Falcon Guard

"I agree," Aidan said. "What is your view, Jula Huddock?"

"I sense danger, but do not know why."

"MechWarrior Diana?"

There was a delay as Diana reacted with surprise at being addressed at all. Her being a new warrior and a freeborn, why would anyone want her opinion?

"Perhaps we should go in and take a look around," she said.

"That may be just what they want us to do," Horse commented. "Especially if Star Captain Joa

"I am surprised to hear you agree with me, MechWarrior Horse. We were such enemies once."

"In a situation like this, the past is prologue."

"An interesting phrase. A freeborn phrase?"

"In a way."

Only Aidan would know that Horse was quoting from one of the books in their secret library.

"I believe it would be a mistake for the entire unit to enter Olalla. One Star will go on ahead, while the rest of us cover their advance. Volunteers?"

The commline was in commotion as all the Star commanders volunteered.

"Sir?" It was the soft voice of Jula Huddock after the voices of the rest had died down.

"Yes, Star Captain?"

"I recommend my Star be chosen. We are the only intact Star in all the Falcon Guard Trinaries. All others lost BattleMechs to combat, the breakwater, the jump across the Prezno. We are the only Star that still has five BattleMechs functional."

This might have been the most anyone had ever heard Jula Huddock speak at one time. Aidan realized for the first time that the woman had a beautiful voice, deep and with an earthy sound to it. It went so well with the worldly knowledge in her eyes.

"Well-bargained and done, Star Commander Jula Huddock. Proceed."

"Gladly. Alpha Heavy, forward echelon right, twenty meters apart."

Jula Huddock's Executionerled the way toward the city. She was followed, in order, by the 'Mechs of MechWarriors Alyn, Lan, Eleny, and Crocco. They made a pretty picture, Aidan thought, as each 'Mech in the diagonal line kept an even distance from the others. Joa

All around them the landscape was darkening. The sun had just about disappeared behind the distant mountains, and lengthening shadows slowly erased the finer details of the landscape. The dull-colored city of Olalla lost even more definition and became an odd blend of grays and browns.

Where had the ComStar forces gone?

* * *

As Jula Huddock and her Star crossed into the city, she was more certain than ever that Olalla had never been meant for a defense. It was designed all wrong. It did not even possess city walls. It was an open city, accessible from all directions.

Up close the buildings of Olalla were no better-looking than from a distance. If anything, they looked worse. Even through the Executioner'ssmall viewport, one could see the architectural decay of the place. Buildings were chipped, peeled, or full of jagged holes. Broken glass, rubble, and other debris littered the streets. Had anybody ever lived in Olalla?

* * *

"Something is wrong down there," Kael Pershaw a

"We realize that, Kael Pershaw," Aidan said.

"No. I mean something specific.I have just checked some old records of Olalla with the conformations down there. They do not jibe."

"What are you saying? That this is notOlalla? It is at the exact coordinates provided by—"

"The coordinates are fine. But ComStar is up to something. The pre-invasion holos that I have of Olalla show a well-kept, architecturally sound village. The buildings should be pristine, and some of them with more storeys than those you see below. The city's streets are organized in a grid pattern, not the haphazard pathways you see. The marketplace areas were landscaped in green grass, with many colorful booths permanently set up. That is what I mean when I say this is not Olalla. Olalla is gone."

"How can that be?"

"I am not certain, but I suspect that before our arrival insystem, the old city was razed or somehow moved, evacuated with its citizenry. This motley collection of buildings was substituted for the original. The marketplaces were altered. Aidan Pryde, this Olalla is a false city. It is designed to lure you in. Do not, I repeat, do not commit your entire force to Olalla. Wait."

Kael Pershaw's last word was clipped, as if he had flipped his sign-off toggle while still speaking. Aidan went on the general commline and passed on Pershaw's information to the other Jade Falcons. "Does it make sense to any of you?" he asked.

"Yes," Diana said. "Remember the first ambush, when MechWarrior Faulk lost his leg? The Com Guards came out of the orchard, from under the ground."

"But why do we not detect their presence? At this range Alpha Heavy's sensors should have picked up something," Horse said.

"Perhaps ComStar has been able to mask their presence so that sensors ca

"We must get Alpha Heavy out of there!" Joa

* * *

Jula Huddock had sensed anomalies even before Aidan and the others began to discuss them. The buildings looked thrown-together and never lived in. There were traces of old foundations peeking out from the fake constructions. When viewed up close, everything about Olalla seemed fraudulent, jerrybuilt.

Later, Aidan would realize that Alpha Heavy's early presence may have saved the rest of the Cluster. The ComStar forces had certainly intended to ambush all of them. They would have waited until the Guards were comfortably in Olalla or close enough to it, and then sprung their trap. But in monitoring communications between the Jade Falcon warriors, the ComStar commander saw that the opportunity for an ambush had passed, so he ordered an all-out attack instead.

"Jula Huddock!" Joa

But the warning came too late for Alpha Heavy. Large metal portals hidden underneath a hastily laid, thin layer of soil suddenly sprang open in each market area. The dirt went flying in all directions, creating a dark cloud from which emerged the first ComStar BattleMechs, leaping out of the underground vaults with their jump jets aglow. Close on their heels were the heavier 'Mechs, clomping out of the vault with their weapons firing and missiles launching. As the sudden strike engulfed Alpha Heavy, Jula Huddock realized how wrong she had been to think Olalla offered no form of camouflage. The barre

Just then, a cluster of SRMs exploded against MechWarrior Lan's Mad Dog,followed by intense laser fire that sent the 'Mech reeling backward before it fell. Lan ejected but was picked off by autoca

The rest of Alpha Heavy was soon surrounded by attacking ComStar 'Mechs, with no retreat route. They fought fiercely and well. Three ComStar BattleMechs fell almost simultaneously, then another pair, as Jula Huddock and the others fired rapidly. But one by one the Falcon Guard 'Mechs were destroyed. First MechWarrior Eleny's Hellbringer,then the Summonersof Mech-Warriors Crocco and Alyn.