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"But with our regiments split up, Prince Theodore will have no strong force in readiness," Fuhito objected.
"The regiments will not stay dispersed forever," Tomoe assured him.
"So ka,"Asano said, nodding. "Our Prince Theodore plays a deep game."
45
Beneath Pauchung, Xinyang
Benjamin Military District, Draconis Combine
18 June 3031
“Too deep," Michi coughed as Theodore pulled him back onto the narrow ledge at the tu
"You said you had the right code phrase to contact this gang," Theodore accused.
"I did, but it was two years old." Michi released the empty magazine from his Nambu. It splashed into oblivion in the scummy water around their knees. He slipped a fresh clip into place. "How was I suppose to know that the gang would splinter, and our contact end up on the losing side? That Chokei fellow must have done something really awful for those guys to be so hot on the tail of anybody who claims to be associated with him."
A laser pulse struck the water near them, steam rising in an evil hiss as the water vaporized. Michi shoved Theodore to get him moving and snapped off a pair of shots at the unseen gu
They cut into a side tu
The man shied from the ferrocrete fragments that stung his face. His foot slipped from the path as he stepped back, and he windmilled his arms to maintain balance. His weapon splashed into the water before he did. As the man's head disappeared beneath the scum, his thrashing foot caught the next kobunin line and tripped him cursing into the muck.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Theodore and Michi ran on. Half an hour of twisting tu
"Control?"
"None."
Theodore could hear the pursuit drawing nearer. "The last cross-tu
"I didn't want to kill them," he said, pulling the slide on his Nambu to ensure that the action was free of sludge. He caught the ejected shell before it hit the water, and pocketed it. "Too much blood will make a wall you won't be able to cut through."
"They're the ones who won't let us leave peaceably. What happens is on their heads. Shigata ga nai,"Theodore said fatalistically, checking his own weapon.
There was no cover, so they pressed against the walls to take advantage of what little protection the conduits might afford. The first kobunappeared, and Theodore took him down with two shots. Michi dropped one and wounded two more before the survivors stumbled back around the curve of the tu
The wan yellow light from the overhead panels that had lit their way so far began to dim and fluctuate. Moments of utter darkness alternated with seconds of pale illumination. Theodore crouched, awaiting the assault that should follow the yakuza's tampering with the lights.
A sudden crash and scream echoed through the tu
The noise stopped. Theodore looked over to Michi, who shook his head. They waited.
Their rescuer appeared down the tu
The machine squalled to a halt, and the tu
The makeshift 'Mech's torso clamshelled open to reveal the driver removing the neuroband from his head. He was older than Theodore had expected, his gray hair and lined face a stark contrast to his well-muscled body. He wore only shorts and a stained, makeshift cooling vest, with a battery pack over his lower abdomen.
"Looks like I saved you boys a good bit of trouble. Lucky for you I was on my way home. My name's Frank Chokei," the man a
Chokei turned back to his machine and flicked a toggle. The grate that had barred passage rose silently into the ceiling. "Come on in anyway," Chokei grumbled as he brushed past them. Ten meters down the line, he stepped up into a dry side passage. Theodore and Michi followed.
Chokei led them to a large chamber, well but crudely outfitted for living. Theodore counted twelve bedrolls. The amount of personal gear scattered looked right for that number of inhabitants. To his surprise, a table in the corner held a partially disassembled neurohelmet of the style used in BattleMechs. On a rack behind the table hung a half-dozen DCMS-issue cooling vests. So the rumors were true— Chokei was a MechWarrior and had other Mech Warriors in his employ.
"We have indeed heard your name, Chokei -san," Michi said politely. "But we do not understand why you are here in the sewers. Just what did you do?"
Chokei gave him a sidelong glance before walking over to a table and opening a silver humidor. He took out a long, black cigar, snipped off an end, and stuffed the uncut end into his mouth. Just when Theodore thought Chokei intended to ignore the question completely, his gravelly voice slid out around his cheroot.
"I broke the code of the yakuza."
Chokei lit his stogie and puffed for a minute. "At least, that's what they say. I told the district governor about some of the Hanei-gumi'sactivities. Quite intricate detail, too. Several very prominent businessmen were very embarrassed. Some of the gang stuck with me, especially my MechJocks. Most of them had spent some time in the DCMS and understood what I was doing. The rest turned on me, swore to kill me. But I'd do it again in a minute."