Текст книги "Riposte"

Автор книги: Michael A. Stackpole

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47

Northwind

Draconis March, Federated Suns

11 January 3029

Akira Brahe, sweat pouring down his face, dropped the scarlet targeting crosshair for his Orion's,autocannon onto the Phoenix Hawk'soutline. "Kaji-3,break right!" He punched the fire button, filling the cockpit with the high-speed whine of the autocannon's firing. A new wave of heat washed over him, but he kept the crosshairs locked onto his target.

The autocannon salvo blasted into the Phoenix Hawk'sright arm. The line of impacts raced up the limb, blasting the last few shards of tattered armor from the 'Mech. The heavy slugs dug up into the 'Mech's armpit, and snapped the limb off at the shoulder amid a shower of sparks. Awkwardly stumbling backward, the pilot fought vainly to rebalance his 'Mech.

Jiro Thorvald, Kaji-3,had turned his Marauderin accordance with Akira's order. His right claw spat out an azure whip of man-made lightning from the PPC. The energy beam lashed armor from the stricken Phoenix Hawk'schest, utterly obliterating the Team Banzai insignia on its right breast.

Akira shivered despite the heat as he watched the colossal Phoenix Hawktotter, then fall to its back. These mercenaries, the Blue Blazer Battalion of Team Banzai, fight as if possessed. I once thought mercenaries had no honor, no sense of duty to anyone but themselves. Morgan Kell and Jaime Wolf first made me question that idea, and now these Blue Blazers oppose us even though they cannot win. And they fight to allow other mercenaries to escape.

Chu-iPer Andersen, leader of Korasulance, called to Akira on the radio. "Ichisector is clear, Chu-sa.We've driven the Blue Blazers back. Do we pursue?"

Akira watched the Phoenix Hawk'spilot punch out before he answered. The 'Mech's faceplate blew up, and the pilot's command chair clipped it while blasting free of the downed 'Mech. The pilot's chair spun off crazily before the guidance rockets ignited, stabilizing its flight. The pilot drifted down into the courtyard of a ruined, fire-blackened building, and support infantry lent to the Genyoshaby the Fifth Sword of Light regiment swarmed all over it like ticks on a dog.

"Negative, Korasu-i. Break off the engagement." Akira took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "We are not here to fight Team Banzai. We blunted this incursion as a courtesy to General Conti. We couldn't stand back while the Blue Blazers overran the Fifth Sword of Light's headquarters, could we?"

Andersen's voice echoed back much of the frustration that had underscored Akira's words. "Hai, Chu-saBrahe Akira-sama. Wakarimas."

Akira pressed his lips together into a grim line. We have suffered gross indignities in this campaign. The 5th Sword of Light and the 36th Dieron Regulars treat us as though we were mercenaries. They resent us because the Coordinator has blessed us. And the Internal Security Force Liaison . . .Anger flashed through Akira. He seeks to exert control over theGenyosha just because we are exempted from ISF supervision. He cannot question our loyalty to the Dragon, yet he strives to lord his power over us. We should never have come here in the first place.

Akira keyed his microphone. "Did you copy that transmission, Denko-M"

"Hai, Chu-sa,in fact and sentiment," Chu-iJack Seaborg answered in a gravelly voice. "Our sector is clear as well. It appears the mercenaries are withdrawing to the Rockspire Mountains."

Akira nodded. "Hai,Seaborgton. Let's pull all three lances back to the firebase perimeter."

Akira glanced back at where the Blue Blazer pilot had gone down. He winced as he saw the mercenary being buffeted by cuffs and blows from the infantrymen. One, a Chu-iby the look of his uniform, brandished a katanaand screamed at the mercenary. The mercenary, clutching his broken right arm to his stomach, stumbled along as best he could.

Akira moved his Orionforward, keying the external speakers. "He!Have you no respect for an enemy who has fought valiantly?"

The Chu-iturned slowly and brandished his sword at the BattleMech. Even without the enhanced vision afforded him by the 'Mech, Akira could easily read the contempt on the man's face. In a high-pitched voice that reminded Akira of a yapping dog, the man yelled, "Who are you to question me? I am Chu-iSakai Iemasa. Generation after generation of my family has fought for the Dragon . . ."

Akira cut him off with a harsh laugh. "Beware, Chu-iSakai Iemasa, for the Dragon's blood runs in my veins. You phrase your protest like an invitation to battle." Akira's cruel chuckle echoed off the surrounding ruins. "I do not believe you wish to challenge me here and now, do you?" Akira swung the 'Mech's left arm into line with the Lieutenant to punctuate his question.

The infantry Chu-ipaled as he stared down the barrel of a laser that produced a beam larger than his own head. The Blue Blazer looked up at the Orion's cockpit, and despite the pain of his broken arm, managed to nod his thanks to Akira.

Chu-saNarimasa Asano's voice crackled through the speakers in Akira's neurohelmet. "Chu-saBrahe, report please."

Akira punched a button on the command console. Narimasa's open face filled the auxiliary monitor. "Our sectors are clear. The Blue Blazers have been driven back." Akira hesitated because of the frown slowly spreading over Narimasa's face. Someone's pushing him to do something . . ."Do you have orders?"

Narimasa nodded. "Hai. Tai-saKurita requests your presence. Please pull your company back toward our encampment."

" Wakarimas,”Akira said, then he keyed Andersen. "Per, head Korasuand DenkoLances back to the encampment." Switching over to the frequency he'd programmed in for private conversations with his own lance, he sent a broadcast out to all three of KajiLance's MechWarriors. "I need you to drop back to the encampment, but I want you to guide this captured MechWarrior to the holding compound first. Make sure the foot soldiers don't hurt him any more. Step on some toes if needed."

Jiro Thorvald answered for his lancemates. "Hai, Chu-sa,with pleasure."

Akira smiled. "Good. I will see you back at the encampment."

* * *

An orderly ushered Akira into General Conti's headquarters building with the respect and concern of a maglevtrain conductor shoving one more patron into an overstuffed car. Akira straightened the knot on the sash holding his dark blue silken robe closed. As the orderly closed the door behind him, Akira surveyed the small, white-washed room.

To his left, Akira saw his father flanked by Chu-saNarimasa Asano, Chu-saSaladin Bey, and Sho-saTarukito Niiro. Across from them, leaning against one of the thick wooden pillars supporting the ceiling, was Hassan Faud, the 5th Sword of Light's top ISF officer. Tall and dark, he strongly resembled Saladin Bey, but the GenyoshaMechWarrior had the leanness appropriate for a warrior true to the spirit of bushido.Faud, on the other hand, was beginning to show the paunch associated with easy living and the squint of one who constantly searched for treason that probably does not exist.

Akira bowed fully to the man behind the wooden desk in front of him. "Konnichi wa, Tai-shoConti."

Short, wiry, and dark-haired, the General snapped a bow in Akira's direction, revealing his impatience and frustration. I know theTai-sho is a man of action, hence his irritation at being trapped here in his office.Akira saw the tactical map affixed to the wall in the corner. It looks as though the 5th Sword and the 36th Dieron Regulars have driven the stragglers back into the Rockspire Mountains. He wants to be there for the kill.

Palmer Conti cleared his voice. "You have been brought here, Chu-saBrahe, because of a dispute between the Genyoshaand the ISF. Orders have come down from the Dragon, but Tai-saKurita refused to acknowledge them until his entire staff had been assembled . . ."

Faud's sharp outburst cut Conti off. "Enough of sugar-coating this, Tai-sho!’His eyes like dark windows on his suspicious soul, he glared at Akira. "The Genyoshahave been ordered to kill all the mercenaries we have captured."

"What!" Akira looked at his father in disbelief. Yorinaga met his son's stare, then nodded slightly. The anger and confusion in

Akira's mind melted away as he felt his father's confidence fill him. He gives me leave to oppose these orders.

Akira turned back, spitting Faud with a sharp look. "Did these orders mention the Genyoshaspecifically?"

Faud stiffened. "The Dragon has demanded the death of the mercenaries. No quarter is to be given."

Akira narrowed his eyes. "Were these orders issued to deal with the specific situation here on Northwind?"

Faud's face darkened. "Who are you to question me? The orders have come down and they must be obeyed. By what right do you presume that I could be in error in this?"

Akira forced himself to laugh derisively. His laughter scourged Faud, shocked Tai-shoConti, and summoned the hint of a smile to Chu-saSaladin Bey's face. "You know the Coordinator himself gave the Genyoshathe orders to come here to face the Kell Hounds because the ISF told him that this is where they would be. What did we find? A ragtag mercenary battalion claiming to be the Kell Hounds' Third 'Mech Battalion."

Akira spat at Faud's feet. "If you can mistake a newly assembled unit for one of the most deadly mercenary companies in the Successor States, you can misread or misconstrueorders."

Faud puffed out his chest and attempted to melt Akira's defiance with a threatening stare. "Be careful, Chu-saBrahe. You go too far. You have no friends in the ISF."

Akira took one step toward the ISF agent, ietting his voice drop to a sharp whisper. "I would vouchsafe, Hassan Faud, that you have no friends in this room. I believe you are in more jeopardy than me. You should recall that the Coordinator has exempted the Genyoshafrom ISF monitoring because he wants a unit to train leaders and imbue them with the true spirit of bushido.He wants us to build warriors, not opportunists waiting to inform on superiors in order to advance themselves."

Faud opened his mouth to speak, but Akira cut him off with an impatient gesture. "You claim to have orders that require the Genyoshato engage in the wholesale murder of captive mercenaries. I ask why the Coordinator would not send the orders directly to Tai-saKurita if he wished such a mission performed?" Akira poked a stiff finger against Faud's breastbone. "I submit that the orders, if they exist at all, originated within the ISF and so should be carried out by the ISF. The murder of captives, especially mercenaries who have fought a long and difficult series of battles, is without honor."

Tai-shoConti grimaced and tapped his finger against a sheet of paper on his desk. "I am afraid, Chu-sa,that your assumptions are only half right. The order to execute all mercenary personnel does come from the Coordinator. It will discourage other mercenaries from fighting us."

Akira turned stiffly toward Conti. This is madness. Such orders might dissuade those mercenaries who have no honor or pride, but such units would be like autumn leaves before the wind when they faced our forces. The stouthearted units, like Wolf's Dragoons, the Kell Hounds, or even this Team Banzai, will be spurred into greater acts of heroism. They will know they can expect only death, and so they will embrace it willingly, as a warrior must. The Coordinator only whets the appetites of our enemies.

Faud forced himself not to rub the sore spot on his chest. "Mercenary scum like Wolf's Dragoons must be destroyed once and for all time."

Akira brought his head up slowly, then turned back toward Faud. His face remained as expressionless as was his father's. "That could well be so, Hassan Faud, but the Genyoshadoes its killing in the battlefield. Even if our enemies are not warriors in their hearts and souls, there is no reason we should descend to their level."

Faud narrowed his eyes, then a low laugh rumbled from his throat. "It is a pity you refuse to eliminate the captives from the Third Kell Hound 'Mech Battalion, Chu-sa."The ISF agent opened his hands solicitously. "I had anticipated that you would welcome the task."

Akira felt a trap closing around him, but he could see no way to avoid it. "How is that, Hassan Faud?"

Faud smiled demonically. "Don't you know? Hasn't the word gotten to you yet?"

Akira felt something reach out and squeeze his heart as he shook his head.

Faud laughed nonchalantly. "While the Genyoshahas been here chasing illusions and discussing honor, the Kell Hound Regiment hit Nashira. Your base has been utterly destroyed!"

48

Northwind

Draconis March, Federated Suns

12 January 3029

Major Scott Bradley hissed as the mountain wind slashed through his jumpsuit. Leaning heavily on a crutch hammered out of the lateral leg support salvaged from a 'Mech, he worked his way up the narrow, snow-crusted path. Moving around a jagged tooth of rock and through a slender arch, he reached a wide ledge on the mountain's south face.

Scott smiled and raised his left hand to wave away help from the other man on the ledge. "Don't worry yourself, Tommy. I'll live." Scott glanced down at the inflated petrochem cast on his right foot. "This broken ankle only hurts when I think about it."

The slender, blond Major from Team Banzai smiled, then raised his binoculars again to his eyes. Scott followed his gaze across the windswept plains stretching out to the south. Even without help from the binoculars, Scott could make out the vast army of 'Mechs marching toward the mountains. In the distance, he also saw a gray smudge of greasy smoke.

Tommy's voice was without emotion. "The Blue Blazers' third company didn't make it back from that raid. Would have been a hell of a thing to take the Sword's HQ while they were out on field maneuvers."

Scott leaned back heavily against the mountain's granite face. "The Genyoshamust have stopped them." He shivered, but not from the cold. "God almighty, they came after us with a vengeance. We couldn't stop them. I really screwed up this assignment."

Tommy lowered his field glasses and glanced back over his shoulder at Scott. "Listen, Scott. You can't take responsibility for this assault. The 5th Deneb Light Cavalry is the real garrison of Northwind. Ptomaine poisoning knocked half of them out, then the 5th Sword of Light used the 36th Dieron Regulars to lure the rest of the Light Cavalry out of their defensive position. The Sword cut them apart. It's not your fault."

Scott took a deep breath, then exhaled a vapor cloud. "I know that, Tommy, but I can't forget the sound of the Light Cav boys calling to us for help. It just goes on and on in my head." Scott met Tommy's ice-blue stare. "I mean, a battalion should have been able to crush the Genyoshaand then head out to help the Light Cav. Bradley's Bravos turned out to be nothing more than glorified gunnery targets."

Tommy shook his head vehemently. "I saw the Genyoshain action when our First Battalion popped down to pry their jaws free of your ass. The Genyoshaare very good—better than the 5th Sword by a long shot." Tommy narrowed his eyes. "Come to think of it, the MHO put out an advisory that said Yorinaga Kurita was running that outfit."

Scott bowed his head. "He was." Scott balled his left fist and smashed it against the rock. "He piloted a Warhammer.I could have had him . . ."

Tommy's eyes grew distant. "Me, too. He's the one that got the Doc. I had him right in front of me, but. . ."

Scott's whisper came wreathed in frost. ". . . But the damned computer wouldn't give me a lock."

Tommy nodded and shivered despite the warmth of his thick parka. "I've never seen anything like it."

Scott stiffened, then looked up into Tommy's eyes. "I have. Mallory's World, 3016—only that time it was Morgan Kell defying Yorinaga to hit him. Back then, it confused me. Now it just makes my blood run cold."

Both men sat silently for a moment. The wind howled hungrily, raking clouds of sharp, stinging ice crystals over their faces. Each man turned from the wind and found himself staring back out at the forces closing on the mountain stronghold. Scott broke the silence first. "How is Doctor Banzai?" Tommy shrugged quickly, but Scott easily read the pain on his face. "Medics say the Doc has stabilized, but it's still very serious. Lost lots of blood, they tell me."

Scott smiled carefully to keep from cracking his chapped lips. "Guys were line up all around the caverns down there waiting to donate blood. Not just your people, but folks from the Bravos and the Light Cav."

Tommy nodded. He lifted the field glasses again to study the Draconis troops. "It's going to get nasty when they come for us."

Scott grimaced. "Do you think they're waiting for the Genyosha!"

Tommy laughed for a half-second. "No, if the Genyoshawere coming to this party, the 5th Sword would have already begun the assault." Seeing the puzzled look on Scott's face, Tommy explained. "We've been listening to their radio chatter. There's no love lost between the 5th Sword and the Genyosha."

Tommy smiled openly. "I guess they didn't tell you. The Genyoshacame to Northwind because ISF sources told them they'd find the Kell Hounds here. From what we can make out, the ISF learned that the Kell Hounds hit the Genyoshabase while they were here kicking us around."

Scott grinned. "That's something, for certain. Serves those bastards right." Way to go, Morgan. Wish I coulda been there with you.

Tommy crossed back to Scott, ice and snow crunching beneath his boots. He squatted and laid a long-fingered hand on Scott's right forearm. "Look, when they come tomorrow, we'll hold them off. The Hong Kong Cavaliers," Tommy snorted, "or The Cavaliers combined with the remnants of the Blue Blazers and the Radar Blazers will fight a delaying action. That should give the Bravos and the Light Cav enough time to get the Doc to safety through the northern passes. Once you get into the jungles beyond these mountains, the Snakes'll never find you." Tommy winked at him. "The Prince will send more help."

Scott shook his head. "Face it, Tommy, Team Banzai wasour help. You managed to save a company of mine, and two very disorganized battalions of Light Cav, but it cost you two-thirds of your regiment." Scott swallowed hard. "It's time we pay you back."

Scott held up his left hand to forestall any argument from the slender mercenary. He raked his fingers through his windblown tangle of black hair, then glanced down. "I made some quick trades with the Light Cav. I've got the Bravos arranged into an Omega company ..."

Tommy shook his head. "You can't..."

Scott nodded solemnly. "We've already loaded inferno rockets into all of our SRM pods . . ."

"No!" Tommy shook his head vehemently. "Inferno rockets are too volatile. They're just jellied incendiaries. If one of your 'Mechs gets hit..." Tommy opened his hands in a mock explosion.

Scott smiled weakly. "Tommy, we're dead anyway. The infernos will cook a few Snakes in their 'Mechs, and will scare lots more. It'll give you more time."

"I don't like it," Tommy said.

"Not up to you to like it. Weapons are at full, and so now it'll be up to The Cavaliers to get the Doctor clear. I'd appreciate it if you'd take the wounded Bravos." Scott glanced at his own broken ankle. "The seriously injured Bravos, that is."

Tommy nodded, patting Scott on the shoulder. "Consider it done, Major Bradley."

Another man, dark-haired and ruddy-faced, charged onto the ledge from below. He brandished a portable radio transceiver. "Tommy! Tommy! You gotta hear this!"

Tommy stood. "What is it, Reno?"

The excited man smiled and flicked on the radio. "Listen."

Static crackled from the speaker, then cleared, but the transmission was so faint that all three men huddled around the radio. The first voice they heard, coming in somewhat stronger than the others, Scott identified as coming from the Team Banzai member named Rawhide. "Banzai Base to incoming DropShips, please repeat identification."

The reply, coming in a woman's voice and featuring slightly rolled r's, ignored the question. "We show considerable activity near the Rockspire Mountains. Please confirm, Banzai Base."

Rawhide replied quickly. "Roger that. Two, repeat, two Kurita Regiments. Fifth Sword of Light and 36th Dieron Regulars approximately ten klicks south on the plains. Please identify yourself."

The female voice again let the question of her identity slide by. "Copy. Fifth Sword of Light and 36th Dieron Regulars. Anything else?" A strange squealing echoed beneath her words, but Reno's adjustment of the radio did nothing to clear it up.

The three men on the mountain ledge laughed as Rawhide's surprise crackled through the speaker. "Isn't that enough?"

"For a while, luv," she laughed in return. "For a while it might be."

Scott glanced up over Tommy's shoulder and saw a dozen glowing white sparks against the blue sky. Too bright to be stars at this time of day.Suddenly, it dawned on him what they were. Stabbing his crutch at them, he shouted, "Tommy, look! DropShips coming in!"

Tommy snatched the radio from Reno's mittened hands. Hitting the transmit switch, he broke into the conversation. "Rawhide, we see DropShips incoming!" He glanced over at Scott and got a nod to confirm his unvoiced question. "They're coming this way."

Rawhide's voice took on a strong edge. "Unknown forces, please identify. Are you the incoming DropShips?"

As the squeal sounded slightly louder, a lilt worked through the woman's reply. "That we are, luv."

"Dammit, who the hell are you and what's that caterwauling?" Rawhide exploded in exasperation.

"We're the best of the best, Banzai Base, and those are the war-pipes you're hearing." The woman's voice filled with pride. "We're the Northwind Highlanders, and courtesy of Prince Hanse Davion, we've left the service of Maximilian Liao. Plainly put, Banzai Base, after centuries in exile, the Northwind Highlanders are coming home."