Текст книги "Wolf Pack"

41

Elson sat staring at the holotank wherein rotated a green globe representing Outreach. The greater continent of the Outback slipped from view as the wide Argyosean Sea filled most of the visible surface. Then little by little the smaller continent crept into sight. Elson called up the force display. Blue dots winked into existence on the sphere's surface, marking the locations of forces loyal to Alpin. Other dots appeared, red for the forces loyal to Wolf and amber for those still undecided about which side to support in the struggle for control of the Dragoons.

The first stage of the battle, he reminded himself. Once Jaime Wolf was taken care of, the next phases could begin. Alpin would not lead the Dragoons for long.

Foolish, self-important Alpin.

Alpin was styling himself the Khan of Wolf's Dragoons. Enamored of anything to do with the Clans, perhaps the boy thought using Clan designations would make him more popular with the Clanners in his faction. If so, he was ignoring the sentiments of those who sided with him for other reasons, having no particular love for the Clans. Indeed, many of those were already offended just when Alpin needed all the support he could get right now.

Elson had been unintentionally drawn into the light by Alpin's sudden declaration that the position of saKhan was to be revived and that Elson would hold it. The intent, a return to proper Clan forms, was laudable. The last Dragoon saKhan had been Joshua Wolf, one of the original Dragoons. When Joshua was killed, Jaime Wolf had amalgamated the position into his own, a move that had been the Dragoons' first overt step away from their heritage.

The timing of the change had not been Alpin's first blunder. No. That unfortunate move had come hard on the heels of the failed attempt on Jaime Wolf. The panicked Alpin had ordered security guards to fire on Patrick Chan and his lance after they had dismounted from their 'Mechs. It was a bad choice. The crusty old 'Mech jock was chief of BattleMech operations and a potential ally because he professed belief in the honor road. Chan might have been talked around, brought to see that the future lay with a revitalized Clan organization for the Dragoons. Still, Elson had been able to hide the truth beneath a story that Chan and his MechWarriors had attacked Alpin. Not all believed, but no one openly contradicted the tale.

Then, in unconscious mockery of Elson's plans, Alpin's awkward and flustered announcement of the restoration of the Khan ranks had come. Elson's refusal to support and accept the move would have embarrassed Alpin and weakened the boy's tenuous hold on the position of commander of the Dragoons. Elson was not yet ready for that. Neither was he ready to step into the light as the power behind the changes. He knew he should welcome the return of proper Clan command structure, but the move had cost, alienating some Dragoons whose allegiance to the new leadership was wavering. Tapping the code for Epsilon Regiment, Elson watched as the updated data made some of the lights change from blue to amber. A few, several BattleMech companies and the majority of the support elements, went all the way to red.

Elson brooded over the development as the holographic globe continued to turn, bringing the Outback back into view. Whereas the smaller, developed continent was lit primarily with blue and amber lights, the Outback was mostly amber, spotted with tiny clusters of red and a few scattered spots of blue. Admittedly, most of the units represented by the amber lights were Home Guard and not as combat-capable as the line regiments, but only a fool would discount them. If they sided with Wolf, there would be serious fighting. The cursed neutral position taken by Fleet Captain Chandra prevented him from ascertaining the loyalties of far too many of the Home Guard units. The sooner he acted, the smoother things would go.

The door to the office opened and let in the bustling noise of the command center. Annoyed by the interruption, he snapped, "What is it?"

"Delta call, sir. The Kuritans are reported moving out of their encampment in the Provence Sector. There is a convoy with the BattleMechs."

Although unwelcome, the Kuritan move was not unanticipated. "Have they opened fire?"

"Neg. The 643rd Home Guard infantry was on watch. They decided to withdraw."

"Bring the big tank on line. I'll be out in minute."

He had been expecting something from the Kuritans for some time now. The convoy was interesting, though: it would be the Mech Warriors' dependents. Clearly, the Kuritans were finished with Dragoon hospitality. But where were they going? Home, or to Wolf?

The possibility that they might be heading to join Wolf could not be discounted. Jaime Wolf had partially equipped the Kuritans with Dragoon machines, possibly engendering some kind of honor debt. But the machines were Dragoon property, not Wolf's. The Kuritans could not be allowed to leave without surrendering that equipment.

Elson stalked into the ops center. As he had ordered, the holotank was up and running. A glance told him the number of BattleMechs in the column, and that figure revealed that the Kuritans were taking the Dragoon equipment. He walked around the tank, passing Fancher and Parella, to confront the short Kuritan who stood there staring into the holotank. As usual, the small man showed no sign of being intimidated by Elson's bulk or demeanor. It was an admirable, if irritating, trait.

"Well, Noketsuna, they are your clan, what are they doing?"

"Leaving," was all he said.

Elson found that insufficient answer. "To fight with Wolf?"

Turning an impassive face to him, Noketsuna said, "Wolf is a rebel by your law. Kuritans despise rebels. Those who transgress against the bond of duty are outcasts."

"They are already outcasts, quiaff?"

"Some would call them so," the Kuritan said blandly.

"Does that mean you think they will run to Wolf?"

"I cannot know their minds."

Fancher stepped around the tank to join them. "If we hold their DropShips, the Snakes won't be going anywhere."

"I do not advise that," Noketsuna said. "Those ships are their property. I believe that, given what is occurring, they will have their armament ready for defense. If you initiate a battle for the ships, you will force the ground forces to fight you."

Grimacing in annoyance, Fancher said, "The DropShips are too big an asset to give up, Elson. If we can take them, we augment our available force. We can put almost another battalion on the other side in the first wave. Send the commandos after the ships. The Snakes won't make a fight of it when they see they're stranded."

"I do not advise that," Noketsuna repeated.

Elson looked around the center until he spotted Major Sean Eric Kevin of Seventh Kommando. Calling him over, Elson brought the commando officer up to date on the situation. After considering the options, Kevin said, "It's possible, but we would need command codes to lock down the weaponry and take control of the computers."

Elson turned to the Kuritan. "You had access, Noketsuna, quiaff?"

"Yes."

"You can supply those codes, quiaff?"

"Yes."

"Then give them to us."

"As you command."

Noketsuna's words were subservient, but his attitude was defiant. It didn't matter. The Kuritan would not dare put false codes into the computer.

"Kevin, get your commandos out to the port and put them on standby. I want two Stars of Elementals ready to supply backup." Elson gave some more deployment orders, then said, "Noketsuna, you're coming with me. I want to talk to your fellow Kuritans."

The bolt from the particle projection cannon crackled past the hoverjeep and splashed into the building behind them. Steam and debris erupted from the wall, pelting the jeep with stone and mortar chips. One flying chip cut Elson's cheek. He gunned the engine, sending the jeep scooting out of the 'Mech's field of fire.

"What is going on? What did that guy say before he dogged down?"

"He said that the DropShips were under attack."

Elson cursed. Someone had taken the initiative at the wrong time, and he had a good idea who it was. Fancher was far too impatient.

"I warned you," Noketsuna said.

"And you were right. I'll remember that."

Elson headed the jeep down the street at high speed. It would not take the first of the Kuritan 'Mechs long to reach the corner behind them. Fortunately the street was not wide enough for two of the giant machines to get clear fire lanes; they would only have to dodge fire from one. A 'Mech appeared in his rearview mirror, the Warhammerthat had fired before. Particle beam, then. It could have been worse; a missile spread would have been harder to avoid. As soon as he saw the faint glow of the charging elements in the blackness of the muzzle, Elson turned the wheel hard. Cutting power to the starboard fans, he let the jeep spill air out the port. The starboard skirts dug into the pavement with a spray of sparks, nearly jarring both passengers from the vehicle.

Blue lightning crackled overhead, barely missing them. Elson rebooted the fans and gunned the engine. Bullets followed the jeep as it screamed toward the safety of a side street. Gouts of asphalt erupted as heavy-caliber slugs chewed their way toward the jeep. Elson floored the accelerator, using the jeep's speed in an attempt to out-race the machine gun's tracking mechanism. Metal screamed as the first slugs caught the back of the jeep, then they were safely behind a building.

Running flat out in a city was dangerous, but Elson had little choice. He needed speed to get away from the Kuritan force. The light hoverjeep was not armed, and if it had been, it would still be no match for the 'Mechs. Noketsuna reported that the Warhammer'sshots had taken out the radio.

Elson decided to head for the port. He could get there well before the heavy 'Mechs like the Warhammerthat had tried to kill them. Even the lighter elements, if the Kuritan commander decided to send them in, would be slower than the hoverjeep. But any lead he gained would be precious little and he would need every second he could get to regain control of the situation.

He could hear energy weapons before they cleared the approach road. The gates were abandoned, open to whoever would use them. In his haste Elson nearly crashed the jeep after one skirt brushed against a gatepost. As the tops of the Kuritan DropShips came into view beyond a row of hangars and maintenance sheds, he slowed, looking for a safe zone to stop. He turned the jeep into an open hangar and stopped it just short of the far door. Noketsuna was right with him as he jumped out and dashed to a window.

It was as bad as he had feared. The Elementals were pinned down by fire from the DropShips and there were dead commandos on the tarmac. One Point of five Elementals was crawling up the side of a UnionClass DropShip. Their position on the hull protected them from the guns of the ship to which they clung, while the ship itself shielded them from the fire of the Union'sthree sister ships. The Elementals were advancing, clearly determined to capture at least one of the ships.

It was hopeless. The arrival of the Kuritan BattleMechs would be the Elementals' deaths.

Elson located one of the other Points sheltering in the lee of a blast wall, and dashed across the field to them. He crouched next to a trooper and ordered him to open his suit. Using the man's commo equipment, he connected with the ops center. He cursed when he heard that Fancher had ordered Beta into action. Two battalions were headed for the port and the third to intercept the main Kuritan column. Elson immediately countermanded the order. Within seconds, Fancher was on the line, screaming at him.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Protecting our assets, Colonel Fancher. We do not need to lose BattleMechs in fruitless combat, and we need the port facilities more than we need to stop the Kuritans from leaving. A battle here will cripple our campaign."

"So you're just going to let them go?"

"Aff."

"And if they run to Wolf?"

"Then they will be running to their deaths."