Wolf Pack

"They are already outcasts, quiaff?"

"Some would call them so," the Kuritan said blandly.

"Does that mean you think they will run to Wolf?"

"I ca

Fancher stepped around the tank to join them. "If we hold their DropShips, the Snakes won't be going anywhere."

"I do not advise that," Noketsuna said. "Those ships are their property. I believe that, given what is occurring, they will have their armament ready for defense. If you initiate a battle for the ships, you will force the ground forces to fight you."

Grimacing in a

"I do not advise that," Noketsuna repeated.

Elson looked around the center until he spotted Major Sean Eric Kevin of Seventh Kommando. Calling him over, Elson brought the commando officer up to date on the situation. After considering the options, Kevin said, "It's possible, but we would need command codes to lock down the weaponry and take control of the computers."

Elson turned to the Kuritan. "You had access, Noketsuna, quiaff?"

"Yes."

"You can supply those codes, quiaff?"

"Yes."

"Then give them to us."

"As you command."

Noketsuna's words were subservient, but his attitude was defiant. It didn't matter. The Kuritan would not dare put false codes into the computer.

"Kevin, get your commandos out to the port and put them on standby. I want two Stars of Elementals ready to supply backup." Elson gave some more deployment orders, then said, "Noketsuna, you're coming with me. I want to talk to your fellow Kuritans."

The bolt from the particle projection ca

"What is going on? What did that guy say before he dogged down?"

"He said that the DropShips were under attack."

Elson cursed. Someone had taken the initiative at the wrong time, and he had a good idea who it was. Fancher was far too impatient.

"I warned you," Noketsuna said.

"And you were right. I'll remember that."

Elson headed the jeep down the street at high speed. It would not take the first of the Kuritan 'Mechs long to reach the corner behind them. Fortunately the street was not wide enough for two of the giant machines to get clear fire lanes; they would only have to dodge fire from one. A 'Mech appeared in his rearview mirror, the Warhammerthat had fired before. Particle beam, then. It could have been worse; a missile spread would have been harder to avoid. As soon as he saw the faint glow of the charging elements in the blackness of the muzzle, Elson turned the wheel hard. Cutting power to the starboard fans, he let the jeep spill air out the port. The starboard skirts dug into the pavement with a spray of sparks, nearly jarring both passengers from the vehicle.

Blue lightning crackled overhead, barely missing them. Elson rebooted the fans and gu

Ru

Elson decided to head for the port. He could get there well before the heavy 'Mechs like the Warhammerthat had tried to kill them. Even the lighter elements, if the Kuritan commander decided to send them in, would be slower than the hoverjeep. But any lead he gained would be precious little and he would need every second he could get to regain control of the situation.

He could hear energy weapons before they cleared the approach road. The gates were abandoned, open to whoever would use them. In his haste Elson nearly crashed the jeep after one skirt brushed against a gatepost. As the tops of the Kuritan DropShips came into view beyond a row of hangars and maintenance sheds, he slowed, looking for a safe zone to stop. He turned the jeep into an open hangar and stopped it just short of the far door. Noketsuna was right with him as he jumped out and dashed to a window.

It was as bad as he had feared. The Elementals were pi

It was hopeless. The arrival of the Kuritan BattleMechs would be the Elementals' deaths.

Elson located one of the other Points sheltering in the lee of a blast wall, and dashed across the field to them. He crouched next to a trooper and ordered him to open his suit. Using the man's commo equipment, he co

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Protecting our assets, Colonel Fancher. We do not need to lose BattleMechs in fruitless combat, and we need the port facilities more than we need to stop the Kuritans from leaving. A battle here will cripple our campaign."

"So you're just going to let them go?"

"Aff."

"And if they run to Wolf?"

"Then they will be ru

42

In a BattleMech you always have copilot fear. You don't always think about it; but sometimes you think about nothing else. But whether you're thinking about it or not, the fear is always there, coiled in your gut.

A BattleMech may be the single most formidable fighting machine ever designed by man, but it is not invulnerable, especially when confronted with another 'Mech. As a MechWarrior, you've been trained in simulators and the harsh school of combat until you're very good at what you do, but your opponent may be better. Equipment, skill, and courage may improve your chances, but they ca

I couldn't help wondering if luck was with me as the 'Mechs of our ad hoc battlegroup scrambled from the hangar outside the ops center. I had an OmniMech, Franchette had one of our new machines, and Hans and Grant were ru