Текст книги "Riposte"

Автор книги: Michael A. Stackpole

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 24 страниц)

First rule as a MechWarrior—trust your instincts more than your instruments.Dan flipped the scanner display from infrared to Magnetic Anomaly Detection. Two magscan images replaced the single heat silhouette on his holographic imaging system. It showed him Meg Lang's wounded Panther,lying in the brush beyond the seated Panther.She had crawled it there and shut down its generator.

Even as Dan dropped the crosshairs onto the seated 'Mech's profile, Brand pivoted the Pantheron its left hand. Its right fist, which was wrapped around the grip of a particle projection cannon, swept up. The PPC's glowing coils pulsed once, spitting out a jagged bolt of man-made electricity.

Dan twisted the Wolfhoundto the right, but the computer recorded a hit. As the primary monitor showed most of the armor on his left arm evaporating, Dan felt both anger and relief coursing through him. Dammit! This baby can take a lot of damage!

That shot would have crippled myValkyrie and might well have torn the arm clean off!

Dan keyed the radio as Brand valiantly tried to raise his Panther."Nice ambush, Austin . . . Almost." He aligned the crosshairs with the Pantherand then punched his firing buttons.

Two of the medium lasers ripped parallel scars through armor on the Panther's,left flank. Fragments of computer-projected armor spun away from the scanner image in a whirling explosion. The third medium laser sliced into the armor covering the PPC, but failed to cripple the weapon. The large laser slammed heavily into the Panther'schest, half-dissolving the armor over the short-range missile launch tubes located on the 'Mech's heart.

Heat levels in the Wolfhoundspiked into the yellow zone on the monitors. Because the battle was not being fought with live weapons, and all the damage occurred only in the computer's memory, the scorching waves of heat Dan would have experienced in combat did not wash up into the cockpit. Still, Dan saw the primary monitor's status downgrade his top speed as the 'Mech labored to rid itself of the simulated excess heat.

Dan ducked the Wolfhoundback down into the ravine. They know I've hit Brand.Studying the map, he decided that they must have found this ravine and were probably tracking him now. He smiled grimly. The Wolfhound'sdesigner had obviously built this monster to engage Panthersbecause there was enough armor on it to survive a couple of PPC shots. Better to be the hunter than the hunted.

Dan worked the Wolfhoundback through the ravine in the direction from which he'd come. Taking a sharp corner, he moved down into a spot where the ravine widened as a stream cut across. Haunting flashes of magscan images danced on his display. Dan dropped the Wolfhoundto one knee, raised the right arm, and targeted the golden crosshairs at the ravine mouth across from him.

When the lead Pantherwas impaled on Dan's sights, he triggered his large laser. As sheets of armor vanished from the 'Mech's right flank, the Panthertwisted to the left to protect its wounded side and then ducked back beneath cover.

The twin ignitions of ion rockets splashed silver brilliance through the woods behind the wounded Panther.A second Pantherarced up through the night like a shooting star trying to reclaim its place in the heavens. Dan tried to track it, but the 'Mech moved too swiftly. It grounded itself off to his left.

He frowned. It’ll try to flank me while its partner tries to pin me down. Wait a minute. . .Dan stared at the display and saw the Pantherhe had expected to flank him begin to work back toward its partner. Something's not right here.

Suddenly, as the two 'Mechs facing him moved from cover, Dan realized what they were doing. The image of Brand's 'Mech appeared at his back and raised its PPC.

"Good bye, Captain Allard."

23

Arc-Royal

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

3 March 3028

The Wolfhound'srear-arc laser lanced backward and pierced Brand's left flank. The computer, simulating the effect of a laser bolt on an SRM magazine, painted explosion after explosion over the outline of the 'Mech behind the Wolfhound.As the explosions cleared, they left nothing of the Panther'simage behind.

Both the other Pantherslaunched flights of SRMs at the Wolfhound.The missiles scattered impacts on and around the 'Mech, scoring armor but doing no serious damage. The wounded Panther'sPPC shot lashed the Wolfhound'salready-damaged left arm. Alarm lights flared to life in the Wolfhound'scockpit as the computer reported that limb completely severed at the shoulder.

Instinctively shifting his weight to balance the 'Mech, Dan dropped the large laser's sights onto the wounded Panther. Good! Give me your wounded flank.He stabbed the firing button, sending a spear of cohesive light into the injured 'Mech. The last of the armor shown on the computer image vanished, and the 'Mech shuddered as it suffered serious internal damage.

The flanking Panther'sPPC blast sliced armor from the Wolfhound'sleft leg, but a quick glance at the primary monitor told Dan that the leg armor had not been fully breached. Mindful of the rising levels on his heat monitor, he did not return fire at the Pantherthat was still whole.

The Wolfhound'sfeet dug into the gravel streambed as Dan sprinted straight at the undamaged 'Mech. The pilot raised the Panther'sPPC for a simple shot at the charging Wolfhound,but the speedy war machine closed the gap before the pilot could trigger the weapon.

Dan laughed as the Wolfhoundswept in beneath the PPC's effective minimum range. SRMs burst from the Panther'schest and managed to blast away the last remnant of the Wolfhound'sleft leg armor. Heedless of the damage the missiles had done, Dan targeted the Pantherand fired everything he had.

The medium lasers converged on the Panther'schest, chipping away every shred of armor over the 'Mech's heart. Enough of the energy blasting away the armor leaked through to destroy the SRM launcher. The large laser in the Wolfhound'sright forearm stabbed into the Panther'sright shoulder. The holographic display showed layers of armor exploding from the 'Mech's limb, leaving it nearly naked.

Dan continued past the Panther,then dug the Wolfhound'sleft foot into the ground and whirled. His spin and its agility of execution caught both Panthersby surprise. Expecting a free shot at his back, the furthest Pantherhad risen from cover while the 'Mech Dan had just savaged managed a turn to aim its PPC at the fleeing Wolfhound.

The Wolfhound'smedium lasers unerringly cored three tunnels through the nearest Panther'sright arm. The computer imaging system showed the limb snapping off at the shoulder before flying off into the night. The Wolfhound'slarge laser slammed into the furthest 'Mech's open right flank, burning through what little was left of it, straight into the Mech's heart. The beam, according to the computer, melted all the shielding around the Panther'sfusion engine, shutting it down forever.

The weaponless Pantherrocketed from combat on the ion jump jets in its legs, and Dan let it go because warning lights ignited throughout his cockpit. Long-range missiles incoming!"What the hell!" he exclaimed. Dan's secondary monitor showed incoming tracks for two score LRMs—and all converging on one spot.

Almost without conscious thought, Dan sprinted the Wolfhoundforward, heading straight toward the source of the LRMs. He grinned as the missiles, unable to shorten their trajectories to compensate for his speed, arced over his position. Dan punched two keys on his command console. The computer calculated the origin point for all the missile tracks while his visual scan shifted back to infrared.

He nodded in thought. Twin LRM 20 packs are going to kick out lots of heat. There'll be no hiding it.Dan punched an inquiry into the computer, then smiled as the answer came up on the screen. Yeah. Morgan'sArcher is the only 'Mech we have that sports two LRM 20s.

After the computer track projection displayed the coordinates of the attack's origin, Dan turned the Wolfhoundso that the coordinate grid marks on the top of the screen pointed him straight in the direction of Morgan's Archer.

He gave a little laugh. O.K., Morgan, I know what yourArcher's got. Hiding behind that hill won't help you.Dan increased his speed, sending the 35-ton Wolfhoundhurling through the low brush covering the hillside. Once I crest this baby, your LRMs won't have range on me. This close, myWolfhound out-guns yourArcher's twin lasers.

The Wolfhoundsprinted over the hilltop, but no heat image painted itself on the computer display. Dan shifted the scanners over to Starlight, and the holographic display redrew itself in the grays and greens of light intensification. Gotcha!Centered on his display, right where the computer predicted it would be, stood Morgan's Archer.

The humanoid 'Mech looked deformed in comparison with the clean-limbed shape of Dan's Wolfhound. The. Archer'shead jutted forward grotesquely from just above the center of its chest, and its hunch-backed shoulders were elongated to house both LRM launchers and their missiles. Powerful arms hung from each shoulder, but ended in ridiculously blocky forearms and stubby fingers. The forearms mounted the Archer'stwo forward-firing medium lasers, while the two lasers protecting the Archer'srear arc stabbed backward from a ball turret riding where the Mech's head should have been.

Dan dropped the large laser's crosshairs onto the ungainly 'Mech's silhouette, but as his computer confirmed a lock, Morgan reacted. Like a dancer, Kell spun the Archer'sbulk around to face the stalking Wolfhound.The Archer'sright arm came up, its medium laser flashing.

Dammit! He's still fast!With the speed of reflex, Dan dropped the Wolfhoundto one knee. While Morgan's laser passed harmlessly over him, the Wolfhound'smedium lasers lashed out in a trident of energy beams. Two stabbed into the Archer'sright leg, blasting some armor from it. The third beam sliced its way up the 'Mech's right forearm, but the computer reported nothing more serious than armor damage.

Dan frowned as the Archermade no move to escape. Morgan's offering to slug it out! Why? He knows I've got more weaponry than he does if he can't use his LRMs.Still pondering the question at the back of his mind, Dan lashed out with everything his 'Mech had. Two of the medium lasers seared into the Archer'sleft leg while the third, inexplicably, missed altogether. The Wolfhound'sheavy laser sliced ribbons of armor from the Archer'storso, but failed to do any internal damage.

When the Archer'stwin forearm lasers blasted into the Wolfhound'schest, Dan got his first clue to Morgan's strategy. The Wolfhoundschematic showed that the lasers had cored two-thirds of the way through the armor. I outgun him, but he can survive more rounds of this mutual pounding. Time to move!Shooting a glance at the heat monitors, and then cursing the levels he saw, Dan turned the Wolfhoundand sprinted up over the crest of the hill. To keep Morgan from tagging him with blind LRM flights, Dan worked his 'Mech down the slope on an angle.

He frowned. I'll have to get Clovis to check how the heat affects my targeting equipment. I wanted to get a parting shot at Morgan with my aft laser, but it wouldn't lock. That's a dangerous problem.

Halting the Wolfhoundso that the heat exchangers could bring down the levels to normal ranges, Dan ran a quick diagnostic program that reported all his weapons functional and also highlighted the damage his 'Mech had taken in the mock battle. He groaned. I hope I do better than this in a real fight. If not, all my pay is going to go to keeping this 'Mech in armor.In spite of the damage report, he smiled. At least, in this 'Mech, I'll be alive to make the repairs, which is something . . .

Deciding to take the long way around the hill, Dan started the Wolfhoundmoving off at a slow pace. Is Morgan expecting me to close with him—which makes sense for me—or to engage him at longer range—a move that would surprise him? Morgan always was one of the best, and the years in exile don't seem to have slowed him down at all. If I don't play it smart, I'll never get out of this one.

A sudden thought flashed into Dan's mind. He's expecting me to close or engage at long range by coming around the hill. But what if I just go back up over it again? Yeah ...He turned the Wolfto his right, taking the 'Mech up the hillside once again. Seeing the Archerwaiting down at the valley's far end, Dan grinned. He dropped the sights for all his weapons onto the hulking Archer'soutline, but the sights refused to pulse. What the . . . ?

As the Archerswung into line with the Wolfhound,its arms came up. Dan dodged to the right, allowing the beams to sizzle past harmlessly. He stabbed the diagnostics key on his display while continuing to dodge and work his way downhill as the computer redrew the outline of his 'Mech.

Still shows no damage! Then how come I can't. . . ?Even as the thought entered his mind, Dan's blood ran cold. It was just like that last battle on Mallory's World when the Kell Hound 'Mechs seemed to refuse to show Morgan's 'Mech as a target on their screens, and then again on Styx when the same thing happened in the battle between Yorinaga and Patrick. His mouth tasted sour, and his brain continued to protest what his eyes were showing him. This can't be happening ...

As the Archerbobbed back into view and raised both arms, Dan dropped the Wolfhoundto its knees. As his computer projected twin lasers burning above his 'Mech's head, Dan jerked the Wolfhoundto its feet and set off at a sprint away from the Archer.

The hillside eclipsed Dan's view of the Archer. Get a grip, Dan. It may be impossible, but it's happening.He shuddered. You couldn't shoot Yorinaga'sWarhammer on Styx, but you were able to hit it with yourValkyrie. It did exist. There has to be a way. You're a MechWarrior. Figure it out.

A hopelessly reckless idea popped into Dan's head. Better to try it here in some simulation than to learn it doesn't work in real combat,he told himself. He reached over and switched targeting control from the joysticks to the computer.

The computer's voice spoke with mechanical urgency. "Disengaging manual targeting unadvisable."

"Shut up." Dan turned, continuing to work around the hill. He raced along faster than might have seemed prudent in unfamiliar terrain in the dark, but his natural sense of balance, as relayed to the Wolfhoundthrough the neurohelmet and sensor pads, kept the 'Mech upright.

Dan summoned an Archerschematic from the secondary monitor. "Rear view," he commanded verbally. The computer dutifully spun the image, bringing a grin to Dan's face. "Initiate Setshot program."

"Use of targeting program unadvisable."

"Shut up." Dan glanced at the scale running beside the Archer'simage. "Target point equals laser source minus three meters elevation, plus 25 meters distance." My weapons and sensors might not be able to see you, Morgan. Maybe they won't allow me to shoot you, but they do acknowledge your lasers in this little simulation, and I can shoot through you.

Dan crossed himself. Please, God, let this work.

He swung the Wolfhoundaround the hill. He spotted Morgan immediately, and almost as quickly the lasers perched between the Archer'sshoulders swung down. Dan slowed as they locked on, forcing himself not to react despite the alarms wailing in his cockpit and the butterflies churning in his stomach.

Warning lights flared across the Wolfhound'sconsole as the medium lasers blasted armor from the 'Mech's right side. Dan waited to see whether the arming lights for his weapons would die out because of damage, but none blinked or wavered. The lasers had only destroyed armor.

"All weapons, fire!" The computer drew four lines on Dan's display, focusing through and beyond the Archer'svisual image. Morgan's 'Mech, which had begun to pivot, stopped dead. Its arms dropped to its sides, dangling like lynched renegades from the Archer'shunched shoulders.

Morgan's calm voice crackled into Dan's neurohelmet. "Fancy shooting, Dan. You skewered the reactor ..."

"Y-yes, sir." Nervous sweat stung his eyes.

"So, Dan, how to you like your Wolfhound!"

The young Kell Hound swallowed as Morgan's reassuringly warm voice melted some of the fear in his guts. "Fine, Colonel. I like it very much." The analytical side of Dan's mind shunted aside the last races of fear. "I'll miss my Valkyrie'sjump jets, but the added weaponry and armor make this a prime battler."

Morgan's pleasure survived the transmission intact. "Good, Dan. I'm pleased you like it. How long until you feel comfortable in it?"

Dan swallowed. Do you mean as long as I don't have to fight with you?"Uh, I'm not sure. A month. Maybe more." Dan hesitated. "There are still some things I want Clovis to explain."

"Better make it a month," Morgan said grimly. "We don't have much more than that before we have to travel to the wedding." The Colonel's warmth returned, however, when he added, "You did well, Captain. Take it in."

* * *

Later, Dan hunched over Clovis as both of them stared in disbelief at the battletape's replay. He pointed to the screen as his targeting crosshairs refused to acknowledge the Archerbeneath them. "See that, Clovis? What in hell is going on?"

The dwarf shook his head. He rewound the tape, then slowed the image. He turned to his left and projected the scanner's data feed to the computer on another monitor. Carefully, gently, he advanced the battletape centimeter by centimeter. As each image shifted on the picture screen, Clovis glanced at the raw data scrolling across the computer monitor.

He leaned back with a deep sigh. "Dan, I just don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? You programmed the Wolfhound.You have to know!"

The dwarf shrugged. "I've never seen anything like it, Dan."

Dan was angry, not at Clovis, but at the memory. "Well I have, Clovis. In combat. I've seen it in combat." Dan turned and slammed his fist against the wall. "I saw it twelve years ago on Mallory's World, then twice more on Styx." He turned back and pointed accusingly at the battletape's flickering image. "Now I see it here." His shoulders slumped. "Tell me something,Clovis."

Clovis raised his hands and opened them. "I can tell you this, Dan," he said slowly, pointing to the data feed. "The passive sensors, like your Starlight sensors, can pick up photons bouncing off the Archer.That's why you could see him or, at least, that's why I think you could see him. The other sensors, like magscan or infrared, either don't get data back when they send out a signal, or the computer fails to interpret it when it comes in." Clovis shrugged helplessly. "That's about all I can tell from such a brief look. But I want to do more thorough checking. Maybe cross-correlate all this with Morgan's EEG and EKG readout from the fight."

Dan frowned. None of it made any sense. "In simple terms, Clovis, what are you telling me?"

"What I'm telling you, Captain, is that for all intents and purposes, on the battlefield, the computer does not believe Morgan Kell exists."

Book III

Doublé

24

In-system, Terra

14 August 3028

Duke Michael Hasek-Davion stared through his DropShip cabin's big, round viewport at the blue-white ball that was his destination. Dozens and dozens of other DropShips—most spherical like the OverlordClass bearing the Duke, but a few aero-dynamically constructed as well—were all rushing in toward the planet.

The Duke meditated on the world they were approaching. For centuries, DropShips and JumpShips have carried mankind away from this modest little planet. Terra is neither as large as others man has settled, nor is it as rich in minerals or life, yet it alone has produced a sentient species. That makes it very special, indeed.

The door to his cabin irised open with a hiss, bringing a small, slender man with thinning brown hair into the small room. Michael turned slowly, while the other man seemed to wince with discomfort with his every step. "You summoned me, My Lord?"

Michael nodded, secretly exulting in the weight of his long, black braid against his spine. Poor Count Vitios. A man as slight as you is poorly endowed to endure travel at much more than 1 G, but I wish to arrive early. Besides, the exercise will put some tone into your muscles."Indeed, I did."

Vitios sank gratefully into the deeply cushioned chair that Duke Michael indicated. "How may I be of service, Lord?"

The small man's embarrassment at his weakness flashed over his pinched face while Michael clasped his hands behind his back and effortlessly paced before the viewport. "I wish to reassure myself that you will do nothing foolish on Terra."

The Count froze for half a second, then forced a smile. "Duke Michael, whatever do you mean?"

Michael returned the smile with a crafty one of his own. "Anton, I know you too well not to realize that you must have some sort of contingency plan for this opportunity. I know, though it has been a dozen years since the battle on Verio, that you still mourn your wife and children." Michael lifted his hand with palm out to forestall the Count's reply. "No one thinks you less a man for such open devotion, and many admire you for it."

Michael turned his back to his visitor and watched the Drop-Ships crawl along at a snail’s-pace in their path toward Terra. "I watched the holovids of Justin Allard's trial and saw how your prosecution revealed him to be the Liao agent he has so openly become of late. Yet your desire for revenge still runs deep and hot. This is good."

"I would do nothing to embarrass you, My Lord."

Smiling, Michael turned again toward the Count. "I know that, but I would not wish to see you caught foolishly in some situation that could hurt your crusade."

The Count frowned. "I understand very well, Duke Michael, the ComStar directive instructing no one to carry weaponry of any sort to the wedding. ComStar will screen all baggage and personnel before anyone or anything can leave the Savannah Spaceport quarantine area, and again before they enter the compound. Though I am not invited to the wedding and will stay in Savannah with the rest of the household staff, I have no intention of trying to smuggle in a weapon."

Michael nodded curtly. "And well that you do not. ComStar has made it no secret that they will interdict the flow of messages to and from any House violating the wedding's security. An interdiction would leave one deaf and blind."

Count Vitios narrowed his eyes. "I would guess, then, My Lord, that you mean to speak to me about another subject?"

Michael smiled. "Liao agents have brought me an offer of support against Hanse Davion."

"Those God-cursed bastards!" The Count's jaw muscles bunched as he ground his teeth. "I hope you told them to go to hell!"

Before replying, Michael straightened himself up to full height. "As a matter of fact, I told them that the offer was most tempting."

The Count sank back speechlessly into the blue chair's deep padding. His jaw hung open as he stared at Michael in disbelief.

The Duke watched him with a smile. You, my bulldog, will have value in defending me only if you can see my true plan.

Michael turned away from his subordinate to again study the view of the many ships heading toward Terra. "Consider, Anton, what this marriage means in military and political terms to the Successor States. Hanse has promised me that he will reinforce the Capellan March with troops from the Draconis march as soon as this year's Galahad exercises are over. He feels that the Draconis Combine will not be as much of a threat after the marriage to a Steiner because the alliance guarantees that the Dragon will have to fight a two-front war anytime he decides to be aggressive."

A nervous tremor rippled through the Count's voice. "That seems sensible, Highness. But it sounds as though you do not believe the Prince will keep his word."

Michael nodded thoughtfully. "Your observation is correct, but I have developed this belief without assigning malice to my brother-in-law. I believe he will not get the opportunity."

"I don't know that I follow you, My Lord."

Michael pointed to some of the ships racing toward Terra. "There they are, Anton—the leaders of the Successor States. Lord Takashi Kurita is too wise to let himself be boxed in. Maximilian Liao still dreams of being the First Lord of a new Star League, and Janos Marik has no love for either House Steiner or House Davion. There can be no doubt that those three consider the strengthening of the alliance between Davion and Steiner to be a serious threat."

"If you will forgive me, Duke Michael, that conclusion is obvious. But surely they will not strike at the wedding."

Michael shook his head slowly, letting his braid rustle the silken fabric of his dark tunic. "No, Anton, they would never do that—for the same reasons you have already enumerated. I also daresay that they will not strike immediately after the wedding, either, because Hanse has gathered his troops in and around the Terran Corridor for Galahad '28." Michael sat down to face the Count, but his eyes had a faraway look, as though contemplating a distant future image. "Now that would be a battle for all time, would it not?" he said finally. "The best of Kurita, Liao, and Davion battling it out on a dozen worlds—with Hanse Davion trapped on Terra all the while . . ."

The Count chuckled. "In such a situation, you would have to take temporary control of the government and lead the Federated Suns to victory."

The Duke's smile dried as he pressed his lips into a thin line. "True, but I fear it is an opportunity that will never come. From what I can learn, it appears that Kurita and Liao will take a more conservative approach. They will wait until the Terran Corridor is once again down to normal strength before striking. Liao will likely bear the brunt of the assault, while Kurita forces will attempt to hold the Steiner border. And if House Marik can crush the little revolutions that Hanse has been financing within their realm, then Janos will strike out at the Steiner border. Thus will Steiner have to ease up on Kurita or else lose worlds to Marik."

The Count tapped his pointy chin with the index finger of his right hand. "For Liao to mount a strong offensive against the Terran Corridor, he'd have to strip troops from the St. Ives and Sian Commonalities. That would leave the way clear for you to attack..."

Michael smiled and stretched with feline grace. "Indeed. And that explains the communications I have received from Liao. His inducements to betray Hanse are both intriguing and inviting."

The Count drew in a breath to power a protest, then stopped before the words could form. His jaw closed slowly as a smile lit his face "You will accept Liao's offers so that he can move his troops to the front, and then you will hit him after he has engaged Hanse's troops."

Michael's eyes flashed fire. "Exactly! I will provide Max Liao with details of Hanse's troop placements—and even overvalue them so that Liao will tie up even more troops than necessary in his assaults. I will likewise undervalue my own troop strength so that Liao will not sense the dagger pressed against his belly."

The Count's white teeth showed in a feral grin. "And when the time comes ..."

"And when the time comes, I will eviscerate the Capellan Confederation and be hailed a hero in the Federated Suns. A popular groundswell of support will elevate me to become supreme ruler of the Federated Capellan Empire!"

The Count slapped his hands, and then rubbed them together greedily. "I will gladly serve as an instrument of your victory, Highness. With your permission, I would ask only one thing."

Michael raised a dark eyebrow. "Yes, Anton?"

"When you take Sian, give Justin Xiang to me. He escaped justice last time through Davion's intercession. This time, I would like to see that he gets it."

Duke Michael Hasek-Davion nodded his agreement. "It would be my pleasure, Count Vitios." And wherever you leave off in your treatment of Xiang, that is where I will begin to exact my revenge upon Hanse Davion . . .