Decision at Thunder Rift

But the Marauderwas closer now, its twin ca

Then an explosion caught the Marauderabove its cockpit, followed by another and another. Dazed, Lori shook her head, struggling to clear it. The Wasp,Garik Enzelman's machine, stepped between her and the onrushing monster. Lori understood. The Waspcould not fire its missile packs while it was lying down. Garik had stood and loosed a salvo at the Marauder,was now trying to dodge behind the slower machine to strike it from behind.

A lightning bolt of charged particles carved through the air, smashing the Wasp'sright arm and chest. Badly hit, the Waspstaggered among the smoke and hurtling fragments. A second bolt caught the light machine full across its head. Lori heard Garik's scream through the radio, saw shattered plastic and metal exploding outward in a whirling dance of death. The blast picked the light 'Mech off its feet and smashed it down among the rocks.

"Ramage!" she yelled on the com frequency, her voice raw and burning. "They're breaking through! Garik's gone!"

Three hovercraft skimmed low across the ground behind the Marauderas Lori snapped shot after shot at the giant 'Mech's head. This was Grayson's skill and training put to its ultimate test. Missiles slammed into the Marauder'sback as the trio of hovercraft howled into a tight, high-speed turn at ten meters' range.

Turning clumsily, the Marauderfired its autoca

The Locustwas on its feet, pumping laser bolts into the Marauder'sflank and back from 50 meters. Lori's fist cramped over the trigger as she jerked it again and again and again...Then the Marauderwas withdrawing. It staggered back down the ridge, followed by the other five 'Mechs that were still standing. "Why?" Ramage questioned over the combat frequency. Lori could pick him out as he crouched at the stern of the well deck of his hovercraft, microphone in his hand. "They had us cold. Why'd they retreat?"

Lori sagged back against the seat. Sweat drenched her face, chest, and shoulders, and the air inside the cabin seared hot in her lungs as she breathed. She twisted about and yanked the handle that opened the after-cabin hatch, reveling in the ghost of cold air she could feel at the opening.

"Temperature, I think."

"What was that?"

"My 'Mech is so hot, it's on the verge of powering down. They must have the same problem. I think they pulled back to cool off." She pivoted the Locust,studying the cool, black water at their backs. The water foamed and roiled farther down the Rift, but there were only gentle ripples here by the shore.

"And that's not such a bad idea. Yarin, haul yourself into the lake and cool down. I'll mount guard until you come out. Ramage, you round up some people and check out that Stingerwe knocked out. See if it can be enlisted.

"Right, Sarge."

But instead of moving out onto the slope where she could see the ravine, Lori parked the Locustabove the sprawled wreckage of Enzelman's Wasp.A pair of soldiers had already levered open the 'Mech's cockpit and were removing Garik's shattered body. She was shocked by the amount of blood in that cockpit.

Garik was the last of those who had come with her from home. He'd been more, too. He'd been a companion and a friend when she'd needed one, and they'd been lovers — or, at least, they'd shared a bed. Lori felt more alone now than at any time since coming to this bitter world.

The time readout showed that half an hour had passed since the begi

Something must have gone wrong. If Grayson wasn't here, he must be lying dead inside his shattered BattleMech on the ferrocrete apron of the spaceport. And the rest of them would die, too, when the Duke's 'Mech forces cooled enough to charge again.

Lori pondered for a moment whether they should retreat now, while they had a chance. Mopping the sweat off her face, she knew they had to wait for Grayson against all odds. She had promised. Surely, though, he should be here by now. She glanced again at the time readout. If they could only hold out another fifteen minutes...

34

The black and gray Marauder'seight-meter legs gave it a tall and spindly look, and its dorsal-mounted autoca

Grayson stared at the apparition with mingled fear and hatred. Challenging a Marauderwith a Shadow Hawkwas a risky business. The Marauderoutweighed him by 20 tons, and its twi

There was a burst of static in his helmet earphones as someone sought his combat frequency. Then he heard the electronic voice of his opponent.

"We knew you would come, Carlyle. We were ready for you."

Grayson did not answer. Giving his weapons systems a last check, he stepped up the feed from his power plant a notch. Control, Grayson told himself. Don't lose control and attack without thinking. He's trying to rattle you. Control...

"My name is Vallendel," the Maraudersaid. "And I've been waiting for you. I'm going to enjoy smashing you and your machine into scrap and bloody pulp. Just like I did to your father..."

At 150 meters, Grayson triggered his autoca

Grayson shoved the control stick all the way forward, feeling the throbbing pound of the Hawk'sfeet against the ferrocrete. Suddenly, the Marauderspun to face him, both arms up. As white fire seared close above the cockpit, Grayson dropped and rolled. His cockpit canopy momentarily went black with polarization.