armor from its leg in long liquid ribbons, exposing the myomer muscles and ferrotitanium bones beneath them. The other beam gashed a molten scar across the 'Mech's vestigial left wing.

The second Raven,the one Andrew's computer had tagged as Beta, fired its two medium lasers at Bisot's Valkyrie.The beams raked like claws down the breast of his 'Mech. Liquefied armor ran down the furrows they ripped in the 'Mech's ceramic flesh, but failed to penetrate the Valkyrie'sthick hide.

In tandem, Bisot and de Ridefort—who had regained control of his reeling 'Mech—trained their lasers on the Beta Raven.Their lasers shot out in stuttering pulsed beams. De Ridefort's shot missed, but Bisot's aim was true. His laser stitched fire along the Raven'sleft flank, slicing off armor plates like a whittler carving wood.

The Alpha Ravenlaunched another SRM flight at de Ride-fort's Valkyrie,but the missiles passed harmlessly wide of their target. Despite apprehension about the harm that heat build-up could do to his 'Mech, Andrew linked the target for his LRMs to that of his autocannon. This has got to stop now.Dropping the crosshairs onto the Alpha Raven,Andrew let go with missiles and cannon fire.

The Centurion'sLRMs corkscrewed through the pitch-black night, then shattered the darkness with the lurid strobes of half a dozen explosions. Armor shot away from the Raven'sleft leg and arm like leaves tossed about in a strong wind. The autocannon's storm of shells peeled the armor from the Raven'sleft torso as though it were so much naranjirind. The Ravenswayed, staggered by the savagery of the assault, then sank back on its haunches.

Beta Ravenloosed a volley of SRMs at Bisot's Valkyrie.The missiles lanced up at the humanoid 'Mech in a straight line. One blasted into laser-weakened chest armor, while two exploded against the Valkyrie'sleft arm. The fourth and final missile detonated against the Valkyrie'shead, but Bisot weathered the blast that sent armor shards flying.

St. Armand's Jenneragain concentrated its fire on the Beta Raven.Only two beams hit target as the Raven'spilot moved to disengage. One light-spear stabbed through the tattered armor on the 'Mech's left wing and burst out the other side. Sparks erupted from the wound, and the wing twisted awkwardly toward the ground as its controlling myomer fibers melted.

The wing's damage and uncontrolled rotation threw the Ravenoff-balance. It pivoted on its left leg just in time for the Jenner'ssecond beam to rip a line through the armor on its right flank. De Ridefort and Bisot added their lasers to the assault, neatly slashing into the troubled Raven.Bisot's shot drilled into the 'Mech's right leg, jamming some half-melted armor into the reversed knee-joint.

The Ravenstumbled back toward the right as its damaged leg missed a step. When the motion exposed the Raven'snaked left flank to de Ridefort, he speared laser fire through the 'Mech's vitals. The coruscating scarlet beam touched off a series of explosions in the Raven'sSRM magazine. Like a string of firecrackers, the detonations flashed one after another until the roiling fireball ballooned into a brilliant sun. Its dazzling white light reduced the Raven'sskeleton to a silhouette, then consumed it hungrily.

Andrew sent his Centurionracing up the hill as the Alpha Ravenreared back up to its feet and headed back down the hill. We've lost too much time already to go after it. We have to reach the factory.Andrew keyed up the Defiant'sfrequency. "Porter, we have one heading back toward you. Kill it." Andrew switched back to his command frequency before Porter answered him. "Remember, men, they have a Leopardout here, so don't do anything foolish."

Cresting the hill, Andrew shifted his scanners from starlight to infrared. The holographic display changed from black with dark green highlights to a surreal rainbow landscape, with men and machines radiating white and yellow heat tracings. Off to his right, he saw the outline of a Vindicatorand half a dozen bobbing balls of glowing light he recognized as running men. Over at the factory, he saw a Centurionstanding next to the building and watched as a man-form leaped from the lab's roof into the 'Mech's open cockpit.

"Bisot, de Ridefort, the Vindicatoris yours. St. Armand ..." Andrew's voice died as his spirit rebelled against ordering a 'Mech to attack infantry.

"I'm off varminting, Cap," came St. Armand's voice.

The Vindicator,which looked like a Human giant except for the particle projection cannon that formed its right forearm, moved to block the Jenner'spursuit of the runners. It raised the PPC and let fly with an azure bolt of man-made lightning, but the jagged energy burst shot wide of the birdlike Jenner.The beam drilled into a pine tree, instantly igniting it into a torch, then exploding it into a million flaming splinters.

Both Valkyrieslaunched LRM volleys at the Vindicator.Missiles blasted up and down the PPC's barrel, stripping it of armor and exposing the glowing blue charging coils. Five missiles smashed into the Vindicator'sleft breast, blasting the armored hatches protecting LRM launch tubes off the 'Mech's chest, but failed to do more serious damage. Two other explosions gouged deep wounds into the armor on the 'Mech's right leg, but the armor remained unbreached.

Andrew turned his attention to the Centurion.He punched up the old tactical frequency he'd shared with Justin Allard when Justin had commanded the First Kittery Training Battalion, the group that had become Redburn's Delta Company. "It's you, isn't it, Justin?"

The answering voice sounded flatter and more inhuman than a computer construct's voice. "Run, Andrew. I owe you nothing. You have no hold over me that will save your life." The Liao Centurion,its faceplate locked down securely, turned to face Andrew. "I slew men with twice your skill on Solaris, Captain. Do you really want to die here and now?"

You bastard!Andrew dropped his LRM sight on Justin's Centurionand answered with an LRM flight. Half the missiles blasted craters through the armor over Yen-lo-wang'sright breast. Semi-molten ceramic shards shooting away from the 'Mech painted glowing gold trails across Andrew's IR display while the wounds on the 'Mech burned like red-orange embers.

The other five missiles wreathed the Centurion'shead with a firestorm halo. Armor spun away through the night as the explosions staggered Yen-lo-wang.The 'Mech stumbled back into the lab, crushing a wall and shattering windows along the third floor. Andrew clearly recognized Justin's masterful hand on the controls as the Centurionrebounded off the building, dropped to one knee and steadied itself with left hand pressed into the ground.

Justin's haunting laughter robbed Andrew of any exultation. "So the puppy has developed teeth. Very well, Redburn. Come on." Justin's voice dropped to an arctic whisper. "I've never felt stupidity is a reason to grant a foe mercy."

Andrew ground his teeth together. How could I have thought of this man as a friend?Andrew set his 'Mech in motion, charging forward well inside of his LRM range. I want this fight to be down and dirty, not impersonal like a missile duel.Andrew impaled Yen-lo-wang'simage on the autocannon's crosshairs, then tightened up on the trigger.

The autocannon's stream of metal fury blasted into Yen-lo-wangjust below the medium laser muzzle in the center of its chest. Armor flew like wood chips beneath the bite of an ax, and a white plume of heat jetted across Andrew's display. The Captain smiled broadly. Punched through and hit some engine shielding.

Justin's laughter shifted to allow some grudging respect. "Damn, and me with a damaged cooling vest. Good, Andy, but not good enough. Good-bye."

As Yen-lo-wangraised the muzzle of its autocannon toward him, Andrew's stomach boiled. Something about that 'Mech, some way he modified it on Solaris. No, no! It's got a Pontiac!The screaming whine of Yen-lo-wang'sautocannon filled the night. Depleted uranium slugs hammered into the Centurion'sright thigh. Crushed armor plates crumbled to dust with a grinding and crunching that sounded to Andrew like an animal gnawing on the limb. Andrew felt his 'Mech shudder as more shells shredded the thickly corded myomer muscles in the Centurion'sthigh, then his heart sank.

The projectiles ate through the ferrotitanium femur like a disease. With echoes of the gunshot-like snapping still reverberating through the cockpit, Andrew fought to keep his machine upright. Hopelessly unbalanced as the 'Mech's leg cartwheeled away behind it, his Centurionpitched to the right, slammed to the ground on its side, then rolled onto its face.

Sparks shot through the cockpit like fireworks. Two monitors went dead and a third displayed, with clinical objectivity, the damage to the Centurion.Its right leg was gone, and landing on the autocannon had damaged it. Internal systems showed damage, and the computer reported that because of the Centurion'sposition, the ejection system could not work.

Andrew felt the heavy vibrations from Yen-lo-wang'sapproach. He braced himself for the coup de grace. Fire and steel. That autocannon will reduce this cockpit to radar chaff.

Justin's voice filled his neurohelmet. "I assume you're still alive, Andrew, and I will leave you thus. On Solaris, I did that favor for one enemy. Don't make his mistake and come after me again." Justin paused, then added a stinging afterthought. "And stay away from Solaris, too. You wouldn't have lasted this long fighting there."

* * *

Andrew stabbed his index finger onto the solar system's tactical display. "Look, Porter, you yourself said we can catch them. They've only got a four-hour lead on us. We head out at 2.5 Gs, fly close enough to the third planet—that gas giant—to get a slingshot effect and we'll reach their JumpShip before they will."

Andrew raked fingers back through his thick auburn hair. "Why can't any of you see this?"

Robert Craon exchanged glances with Captain Porter. "Captain Redburn, we can see what you're saying, but it would be a suicide mission. The Defiantwould be pitted against another Overlordand a Leopard.All the Liao Overlordhas to do is snipe at the Defiantas Captain Porter tries to catch the Leopard.It won't work."

Andrew looked daggers at his side. "Then we'll make it work!"

The door to the tactical center slid up into the ceiling. Andrew snapped his head around and instantly recognized the slender outline of TerraDyne's chairman. "This is a closed meeting, Anderson. No civilians."

Anderson said nothing as he stepped into the room and allowed the door to close behind him. He flipped a plasticized identification card onto the display. It bore a picture of his face, a retinal pattern, and the Counter Intelligence Division legend across the top. The name on it, however, read "Richard Dorvalle."

Dorvalle looked at Porter and Craon. "You are dismissed. I was never here."

The two of them looked at Redburn. Andrew opened his mouth to protest, but the anger and defiance that had been driving him evaporated. Wearily, he nodded assent. As they dutifully passed out the door, Redburn fixed the spook with a piercing glance. "So what's really going on here?"

Dorvalle kept his angular face emotionless. "That is not really important, Captain Redburn. What is important is that I have had a communication from the Prince, who asks me to pass on his congratulations to you."

Redburn leaned heavily forward on the tactical display. The computer updated the configuration, setting the Leopardand Overlordyet further from Bethel. "And what did I do to please him? I was unaware that having a traitor disable your 'Mech is regularly rewarded with a medal or thanks."

Dorvalle's face hardened. "Come off it, Redburn. Self-pity does not become you. You impressed the Prince by actually splitting your command and heading off after the Leopard.Your main body tied up the Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers and bagged a couple of heavy 'Mechs. Your people nailed two Ravens—which we're sending back to the NAIS for study, by the way—and a Vindicator.You also identified the pilot of the Centurionyou faced."

Andrew shook his head. "What is it with you spies? You're trying to console me by pointing out a silver lining on a very dark cloud. Didn't you miss something? They got into the lab and got back out. As far as security is concerned, that lab is a hemophiliac that just tangled with a chotodarl"

Dorvalle actually allowed himself a smile, albeit a small and controlled one. "That, Captain, is the reason the Prince is most pleased, and the reason you will not pursue the Leopard."

Everything suddenly landed on Andrew like a ton of bricks. He stepped backward to the wall, then slumped down at the base of it. "It was all a set-up? I let a Vindicatorput a Jennerpilot in the hospital with a broken arm and leg, and left two Valkyriesheld together with baling wire and spit for a set-up? Why the hell didn't you just give the information away, or let me know so I could have held my people back?"