Riposte

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 gu

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 ru

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 gri

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."