Coupe

Over the open radio cha

40

Kathil

Capellan March, Federated Suns

7 September 3029

Curtains of oily smoke twisted and parted enough to let the flames glint from the 'Mech's skullface. The tall, broad-shouldered Battle-Mech looked to Andrew for all the world like the Grim Reaper himself had ascended from Hell to gather souls.

The autoca

The Liao Warhammertriggered both its PPCs. Twin azure bolts raked their needle-sharp tendrils over the Atlas'sbroad chest, clawing away sheets of ceramic armor. One bolt lingered for half a second on a spot over the Atlas'sheart, exploiting a weakness. The giant 'Mech staggered, but never even came close to toppling.

Andrew smiled openly. "Thank God you showed up, Morgan. Hellion lance, flame that WarhammerDemon and Archer lances, walk your LRMs down the main street. Cat lance, if you're done, get down here. Gorgon, Jackal, Fox, and Bullseye, targets of opportunity! This ends now!"

Andrew marched his Marauderforward. A Liao Centurion,fire trailing from the muzzle of its right-arm autoca

As ordered, Demon and Archer lances launched volley after volley of LRMs onto the main street, concentrating on the knot of Liao 'Mechs toward the middle. A birdlike Catapultsent two LRM volleys arcing back toward its tormentors, but that did nothing to squelch the long-range fire. In fact, the next barrage wreathed the Catapultin fire, crushing its armor and dropping it to the ground.

Hellion lance turned the Warhammerinto a torch, but lost one of its 'Mechs in a fireball as a Liao Thunderboltblasted it with laser fire. In turn, Gorgon lance's UrbanMechsripped the Thunderbolt'sarmor to shreds with autoca

The Ostsolbroke toward the right, dashing down a darkened side street. From the flaming battle higher up on the hill, a 'Mech arced into the sky, then descended on the larger 'Mech. In the firelight, Andrew recognized the humanoid machine as a Hatchet-man. At least one person from Cat Lance is alive!

The Hatchetmanlanded, then wrapped both hands around the hilt of the warclub that gave the 'Mech its name. Despite the damage taken when the Ostsoltriggered its two rear-arc lasers, the Hatchetmanraised the hatchet and brought it down on the Ostsol'shead. The titanium blade sheathed a depleted uranium core and sliced through the Ostsol'scockpit like a sharp knife. The Ostsol'smomentum slammed it into a low building, tripped it, and dumped its corpse on a row of tract housing.

Realizing the battle was lost, the remaining Liao Cataphractthrew itself into Jackal lance. It battered the smaller Commandoswith its arms, knocking them aside, then tried to stomp them into scrap metal. Despite the terrifying sight of this gargantuan war machine clubbing them, the militia pilots released flights of SRMs, blasting armor from the Cataphract'sthick hide. They fought their way free of its embrace, retreated far enough to give them range for their missiles, then let fly again.

The Cataphractwas lunging forward to trap one of the Commandoswhen autoca

Morgan's Atlasblazed away with its autoca

The Thunderboltturned to face its attacker, but before it could bring up the large laser on its right arm, several LRM flights pummeled it. The missiles shaved layer after layer of armor from the Liao war machine. The blasts rent gaping holes in armor, exposing titanium skeletons and purple myomer muscles to the withering autoca

Streams of tracers from autoca

Slowly, gradually, the weapons-fire died as the defenders realized that no Liao 'Mechs were firing back. Andrew looked out over the battlefield at the twisted hulks of metal and melted shards of armor. Occasionally, a round of autoca

Andrew looked up at Craon's fallen Hunchback. We've won, but what a price we paid for victory!Then he looked toward the Atlasstanding tall on top of the hill. It's just like Morgan said. We had no choice.

* * *

Andrew slumped in the doorway to Morgan's makeshift office. "Redburn reporting, sir."

Morgan Hasek-Davion waved Andrew into the room and to a chair between Gerry de Velez and Ala

Andrew sighed heavily. "We got him out of the Hunchback,but he was in pretty bad shape." Andrew shook his head. "The doctors think he'll live:—most of him at least. Left arm, both legs. He'll never pilot a 'Mech again."

Suddenly, unbidden and unwelcome, thoughts of Justin Xiang came into Andrew's mind. We all thought he was done, too, when his left forearm got shot off. The Federated Suns gave him a new arm, then he betrayed us. Justin must have had something to do with this assault—he's the one who got Craon so ripped up. What a waste!Andrew's fist slammed down on the arm of the chair.

Morgan's head came up. "What?"

Andrew shivered. "Sorry. I was just remembering how the NAIS fixed Justin Xiang up with an arm that let him pilot a 'Mech." He looked up hopefully at Morgan. "You don't suppose they could do that for Craon, do you?"

Morgan shook his head. "I don't know, but I've already made arrangements for him to be transferred there as soon as he has been stabilized." Morgan glanced down at a sheet of paper on his desk. "Andy, what's the status of First Battalion?"