Текст книги "Bloodname"

Автор книги: Роберт Торстон

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27

"Ter Roshak? Did I hear you right? Do you mean to tell us that your motives for the crime of which you are accused were both honorable and benevolent?"

The usually detached Loremaster could not keep the disbelief from his voice. He had interrupted Lenore Shi-Lu's current line of questioning with more abruptness and less politeness than was his usual wont.

"That is correct, Loremaster."

"Ter Roshak, as a Bloodnamed warrior with a fine combat record, we must listen to your defense, but I must say that I fail to see how the terms you propose offer any justification of your acts."

"If you will hear me out, Loremaster."

"By all means. Go on."

Roshak glanced at the tiers of Jade Falcon warriors, most of whom were leaning forward with expressions of doubt on their faces.

"It has been said repeatedly during these proceedings that I arranged for Cadet Aidan's second trial because of some special potential I saw in him. Though I did recognize such potential, it was not sufficient to merit a violation of Clan law to award him a second chance. I have seen too many cadets with just as much potential end up in lower castes or dead on a scarred battlefield. If anything, Cadet Aidan's potential was almost negated by his cocksure, rash, often arrogant tactics. Daring too much may sometimes result in impressive individual heroism, but it is more likely to lead to overbidding, then humiliation in battle.

"In his official trial he came close to qualifying, but fate took his chance away. I have often believed the Clans should provide a second Trial for certain cadets, but I would not have gone against Clan law and custom for any but the most extraordinary reasons."

"It is to learn those, as you say, extraordinary reasons that we wait with bated breath," Lenore Shi-Lu commented drily. "Please abridge your prologue to the main points and provide us the evidence we require."

"I am sorry. I had wished to be as meticulous in my testimony as the Inquisitor is meticulous in her questioning."

"Flattery is an Inner Sphere weakness, Ter Roshak. Please continue without it."

"Yes. Just a bit more prologue, if you please. It is significant to this case that I previously served with Ramon Mattlov, one of the greatest Galaxy Commanders in Jade Falcon history."

Lenore Shi-Lu tapped something onto the keyboard of the computer console set into the main table, then scanned the monitor. "Mattlov is the male progenitor of Star Commander Aidan's sibko, quiaff?"

"Aff. He was a great hero in his life, Ramon Mattlov, and I watched him die as one. When I left warrior duty and took command of the Ironhold training center, I dedicated my service to him. Indeed, Ramon Mattlov was often in my thoughts as I went about my duties. I considered his views whenever I made my own decisions, and in my briefings and meetings with my training officers, I often repeated Ramon Mattlov's views and beliefs verbatim. There were times—and I must ask the council's indulgence for uttering such unClanlike sentiments in this official session—when I almost believed I wasRamon Mattlov. I would dress down a cadet just as he would have, I would demonstrate a fighting technique exactly as he had demonstrated it to me, I would conduct surprise inspections just as brutally as he did."

Perhaps, Joanna thought, you also got falling-down-drunk just like Ramon Mattlov, mistreated your subordinates just like Ramon Mattlov, foolishly defied fate just like Ramon Mattlov.

For once Lenore Shi-Lu seemed ill-at-ease. She glanced toward the Loremaster for guidance, but his attention was so focused on Roshak that he did not notice her silent plea. Finally, she turned back to Roshak: "I am sorry for being obtuse, Falconer Commander, but perhaps you can explain how this—may I call it obsession?—with Ramon Mattlov relates to the accusations and concerns of this assembly?"

"It will become clear."

"I am relieved. Go on, sir."

Roshak paused for a moment, seeming lost in his thoughts. Actually, he was marshalling them into ranks so that he could march them past the council members with military precision.

"On the day Cadet Aidan's sibko arrived on Iron-hold, I thought I was seeing a ghost when I looked at the young man. It was as though Ramon Mattlov, a bit younger than when I had first known him, were back in the flesh before me. Oh, others in the sibko also resembled my former comrade. That was only natural in a group with the same genetic background. Another one of them, a young woman, also strikingly resembled Ramon Mattlov. She is among us now, an honorable warrior who has won the right to the Pryde Bloodname."

A few in the audience glanced at Marthe, who showed no expression.

"But I saw something more in Cadet Aidan than a mere resemblance. At first sight I almost believed he was the reincarnation of Ramon Mattlov."

The gathered Clan warriors muttered at this last statement, which seemed a clear indication that Ter Roshak was mad. Insanity among Clan warriors was rare, but not unknown.

"Cadet Aidan not only looked like my former commander, he stood like him, with a defiant tilt to his shoulders, with his feet placed on the ground as though ready to spring. None of the other sibkin displayed that posture. When I noticed him speak to Cadet Marthe, he had a way of leaning his head toward her that was a duplicate of the way Ramon Mattlov instructed another officer."

"That is all quite remarkable, Falconer Commander," said Lenore Shi-Lu, "but how does it justify your subsequent acts?"

"Bear with me, Inquisitor. That day I studied Cadet Aidan secretly. When, as his commanding officer, I got close to him, I stared into his eyes. Cool, confident, they were the eyes of Ramon Mattlov. Not only that, I saw in them the same hint of danger.

"At that first encounter, the training officer gave the cadets the usual beating every newly arrived sibko deserves. When Falconer Joanna picked out Cadet Aidan for the most ferocious punishment, he gave back more fight than any cadet I have ever seen. And that, too, made him like Ramon Mattlov. Knocked down once, he got up , again. Severely beaten, he continued to fight. He would not admit defeat. Again, all traits of Ramon Mattlov. I had seen all those qualities over the course of various battles. I fought alongside Ramon Mattlov, and now I was seeing his ferocious tenacity all over again.

"As training continued, the resemblance became even more pronounced. And the major likeness was to Ramon Mattlov's tendency to go for the big strike and his unwillingness to accept defeat under any condition. Ramon Mattlov turned the tide of battle several times at a moment when most warriors would have been submitting terms of surrender. So extreme were his tactics that he often risked losing a battle. He would underbid his firepower, for example, or choose tactics so unorthodox that even seasoned combatants tried to change his mind. He was lucky, though, and usually achieved his objective. He had earned his right to contribute his heritage to the sacred gene pool long before his death in combat."

Roshak glanced around the room, silent now during his eulogy to Ramon Mattlov. Lenore Shi-Lu quietly broke the stillness: "Go on, Falconer Commander."

"It was this that fed my desire to see Cadet Aidan succeed. It was why I prodded him, pushed him, and made sure my officers did the same. His successes in early tests were denigrated instead of praised to spur him to try all the harder. His lapses were magnified so that he would brood on them and seek ways to eliminate them the next time around. During that time I had few actual encounters with him, but I do recall once coming upon him suddenly when he was standing guard. For a moment, I mistook him for Ramon Mattlov. I knew then that if Cadet Aidan did not win his Trial, it would be a dishonor to the memory of Ramon Mattlov."

"I am not certain I follow your reasoning, Falconer Commander," Lenore Shi-Lu interrupted. "In the Clan, as you know, metaphysics are discouraged. How might the very real achievements of Ramon Mattlov be dishonored by a cadet who had a mere physical resemblance to him?"

For the first time Ter Roshak looked flustered. "You misunderstand, Inquisitor. His resemblance was not a merephysical one. I believed him to be the embodiment of all Ramon Mattlov had been. That meant he must be the best in all Clan combat activities. When the young man failed his Trial of Position, I could not accept it. He should have won. Anyone who examines the records or tapes of that test would agree.

"Even then, I would not have interfered if Cadet Aidan, by now astech Aidan, had not escaped from Ironhold at the first possible opportunity and begun to seek his own fortune. In similar circumstances, Ramon Mattlov would have done the same. That was when I knew what I must do. I had to create the circumstances for another Trial."

"And to do that," Lenore Shi-Lu interrupted again, "you found it necessary to arrange for the death of a freeborn to give a new identity and another chance at the Trial to this cadet you favored so much?"

"That is essentially correct."

"Essentially?"

Ter Roshak seemed to hesitate before responding. "I did not merely arrangefor the freeborn's death. I personally planted real explosive charges in a training minefield. When the only survivor of the explosions was the freeborn cadet whose place Cadet Aidan was to take, I killed the cadet, too."

Aidan was surprised. He had not known the extent of Roshak's personal involvement.

"We are grateful for your honesty, Falconer Commander, but in truth, the deaths of a few freeborn cadets have little bearing on this case. The issue is whyyou engaged in deceit, not how.Are we to understand, then, that loyalty to Ramon Mattlov underlay all your actions regarding Star Commander Aidan?"

"Expressed so succinctly, your statement diminishes the gravity of my objectives, but what you say is quite true. Loyalty is the way of the Clan, and my loyalty to Ramon Mattlov overrode other considerations."

"Loyalty to a deadcommanding officer, I am forced to point out. Loyalty in the extreme. Meritorious on some level, I am sure, but not worth defying Clan law."

The approving murmurs in the hall seemed to endorse Lenore Shi-Lu's words.

"If you so believe, Inquisitor, I would not attempt to disagree."

"Why not, Falconer Commander? When you have disobeyed Clan law, why not disagree with one of its loyal minions?"

"With all due respect, Inquisitor, I believe I have established my motives in the actions for which I was called here. Judgment follows. I have no more to say."

Ter Roshak did, however, speak more, responding tersely to Beck Qwabe's questions, which Roshak's own previous testimony had rendered irrelevant. Foreseeing the outcome of the case, Qwabe was merely going through the motions, presenting the questions submitted by those warriors sympathetic to the Advocate case. He had been surprised at the numbers who seemed to support the defendants until he noted that most of them were of Ter Roshak's generation, aging warriors in their last years of service. Roshak had called in some favors, Qwabe was certain. The vote would be closer than Qwabe had originally expected.

When all the testimony was complete, the Loremaster polled the council members. Of the 493 warriors who voted, 372 voted against Ter Roshak and Aidan. Joanna, whose case was considered separately, received approval from 167 of the warriors, with 326 against.

As soon as the Loremaster announced the vote, both Aidan and Ter Roshak stood up. Roshak, as senior officer, would speak first.

"I do not accept the judgment of this council. I demand a Trial of Refusal."

"I also," Aidan shouted.

The Khan nodded wearily, then signaled to the Lore-master. Most of the warriors in the room recognized that the officers of the court were not surprised by the request. Aidan speculated on the likelihood that Roshak had called in favors from old comrades to influence the proportions of the vote to acceptable levels. He quickly calculated that the odds against them in the Trial of Refusal were three-to-one. They might be formidable odds, but at least, Aidan thought, it gave him a chance. Even before coming here, he had planned to invoke the Trial of Refusal, at that time figuring the odds against him would be much worse.

A Trial of Refusal was the right of any warrior to protest a judgment against him by the council. Conceived in the early days of the Clan, it permitted a warrior to verify his cause or his case by going into combat against some of the best available warriors of the Clan; the number of opponents was based on the odds of the vote. Because the vote against Aidan and Ter Roshak was three-to-one, they would have to face six warriors in their Trial of Refusal. Tough odds, Aidan thought, but with some skill and a well-modified 'Mech, they could be overcome. They were certainly better than the six– or seven-to-one he might have faced if not for Tier Roshak's political acumen.

As the Loremaster announced the terms of the Trial of Refusal, Joanna astounded everyone by rising to her feet with a request to speak.

"Yes, Star Captain Joanna?" the Loremaster said.

"My name is tainted by the judgment against me. Two-thirds of the warriors present believe I have committed a wrong. I will not have that. I demand to be included in the Trial of Refusal."

"But, Star Captain, your vote was different. With only two out of every three voting against you, you need not fight at three-to-one odds."

"I wish to. I am implicated in their deeds. I will exonerate myself. And the odds mean nothing to me. What is one BattleMech more or less?"

The officers of the court conferred, then the Lore-master announced that the Trial of Refusal would take place in two days, with the three tainted warriors meeting nine of their Jade Falcon judges in a contest of BattleMechs.

As they left the chamber, Aidan caught up with Ter Roshak. "When will we discuss tactics?" he asked.

"You presume too much, as always. We will discuss nothing. I have no intention of cooperating with you. Why did you not hold your tongue, as I instructed you?"

"You should know that better than I. No true warrior can pass up the opportunity to win a Bloodname. I must have mine."

"What a fool! You will not live to compete in the Trial of Bloodright. I will take great pleasure in watching you die on the battlefield. Goodbye, Star Commander Aidan. We will not speak again."

As Aidan watched Ter Roshak walk away, he wondered if the man was mad. At the very least, he seemed disoriented. Finally he decided that Roshak's actions were consistent with his past. The Falconer Commander's actions had always been difficult to read.

"What was that all about?" Joanna asked, coming up to Aidan.

"Ter Roshak refuses to discuss tactics for the Trial of Refusal. I do not think he cares whether or not he succeeds."

"Perhaps he wishes to die in a cockpit, and this is his last chance."

"If that is true, it considerably increases the odds against us."

"Yes, I do not approve of the idea of Ter Roshak acting out his own personal tragedy, all the while taking us down with him. Still, as I said in court, what is one BattleMech more or less? Or two?"

"You should have stayed out of this, Joanna."

"Do not address me familiarly."

"All right. Star Captain Joanna. I will not blame you if you withdraw. You could still initiate your own separate Trial of Refusal."

"No. I stand by my words. Besides, perhaps this will show me if there is any sense in what Ter Roshak said in his testimony. Perhaps the spirit of Ramon Mattlov does live in you."

"He said nothing about spirit."

"You were not listening. It was exactlywhat he said. So, we have two days. Let us discuss what we must do. This Trial will, after all, not be like any to which we are accustomed. All the 'Mechs in the field will go against us simultaneously. There will be none of the single engagements we are used to in Trials. In a Trial of Refusal, the odds against the challenger must be maintained. We must plan on several contingencies. Especially with Ter Roshak now an unpredictable factor."

"I agree. We must—"

Aidan suddenly stopped speaking when he saw Marthe approaching. He stared at her the whole way. She must have been conscious of his gaze. For an instant, her eyes seemed to flick past his, then she walked on without speaking or acknowledging him in any way. At one time, he might have run after her, demanding that she speak. But now, with her a Bloodnamed warrior and wearing the insignia of a Star Captain, he would not give her the satisfaction of snubbing him further.

"Look at her," Joanna said. "I trained her. I instilled in her a respect for the Clan and a desire for a Bloodname. Now she has the Bloodname and she walks by without speaking. I hope she is in one of the 'Mechs at the Trial so that I can destroy her."

Aidan's thoughts were less aggressive and his hope was not in any way related to Marthe in a BattleMech. "If it is all right with you, Star Captain," he said, "I would like to plan to dispose of all our adversaries quickly."

"Any reason for that?"

"Yes. The Grand Melee for the House Pryde Bloodname commences the next day. Without a warrior to sponsor me, it is my only path to the Bloodname."

Joanna sighed and gave Aidan a rare smile. "At this moment, I do not know who is more lunatic, you or Ter Roshak. On second thought, maybe I am the crazy one here."

28

Nine BattleMechs came over the crest of a wide hill together, rising into the sky like rockets in some kind of slow-motion launch.

"Nine little BattleMechs tempting cruel fate," Aidan whispered to Joanna over the commlink. "One got religion, and then there were eight."

"What in the name of Kerensky are you talking about?"

"Something I picked up somewhere, listening to a child's game, I think. Eight little BattleMechs reaching up to heaven, one fell to hell and then there were seven."

"Doggerel. Do not give me doggerel now, Aidan."

"All right," he said, "let us do it as we planned. Let us move out."

"What about Ter Roshak?"

"Since he has carefully disabled all his communications systems, he will just have to follow us, or not."

Slowly, they began moving toward their nine opponents. "Nine little BattleMechs . . . ," Aidan muttered to himself, softly so that Joanna would not hear.

Although Joanna had been reluctant to break with Clan trial traditions, Aidan had persuaded her that their only chance lay in the unexpected. As they lumbered forward, he in his favorite 'Mech type, a Summoner,she in a Mad Dog,Aidan was astonished by the array of heavy 'Mechs against them. Ahead he saw a Dire Wolf,a pair of Warhawks,an Executioner,a Mad Dog,and a Gargoyle.As some of these 'Mech types were not typical of Jade Falcon forces, they must have been shipped in just for this battle or else were part of the Ironhold refresher training courses. The other three BattleMechs were another Summonerand two lighter 'Mechs, a Stormcrowand an Ice Ferret.

Aidan had considered going out in a lighter 'Mech, but he did not want to give up that much firepower. He had changed his Summoner's,primary weapons configuration, removing the right-arm PPC in order to increase the size of his shoulder-mounted LRM rack and also mount a Streak class short-range missile-launching system. But this also precluded his mounting an anti-missile system, something he liked to have regardless of his 'Mech's configuration.

"All right, Joanna, remember the drill?"

"Of course. Which one first?"

"The Stormcrowseems to be moving out ahead of the pack. All right?"

"I am with you."

Aidan and Joanna had realized that the odds in a Trial of Refusal were formidable in terms of firepower and maneuverability. It was one thing to go up against other 'Mechs one at a time, but when a line of them came at a warrior all firing at once, the target could not know where to direct fire. It was worse, in fact, than a Grand Melee, in which every 'Mech was on the same footing, the opponent of every other 'Mech on the field, all going for the same goal, the odds the same for every combatant. In a Trial of Refusal, the adversaries were all concentrated against the challenger, with not a single one of their shots intended for one another. The odds for the lone warrior were, therefore, actually better in the Grand Melee than in this Trial. Treating each opponent as if he were the only enemy of the moment allowed for less waste and more possibility. No matter how much Aidan ran the numbers through his mind or a computer, however, there seemed no way he and Joanna could win, especially with Ter Roshak out on his own instead of working with them.

He and Joanna had nevertheless agreed to start with a plan and stick to it, unless unexpected tactics from the other side forced improvisation. Both Aidan and Joanna targeted the Stormcrow.Sixty fiery arrows leapt from the shoulders of their 'Mechs and streaked toward the 'Mech. The pilot did not expect such a deluge of missile fire and seemed to have frozen into inaction at the sight. Most of the missiles impacted on the Stormcrow's,upper torso, blasting out a great hole. Another quick launch sent the 'Mech reeling backward. It teetered for a moment, then its middle chest exploded and the 'Mech fell. As the Stormcrowdisintegrated, the thin line rising above it was its pilot ejecting. Surprised by the tactic, the other 'Mechs had barely touched the 'Mechs of Aidan and Joanna.

"Nice work!" Joanna yelled.

"... and then there were eight," Aidan muttered. "That takes care of the advantage of surprise, Joanna. Now is the time for cowardice. Get moving."

* * *

Ter Roshak watched Aidan and Joanna fight with an almost academic interest. He had been responsible for the training of one and had been served by the other. They polished off their first kill quickly, taking little damage.

Then, as their opponents came at them, the two underdogs actually turned and ran! Joanna's 'Mech moved swiftly across the terrain, while Aidan's used a leap to move even further ahead. Back at the enemy line, the Executionerdetached itself from the others and made its own sudden leap forward. The jump was graceful, especially for a 'Mech of such considerable tonnage. It was not, however, perfectly calculated. The Executionercame down just short of Joanna's swift Mad Dog.Having tracked it well, she was already countering its fire even before its pilot could orient himself.

* * *

Ter Roshak turned his 'Mech, a rare Nova,one of two presently on Ironhold, and fired off a cluster of LRMs from the right-arm rack that replaced the 'Mech's usual medium lasers. The long-range missiles would surprise the Executionerbecause a Novawas not usually equipped with them. The missiles' flight was true, their arcs high to make up for the relatively short distance, and the missiles coming in at an odd angle that apparently the Executionerpilot did not detect in time. The other 'Mech was already reeling from the concentrated attack by Joanna's left-arm laser, whose large pulses were making an asymmetric tattoo on the 'Mech's chest. Two of the LRMs made direct hits against the Executioner'supper torso. The damage would not normally have removed the 'Mech from battle, but the pilot's cockpit was split open and its inhabitant killed instantly, never knowing what hit her. As Joanna's Mad Dogsprinted away, the Executionerwas left standing in the field, a shell whose upper surface was slashed open in many places.

For a moment, Ter Roshak was exhilarated. Killing the 'Mech reminded him of his days fighting side by side with Ramon Mattlov. Now he was focused on his cockpit sensors and the Mad Dogthat was heading his way, its large lasers already firing and doing glancing damage to Roshak's Nova.

"And then there were seven," Aidan said softly as he noted the Executioner'sfall. "You did that with just your lasers, Star Captain Joanna?"

"Truth to tell, I had a little help." She explained how Roshak's direct hit to the cockpit had annihilated the Executioner.

"The sleeping giant awakes early," Aidan commented. He saw that the Mad Dogwas closing in on Roshak's Nova.The contest was something of a mismatch, with the Mad Dogso much heavier than the Nova,but Ter Roshak had a couple of advantages over his opponent. First, he was a seasoned pilot, of an age not usually seen piloting a 'Mech. Second, the Novawas a relatively unknown quantity on a Jade Falcon planet.

"Should we help him?" Joanna asked, her tone almost analytical rather than sympathetic to Ter Roshak's plight.

"No, we must not waste firepower. He left us to fight without his help. Let him fight this one out on his own. Have we run far enough?"

"I think so. We seem to have two ranks of pursuit. I think it is time to take care of the front line. In the meantime we need more split in their ranks. You veer off to the right. I will join you in a moment."

Joanna was surprised to note how quickly she followed Aidan's directions. Perhaps he was a natural warrior, after all.

Aidan's Summonerturned and took a short jump toward the leading trackers, one of the Warhawksand the Ice Ferret.Simultaneously he noticed that two of the other four 'Mechs, the Dire Wolf andthe Gargoyle,had begun to go specifically after Joanna. The gap between the groups of 'Mechs was widening, what with the Mad Dogengaged in a rough contest with Ter Roshak's Nova.

As Aidan landed his Summoner,he glanced toward the two lead 'Mechs and thought of a little variation on that childhood rhyme that kept running through his head: "Seven little BattleMechs, thinking they were alive. Two tripped on wires, and then there were five."

* * *

Ter Roshak had come into the Trial of Refusal not caring whether he won or lost, lived or died. Dying would not, in fact, be so bad. He would have challenged the council instead of accepting the shame; fought in a final Trial instead of winding up in a useless life; died with honor in the Trial instead of dying as cannon fodder. Battling with the Mad Dog,trading it blow for blow, he felt some meaning had returned to his life. And to think he had been so ready to die only a few moments ago.

He had mounted a pulse laser into the left side of the Nova's torso. Right now he was cycling through the lasers on that arm and firing off the pulse laser in the torso in an effort to keep his heat under control.

The Mad Dogwas under no such constraints. It carried only two weapons, Gauss cannons that would spit out a melon-sized ball of hardened steel at Mach 2 every ten seconds. Twice the melons struck home, shattering most of the armor plate protecting Roshak's right and center torsos. Roshak now had to keep the exposed side away from the Mad Dog,which meant that he could not use the missile rack mounted in this 'Mech's left arm. Circling and weaving around his almost stationary opponent, Roshak stayed in almost constant motion, his slow and steady fire gradually chipping away the Mad Dog'sarmor. His opponent had yet to score another hit with his Gauss cannon, but Roshak knew it was only a matter of time.

Suddenly he wondered if he might not turn the Mad Dogpilot's immobility into an advantage. He had to do something soon, he thought, as the muzzles of his opponent's weapons sent silver streaks speeding past his cockpit viewport.

* * *

Quickly calculating the range, Aidan fired a salvo of the Thunder LRMs at the Warhawkand the Ice Ferret.He watched as the missiles fell in front of their targets, exploding just before hitting the ground. The two 'Mechs were fooled enough to try to knock them out with their anti-missile systems, whose shots were too short.

If either 'Mech suspected what was coming, neither showed any reaction. They did not diminish their speed, as they might have, although Aidan calculated that even a slowdown would have taken them directly into the minefields that the Thunders had laid down. As his opponents' massive 'Mech feet came down directly on clumps of mines, three of the four legs were instantly blown off below the knee. The Ice Ferretcrashed to the ground, setting off more mines and undoubtedly killing the pilot, while the Warhawktilted forward on its one leg. With superhuman effort, its pilot managed to force his 'Mech sideways, away from the minefield. Then it, too, fell to the ground. In a moment the Warhawkpilot had ejected. Watching him sail upward, Aidan realized immediately that the man's angle was wrong. The arc of his flight was taking him to the outer edge of the minefield. Aidan felt the pilot's death would be useless, but fate was stronger. As the man's ejection seat touched ground, a small tower of explosion enveloped both him and his ejection seat.

"I think the observers must be getting a bit restless," Joanna commented over the commlink. "The odds could be in our favor any minute. Unless these fellows coming at me get lucky. By the way, you did promise to get back to me, did you not?"

Without responding, Aidan set his Summoneron a two-jump trip to the point where Joanna was trading fire with the Gargoyle.The Dire Wolf,a notoriously slower vehicle, was closing in. Aidan calculated that they had approximately twenty seconds before the pilot could bring the 'Mech's massive firepower against them.

"I cannot see why you need me, Joanna."

"Do not make jokes. You know I do not understand humor."

"I was not joking."

"I suggest you occupy the Dire Wolf'sattention."

"Gladly, Joanna."

As Aidan moved toward the Dire Wolf,he sang, louder this time: "Five little BattleMechs, playing tough at war. One got a stomach cramp, and then there were four."

Just as he was launching a salvo of SRMs at the Dire Wolf,he glanced through his viewport and saw that Ter Roshak was definitely in dire trouble with his Mad Dog.

Roshak should have seen the move coming. The Mad Dogpilot suddenly pointed his Ultra autocannon down and chipped away at the Nova's right-foot armor. Feeling shudders up through the 'Mech's right leg, Roshak knew something important had been hit.

There was no longer any sense in going head to head with this BattleMech, he thought. Engaging his jump jets, he leaped nearly the full capacity of 150 meters, getting closer to where Aidan and Joanna were in the midst of a furious battle. When he landed, however, it was on the damaged foot, and his 'Mech lost its balance. It would have fallen flat on its back had Roshak not manipulated the joystick frenetically to bring the 'Mech down to one knee, with the other leg slightly sprawled out. As it came to rest, the Novawas slightly tilted but operable.