FSML-2 Chpt 5

=Chapter 5=
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==Frederick Steiner and the Man Who Knew Too Little==
Book 2
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===Gathering of Leaders===
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
15th March, 3018
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Seven hundred years of history looked down on the High Council as they assembled. This wasn’t where they’d always met, of course. More than once they’d been relocated following shifts of power or simply because the institution had outlived the architecture.
After damage done by a DCMS raid in 2796, the Council had temporarily relocated into part of Castle Davion, since the executive complex built up on the mountain was more defensible. By the time the threat had been dealt with, First Prince Paul Davion had managed to strip further power from them and - perhaps symbolically - the great hall had remained the Council’s gathering place ever since.
Usually, that was little more than a few pro forma votes. But now, beneath the visages of past First Princes (and before that Presidents), the rulers of over three hundred worlds were gathered to cast a vote that would really matter. There was a nervous energy in the air, as if they weren’t quite sure that this was really happening.
Hanse didn’t see that nervousness in his brother-in-law though.
Duke Michael Hasek-Davion hadn’t seemed to be unhappy that Hanse was there, just about the circumstances. He’d said all the right words about shared grief. He’d embraced him. He’d embraced Dana…
Hanse forced himself to unclench his fists. And he watched as the Duke of New Syrtis took the podium.
“My lords and ladies, the First Prince is dead. We have received confirmation via ComStar that his body has been positively identified. And we have no Prince Imperial, prepared and ready to step into that vacancy. This is a time of mourning, but it must also be a time of decision.”
There was a ripple of agreement. The Prince Imperial was the position of heir apparent: someone who had been fully prepared and accepted as the successor. Customarily it was conferred after the First Prince’s eldest child or other preferred heir had spent five years in the armed forces and five years working in the civil service. It passed the throne to men (or in one case a woman) who were in their thirties or forties, usually with heirs of their own, certainly with a proven record of leadership in both spheres in which the First Prince was expected to lead. Ian hadn’t been the first leader of House Davion to take the throne without that preparation, but at least then there had been no challenge to his succession.
“What’s he doing?” Dana asked quietly as Michael segued into a tribute to Hanse’s brother.
Olivia Fenlon replied just as softly. The duchess of Chesterton was one of Hanse’s allies - her homeworld was within the Kathil Operations Area but more importantly she was one of the key diplomats managing relations with the Lyran Commonwealth. “By drawing attention to Ian’s military credentials he’s building a picture that Hanse, like Ian, has comparatively little experience with civilian government.”
“In contrast to himself.” Hanse’s wife understood immediately. “So we counter by bringing up and Hanse’s civil records as governor of New Aragon?”
“It’s the obvious response…”
Hanse leant forwards. “But it’s obvious, which means Michael will expect it. Olivia, are you ready?”
She smiled thinly. “I’ll draw their fire, you finish him off.”
Dana looked around the room. “I have to admit, I’d rather be strapped into my Enforcer right now.”
“It’s a battlefield,” Hanse agreed. “But you can’t always choose where you have to fight.”
“What can I do to help?”
“You’re doing it right now.” he told her.
Dana took his hand. “I mean it.”
“So do I. It’s… to be brutally honest, right now Morgan is one of Michael’s weapons. A living heir, a potential next generation of leadership. You and our baby are a counter to that. Much more, of course, but politically you’re neutralizing that approach.”
Dana leant upon him for a moment. “Got your back.”
“That means a lot.” he told her.
Olivia had been speaking to the room while they were conversing. “We cannot afford to remain in suspension. We’ve already seen a near-collapse of operations against the Draconis Combine, damaging the Suns’ reputation in the eyes of our allies. The late First Prince would be deeply disappointed by our failure to step up and continue his work. I move that his brother, the son of Andrew Davion, the grandson of Peter Davion, be acclaimed as our First Prince so that we can complete his work.”
“Working for the Lyran’s benefit?” someone asked.
Heads turned. Speaking out of turn like that was poor form, to say the least. The High Council were generally not hurried in their discussions, even if it was mostly because there was very little urgency.
Michael Hasek-Davion rose and requested the podium from Olivia, who had already taken a half-step away with her own statement concluded and thus had no way to challenge the rest without looking as if she was trying to stop him speaking.
“I don’t know who said that,” Michael declared solemnly, “But that is a question that has been voiced in my hearing before. I am sure that Ian is sincere in his admiration for House Steiner’s current leadership, but he died leading his men in what amounted to a diversion so that the Lyrans could seize a major industrial world from the Combine. Now, I’m all in favor of liberating worlds from House Kurita - I’m sure we all are - but there are dozens of Lyran worlds they could be recovering, rather than taking a world that would be just as easy for us to be invading.”
Hanse could hear muttering from the Draconis March worlds. Aaron Sandoval glared at a few of the louder voices, but even he couldn’t quell them entirely.
Michael stepped back and let the Duke of Robinson speak. The head of House Sandoval walked with a stick to support his two cybernetic legs. “If the Combine had thrown their resources into fighting for Dieron, which was a very real possibility, it could have been us taking worlds like Proserpina and Galtor from the Combine,” he pointed out. “And the Lyrans are carrying out their own diversions - while our current indecision is preventing action to avenge Prince Ian. But we’re getting away from the point.”
“I disagree. The duty of the First Prince, first and last, is to the Federated Suns.” Jerome Davion, the Duke of Argyle, was the speaker and eyes went wide around the room as one of the major cadet branches violated custom so rudely. “We need a First Prince who will fight for us, not to support an ally of questionable value.”
Arguments started breaking out around the room as delegates, seeing the custom of silence broken, turned to their neighbors. Sometimes they argued, but sometimes they found agreement and pockets of common ground formed - right up until their sentiments were heard by someone who disagreed.
“Aren’t you going to speak up?” asked Dana.
Hanse frowned. It was tempting, but… “Not until I can do so decisively. If they ignore my orders now then it’ll be easier for them to do so later. I need a knockout punch.” He was counting heads, picking out faces whose politics he knew and guessing at the tide.
Apart from a few exceptions like Olivia, or Duke VanLees of Kathil, much of the Capellan March was speaking up in opposition of the Lyran alliance - backing Michael Hasek-Davion.
The Crucis and Draconis Marches were more split, but that was in itself concerning. Even the Duke of Kilbourne - very nearly as far from New Syrtis as it was possible be and still be within the Federated Suns - was arguing with Duke Sandoval of Woodbine, a cousin of Aaron’s. Hanse had a solid block of support from the Golden Worlds around New Avalon itself, and the relatively few worlds in the Terran corridor. He’d hoped for more support from along the border, but now that he thought about it, many of them had military governors rather than permanent civilian governments represented here in the High Council.
There were some neutrals, he saw. Lords and representatives of poorer worlds, particularly the ‘skidrow’ of impoverished worlds along the Periphery border were now shifting - some of them literally changing seats to get to the edge of the room rather than be drawn into the debate.
“Hmm.”
Dana leant up against him. “You’ve thought of something.”
“I have.” He cupped his hands around hers. “Do you know Stanton Defire?”
“The Marquess of Lackland? The one who keeps trying to get investment into underwater mining on his homeworld.”
“That’s the one. I’d be a big help if you’d go tell him that I’m in favor of re-establishing the old Outer March.”
Dana nodded. “I’ll take care of that. Should I tell anyone else?”
“No, he’ll know who to tell that won’t spread it to someone we don’t want to hear.”
While his wife moved towards the back of the room, Hanse started moving forwards - shaking hands and dropping words into the ears of those who were wavering.
Michael saw him coming and his eyes narrowed. Hanse met that with a confident smile, but didn’t get the crack in the duke’s demeanor he’d hoped for. Still, once he’d started moving it would be a terrible idea to step back.
Reaching the technical support desk for the podium, he leant over. “You have the national anthem?”
“Of course, your highness.”
Hanse nodded. “Play it. Loud enough to be uncomfortable.”
The woman at the desk blinked and then grinned. “You’ve got it.”
It only took her a few seconds, and then the sound of the first few bars rang out. Hanse moved up to the podium and took over the microphone and began to sing, his own voice almost drowned out by the recording of the National Choir’s: “Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of the people. Who will not be slaves again!”
Other voices took up the song, eyes turning towards Hanse and conversation dying down. Talking over each other was one thing, but talking over the national anthem? A song chosen in honor of New Avalon's revolt against Terra, sanctified in wars against other tyrants both foreign and domestic? That would be taking it too far for all but a handful of those present - and those few exceptions were hardly foolish enough to do so when outnumbered a hundred to one.
“Angry men,” he said when the music ended. “Men and women, determined to be free. I will confess, I am angry. My brother is dead. Nor did he die alone. Many others have lost brothers, fathers, sisters. Dying, as so many others have, for our freedoms.” Hanse planted his hands on the podium. “And what do we do here? In this chamber? For a few minutes, we can unite our voices in song, but can we do the same in purpose? In leadership? I say that we must. I say we will.”
“Duchess Fenlon has asked that I be affirmed as the First Prince. As your Prince. I stand willing. If you would not have me, then say so. And say why. To my face, with courage. Speak now!”
Hanse’s supporters spoke up and he saw Stanton Defire and Dana almost literally pulling the outback representatives into line. For a moment he thought that no one would, that he’d pre-empted Michael’s ploys, but then Stephen Davion spoke up. The Duke of Bristol and Marshal of the First New Ivaarsen Chausseurs, a man who hated the Draconis Combine with every fiber of his body.
“Tell me one thing, Hanse. What are the Lyrans giving us that’s worth Ian’s life?”
Damn him. Hanse knew that his half-sister Marie was close to Stephen, but he’d thought that he could at least count on the man’s unrelenting hatred to keep him in line. Michael must have been working for hours to get the proverbial loose cannon to fire exactly the way he needed.
There was no choice save to meet the challenge directly. Getting caught in a lie now would leave Michael an open path to the throne and god knows what he would do with it. Hopefully Katrina Steiner would agree that keeping that from happening was worth what Hanse was going to do to her.
“Nothing is worth a brother’s life, Stephen,” he replied, forcing humility. “But Star League libraries, with scientific secrets that can save the lives of billions? That was the prince’s ransom: a price that Ian paid gladly, for our people.”
There was a dead silence, followed by exclamations of disbelief.
“Frederick Steiner is the greatest lostech hunter of our era,” Hanse continued unwaveringly. “And Katrina Steiner has honored our alliance by sharing the prizes of that with us. My brother lived and died for the Federated Suns. And you have my oath that I will do the same.”
“Hanse Davion is our First Prince!” Stanton shouted, having escorted Dana to the front of the room. The Marquis released Hanse’s wife to cross to stand next to him. “Who says aye?!”
Thunderous voices echoed him, filling the great hall to the rafters.
The beginning of a cheer was cut short by Aaron Sandoval, stepping up to flank Hanse on the other side of Dana. “And does anyone here dare say nay?” The old duke shot a challenging look at the council.
None accepted the gage.
A thin smile crossed Aaron’s face. “I thought not,” he murmured.
“All hail our First Prince.” Michael Hasek-Davion hustled his own family forward, to join the triumph. Sounding and looking almost entirely sincere. Almost.
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===Heated Discussion on Terra===
Hilton Head, North America
Terra, Solar System
17th March, 3018
Precentor David Rowan slammed his fists down on the table. “How could this have been allowed to happen?!”
“Calmly, my friend, calmly.” Julian Tiepolo was lying through his teeth. There was nothing calm about Precentor Dieron, and the man was hardly his friend.
Across the table, Pedrigor Aliz steepled his hands. “Respectfully, Primus, it’s hard to remain calm when we’re faced by a security breach of this extent. Do we have any indications of how much data the Lyrans have recovered.” He gave Precentor ROM a questioning look.
Tojo Jarlath sat straight in the chair. He’d taken over from Kristofur Vesar after the debacle on New Delos that had ended the previous Precentor ROM’s efforts to compromise the Wolf’s Dragoons. “At this time we have too little information to work from,” he admitted without flinching.
“How is that acceptable?!” demanded Rowan.
“I make no claim of that, sir. I can present only the facts and a modicum of speculation.”
“The facts are…”
“The facts,” Tiepolo cut in. “Are that this is a very new revelation, and possibly the event predates Jarlath’s tenure in charge of ROM.” Blaming Vesar cost little at this point and he was broadly happy that the current Precentor ROM was managing the department in the manner he wanted. This was a debacle, but hopefully not one that would cost him a reliable subordinate.
Screens lit up and the other three members of the First Circuit appeared on them, attending remotely via HPG transmission. “I only got a summary,” Villius Tejh warned, before anyone could say anything. “It’s the middle of the night on Sian. Something about the Suns finding a Star League library?”
“Buying,” Aliz told him. “We’re all here, let’s recap so we’re all on the same screen.”
“During the meeting of the High Council to decide the succession to Ian Davion, Hanse Davion revealed that the reason his brother was running diversionary operations for the campaign that’s currently so heavily wearing on David’s nerves is that the Lyrans have provided House Davion with Star League scientific data,” Jarlath reported coolly. “Shortly thereafter, he sent an encoded message to the Archon, alerting her that he had found it necessary to reveal the existence of the information in order to prevent Michael Hasek-Davion from usurping the throne.”
“Is that accurate?” Tejh asked, looking to the side.
“It’s unclear,” Huthrin Vandel admitted from New Avalon. “Our local analysts are still working on it, but Duke Hasek-Davion appears to have believed he had a shot and Hanse Davion seems to have believed the same, given this and other concessions he’s made.”
“Other concessions?”
“Nothing immediately relevant,” Tiepolo told him. “There will be a full update once Huthrin’s people have a comprehensive report. Our focus is the classified data.”
“The First Prince’s exact words,” Jarlath reported, “Were that they had received ‘Star League libraries, with scientific secrets that can save the lives of billions’. He also credited Frederick Steiner as the specific source. I believe that we must assume that the use of a plural is intentional: we are dealing with multiple finds. Most probably, the Halstead Station find was far more comprehensive than was thought at the time and that this is one of the libraries in question.”
“I asked for greater attention to the Lyran Commonwealth’s research some years ago,” the Primus reminded them. “And yet we have not found signs of that?”
“We’ve had signs that they had uncovered some texts,” Jarlath clarified. “Some have been gifted to leading universities, and in particular Frederick Steiner’s patronage of his homeworld’s agricultural college.”
“Who cares about agriculture?!” demanded Rowan. “The Lyrans are on the brink of seizing control of a Combine district capital and they’ve landed an entire regiment of lostech ‘mechs - who knows how many more they have?!”
“I assume that to be a rhetorical question.”
“Dieron,” Rowan pointed out harshly, “Is less than twenty light years from Terra. What stops them from coming here next? And no, that is not a rhetorical question, Precentor ROM.”
“Let the man answer.” Tejh proposed.
Tiepolo nodded. If Dieron did fall then it would probably be time to move the administrative and representative role of heading ComStar’s activities inside the Combine back to Luthien. And there would be no reason for the role to remain in Rowan’s hands. It might be best not to, in fact.
“In short, Precentor Luthien, a Lyran Commonwealth attack on Terra would almost certainly be an unmitigated disaster for them.” Jarlath responded confidently.
“Are you insane?”
“The ComGuards ground forces are limited in size and even more so in practical experience,” the younger man admitted. “However, we would not be relying upon them to defend us. Any Lyran attack would have to penetrate the extensive Space Defense System which has been rebuilt over the last two hundred years. Orbital weapon platforms and surface weapon batteries cover every inch of our orbitals - these are the same weapons that caused severe losses to the SLDF, who were landing far more forces than the entire LCAF possesses - and the SLDF had a huge battlefleet of warships to use, whereas our own comparatively modest naval forces are the only active warships in the Inner Sphere.” He paused. “We’d also have an unquestionable right to Interdict the entire Lyran Commonwealth, which I am sure Janos Marik and Takashi Kurita would be delighted to take advantage of, given their recent reverses.”
Tiepolo nodded. “I can assure you that contingencies for a potential attack are being reviewed, Precentor Rowan. However, I think we can all agree that while Katrina Steiner is almost certainly unaware of the scale of our defenses, she is hardly foolish enough to invite an Interdiction.”
“That may be so, but it hardly reduces the threat posed here. A technologically advanced Lyran Commonwealth…” Ulthan Everson, the last of them to speak, shook his head. “They are ideologically opposed to our order but their military reforms, particularly the efforts to improve their industrial output of battlemechs and aerospace fighters, are aimed at the obvious threats. Any strategy aimed at us would be different. More subtle.”
“And therefore more dangerous.” Tiepolo nodded. “Finding out is the first challenge, one for Jarlath. In the meantime, we should step up our efforts to contain the Lyrans.”
“What do you have in mind?” enquired Aliz. “If the Steiners have entire libraries hidden away then they are aware of the risk of someone destroying them - they must be backed up.”
“And if we leak data to the other Great Houses then we could be giving them data that the Steiners lack, because we don’t know what they have,” Vandel added. “I’ll step up efforts to trace what they’ve given the Davions now that we know it’s happening.”
“Look at ways to shape public opinion against House Steiner.” proposed Tejh. “The Davions are more sensitive to John Q Public than the Liaos. If Hasek-Davion was able to make it enough of an issue to affect the succession then there must be some well of distrust that we can exacerbate. The Steiners are bad enough without letting them ally with one of the most able militaries in the Inner Sphere.”
“Good thinking.” Tiepolo tapped the table. “Any location found to have some of these libraries is to be recorded, cataloged if possible, but not destroyed.” He looked around the First Circuit. “Not by us. However, the location can be leaked to the ISF and SAFE - to the Maskirovka as well. Their efforts will damage the Lyrans even if they fail, but in success they will gain only data that is already unavoidably in Lyran hands: thus we avoid giving out additional scientific data.”
“That is all very well in the longer term,” pointed out Rowan. “But they also have a short-term weapon to use in the form of their Royal Guards. Now that they don’t need to hide the lostech equipment they’ll maximize its use - and for all we know they’ve used the years since Helm to develop the capacity to maintain and replace it. Dieron may just be the first in a succession of strikes at both the Combine and the League.”
“...I believe,” Aliz said slowly, “That you are correct. Primus, under the circumstances I believe we should look at arranging finds of SLDF hardware for the Lyrans’ enemies. The Combine first, under the circumstances, but contingencies for all the other states - even the Suns if that becomes desirable.”
“Does anyone wish to vote against this measure?” Tiepolo asked, glancing around.
“It feels wrong,” Vandel admitted, “But you’re right. A powerful economy backing a powerful military could destabilize the entire Inner Sphere.”
“I doubt that anything can be put in place in time to deal with the current campaign,” Rowan grumbled. “But give the DCMS the weapons and they’ll be all too eager to erase the shame of such a major defeat.”
“That’s exactly what we want them to do,” Tiepolo concluded. “And whether it’s striking back at the Steiners or trying to take advantage of House Davion’s disarray, we must fan the flames of war.”
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===Battle for Dieron===
Sükhbaatar Valley, Dieron
Dieron District, Draconis Combine
13th April, 3018
The Sükhbaatar Valley dwarfed even the scale of the battle being fought, Max thought. To the north was Tatsuyama Mountain, largest of the sprawling Khüiten mountains that dominated the north of the supercontinent that made up most of Dieron’s landmass, while to the south was Mount Swanto, a similarly dominant peak within the Scales of the Dragonet - the range that stretched south across the equator and almost to the antarctic regions.
A missile alert had Max stepping his Orion quickly behind the cover of the monorail line - the impact of a half-dozen LRMs would mean hours of work repairing the suspended railroad but it could mean life or death to him.
“Keep pushing!” Frederick called, his Zeus leading the way.
Max blinked sweat out of his eyes, wished he could reach into the neurohelmet to wipe them, and followed obediently.
Around them, scores more BattleMechs were doing the same as companies of the Lyran Regulars and Royal Guards pushed south towards Mount Swanto. Ahead of them, a few of the Dieron Regulars turned to keep firing but the rest quickened their pace, pressing on towards Fortress Dieron.
The Orion wobbled slightly as Max navigated across a shallow agricultural channel. Water management was a major issue in the valley - it was the drainage route for the inland Zanabazar Sea, via the mostly underground Kazakh river that reminded Max too much of Helm. Two other rivers met the Kazakh to form the Sükhbaatar sea at the heart of the valley, before the lower Kazakh finally reached the Mapuche Ocean, a thousand miles to the south-west.
The result was a network of manmade channels, intended to ensure both that the water didn’t drain away before the farmlands could be sufficiently hydrated, while also preventing a build up in the upper Kazakh that could flood the city of San Martin, built into steep cliffs over one of the few above-ground sections of the mighty river.
“I’d have thought I was used to these damn things by now,” he grumbled, wading through water that was only shin deep on the heavy ‘mech. The Dieron Regulars were right on the edge of LRM range so he didn’t waste his missiles on them. They’d have to slow once they reached steeper slopes, so he’d save the ammunition for when he had a better chance of hitting.
There was a chime as he climbed back into the fields on the far side of the canal and Max opened the comm channel. “Sledgehammer Seven,” he confirmed.
“Sir, Wolf Alpha is trying to contact Sledgehammer Actual.”
Max glanced ahead at Frederick’s Zeus, which was exchanging fire with a pair of Dragons who were hanging back slightly to cover for a column of DCMS tanks. The heaviest tanks had already been over-run, but the Tokugawas had been fast enough to stay ahead until now.
“He’s a little busy right now. Put him through to me.” he decided.
“Yes, sir.” the comm tech said obediently. Max decided against correcting the poor kid, who was stuck in a cramped van several kilometers behind the battle, getting bounced around as he tried to cushion the towering egos of various officers. It wasn’t exactly the sort of glorious assignment that got put on recruiting posters.
“Baron Mustermann.” Jaime Wolf’s voice sounded concerned. “Is the general being unavailable something I should worry about?”
“No, just a temporary issue. Can I help you, Colonel? If you really need the general, I’ll need a couple of minutes.”
“A strategic update for him.” the mercenary reported. “I’m sure he’ll want to know, but a few minutes won’t matter.”
“I’m all ears.” Max knelt his Orion for a moment, making it a smaller target - he didn’t think he was in range of the Dragons but some of the older ‘mechs of the militia had long-range small-caliber autocannon that could hit him from here if they got lucky.
“Engineers supporting Gamma Regiment have cracked two of the entrances to Fortress Dieron.” Jaime told him proudly. “I’m funneling my own regiment up the pass, but we have penetrated the outer layer of the defenses.”
Max’s eyes widened and he checked the map. Fortress Dieron was buried beneath Mount Swanto - one of the two most important military bases on the planet. And the counterpart, under Tatsuyama Mountain, was already in Lyran hands. While breaching the outer layer of defenses was far from taking the base, it meant that the retreating DCMS forces were heading to a contested stronghold not a secure one. And Gamma Regiment had been advancing on the mountain from the south, so they would have limited ways out. “My congratulations to Colonel Korsht.”
“I’ll pass them on. Please convey my own compliments to the other General Steiner on taking San Martin.”
“I’m sure he’ll be pleased.”
They cut the channel after a few more pleasantries and Max kicked his Orion into motion again, now far enough from the fighting that he could risk moving at full speed without the usual evasive maneuvers. The Dragons, armor tattered, had retreated as soon as the Tokugawas had reached the highway where the wheeled tanks could use their full speed.
“Frederick, message for you.” Max told him as he saw the Zeus was no longer under fire.
“Right, one moment.” A moment later, Frederick continued, but now on the general channel. “Sledgehammer Actual to all Toolbox assets. Scouts and strikers, give us a two kilometer advance perimeter while the trooper and support elements catch up and reform. We’re getting too strung out.”
 
There were a string of acknowledgements, as the various companies accepted the shift in marching orders. Commandos, Griffins, and Phoenix Hawks that had been covering the flanks began pushing forwards again, while the heavy ‘mechs that had been on point slowed to let damaged or just slower compatriots catch up with them. Entire companies of LRM carriers and self-propelled guns that had been struggling to range on the retreating Dieron Regulars dropped off the fire-support availability list as they raced to close up with the forward echelons.
It was a complex dance, and being carried out by a battlegroup containing elements of two different units, but there was a smooth professionalism to it that Max admired.
“What’s the news?” Frederick asked, stopping his Zeus in another drainage channel. The dirty water rippled around the feet of the ‘Mech, heated enough by the cooling metal that it was causing visible currents.
“The Dragoons have cracked two entrances on the far side of Fortress Dieron. Wolf is throwing reinforcements in.”
There was a slow intake of breath. “Has he now?”
“Colonel Korsht’s regiment was directly responsible, but Alpha regiment are moving in to exploit the opening.” The other three Dragoons regiments were spread out across the rest of the planet, keeping the pressure on the other Dieron Regulars - but the Sükhbaatar Valley held the greatest single concentration: Warlord DuQuesne’s own Fifth Sword of Light, the Second Legion of Vega and the tattered remains of the Eighteenth Dieron Regulars.
“I wanted to catch them before they could hole up for a siege.” Frederick mused. “But if the fortress is compromised, they may not have the option.”
Max glanced at the map. “There’s an old saying about rats in a trap.”
“That would be a fight that favors us,” the Steiner said flatly. “But we shouldn’t be dumb about it. DuQuesne must realize that…”
“Sir!” a voice cut in. “Heavy DCMS forces moving northwards towards your position.”
“...a counter-attack?” asked Max.
“Has to be...” Frederick agreed. “Question is, what does he mean to achieve?” Once again he switched to the general channel. “Toolbox, this is Sledgehammer Actual. The Snakes are coming out to play, so we’re going to humor them. Our playbook is to contain them - I don’t want any breakouts. All companies make sure you stay in contact with whoever is on your flank.”
Max managed to stay on Frederick’s flank as the Zeus moved up. Fortunately, the general didn’t insist on putting Sledgehammer company directly into the frontlines, instead taking a reserve position while the fast-moving striker units stung and harassed the oncoming DCMS, buying time for the main force to form up.
The boil of red icons along the tactical map marked where scouts were taking the risks - and the fire - to identify threats. It was a lot of metal, and Max tried to identify unit codes as he was keeping station on Frederick’s flank. “I see the Legion and the Regulars, but not the Sword of Light,” he muttered to himself.
“You’re right,” Frederick agreed, “but keep the channel clear right now, Max.”
Having not realized that he was speaking out loud, Max colored slightly and muted himself. Tactical analysis was someone else’s job. Right now, his only real job was to stay alive and - if possible - help keep Frederick alive as well.
A Lyran Phoenix Hawk bounded back into view, exchanging fire with a second Phoenix Hawk. The Lyran fired a PPC shot that struck the Draconian in the chest - it must be one of the Royal Guards, they’d be the only ones with one of the lostech Phoenix Hawks that carried a PPC, Max thought.
More constructively, he locked up the Kuritan and triggered his LRMs - the Orion shook slightly as ten missiles streaked out of the launchers, and then again as a replacement salvo was moved into place by the autoloader. Max thought that some of his missiles hit but he wasn’t sure how many.
Then more ‘Mechs appeared - a wedge of Quickdraws, Chargers, and Dragons spearing through the light and medium ‘mechs of the Lyran frontline. Almost all were in camouflage but a single red-painted Dragon led the wedge forwards.
LRMs slashed out from both sides, then PPCs and autocannon as the ‘Mechs closed into range.
Max twisted to make himself a harder target. There was a line of tanks following the ‘mechs, either the same company that they’d seen earlier or a similar force. Rather than trying to hit the DCMS ‘mechs, he focused his attention on a Tokugawa tank as it came down the slope and fired his autocannon, then his LRMs. He saw the tank slew around as shells ripped into the tracks on one side, then LRMs splattered across its turret and upper hull.
Frederick stepped forwards, crossing Max’s line of fire - he jerked his crosshairs away and managed to avoid firing his next salvo right into his friend’s back. The Orion strode after the Zeus, trying to cling to it as the ‘mechs lunged at it.
The distinctive head of Frederick’s Zeus meant he was drawing more than his fair share of fire. Not that he was the only one being shot at - a Warhammer exploded, the pilot flung upwards by his ejection seat.
Max saw the red Dragon closing in and twisted to bring his crosshairs across it. The lasers weren’t quite on target - the twin beams clipped the side of smaller ‘mech but only did glancing damage to the chest and arm before it had moved ahead, most of their energy wasted on the hillside behind it. Correcting his aim, Max fired his autocannon, tracking shots across him.
Then he rocked as missiles hit him. Max’s cockpit lit up as the explosions pelted him - too many for a single salvo, he was being singled out. He let the impacts force him into a side-step and saw the next streams of missiles coming in - two, no three ‘mechs hitting him. Two Quickdraws and a Dragon, all in the red-and-gray markings of the Legion of Vega. The three ‘mechs were spacing their fire so that there was always one shooting at him while the other two reloaded their missile racks.
The Dragon’s autocannon added insult to injury. He replied with his own, heavier autocannon and both of them added lasers. The Orion rocked under the bombardment but the shaking wasn’t enough for Max to miss entirely - he was aiming for center mass but the shots hit the Dragon’s right arm and half-severed it.
“Getting roasted here!” he called.
“We’ve got your back, Seven!”
A moment later, a second Orion moved up and joined him in shooting at the Dragon, while one of the Quickdraws found itself the recipient of a salvo of LRMs fired from an Archer that could launch more missiles on its own than the volleys that had been punishing Max.
“Aerospace activity!” someone called.
Max twisted his Orion to take the next shots on intact armor and took the opportunity to check the skies briefly but nothing seemed close enough for him to worry about. Straightening up, he fired into the Dragon again, hitting it with everything in the Orion’s arsenal. He wasn’t sure what hit - or even if it was his fire or the other Orion’s that was responsible - but something must have breached the autocannon’s magazine because the Dragon blew apart, peeling open from the right shoulder to its core, then tearing apart as a secondary explosion marked the LRM ammunition going up as well.
Unlike the Warhammer earlier, the Dragon’s mechwarrior didn’t eject.
The rate of fire had sent the temperature of the Orion skyrocketing. Max shamelessly ducked behind the other Orion, checking Frederick’s position. He saw the Zeus dueling with the red Dragon, both ‘mechs bearing the marks of weapon impacts but neither seemed to have taken penetrating damage.
A Panther’s PPC lashed out towards the Zeus, only to miss. Max drew a bead on the smaller ‘mech and opened up with his LRMs, then waited a breath for the temperature to drop further to fire his autocannon. While some of the missiles scored hits, they were also enough warning for the Panther to fire its jump jets just as he fired the autocannon, so the shells whistled uselessly beneath it.
It didn’t save the light ‘mech though. The jump took it into the field of fire of the company to one side, one made up of heavy ‘Mechs from the Royal Guards. A Marauder drew a bead on the Panther and he saw both PPCs skewer the Dieron Regular right as it landed. The shots punched straight through the chest of the ‘Mech and visible particle spray made it through and out of its rear. The Panther staggered and fell.
Before it could rise, Max’s autocannon cycled and he fired again. Between his fire and the Marauder’s, the Panther was torn apart.
Turning his attention back to the Quickdraws, he found that the one taking LRM fire was a blackened wreck, upright but immobile.
The other was running at Frederick’s Zeus. For a moment, it looked as if the Steiner was going to take the fire of both his current adversary but also this interloper. Then the Zeus dropped flat and the two salvos crashed over it, the two Kuritan mechwarriors battering each other’s ‘mechs as they had been on diametrically opposite sides.
The Dragon toppled backwards, the already damaged cockpit burned through by one of the Quickdraw’s lasers.
Scarred and overheating, practically incandescent on Max’s infra-red sensors, the Quickdraw slid to a dismayed halt at the sight of the friendly fire. It was a fatal error: Frederick rolled the Zeus up and fired from one knee while Max, the Archer and the other Orion added their own fire.
Crippled and burning, the Quickdraw fell to its knees and the mechwarrior ejected.
Frederick brought his Zeus upright and stepped back towards Max. “Status!” he barked on the task force command channel.
Max moved to cover Fredrick while the general took stock, turning one ear to the replies.
“Sir, we have multiple dropships taking off from Fortress Dieron and four other locations around Dieron.” Max recognised the speaker as one of the air defense operators. “Our aerospace forces aren’t fueled to chase them into orbit, we’re coordinating with Wolf’s Dragoons wings to try for an interception.”
''
“Just have someone watch them,” Frederick snapped. “Put every bird you can on air support and observation - those dropships are evacuating troops, it’s more important we focus on eradicating those still here before they can go to ground. I don’t want to be dealing with a heavily armed resistance for the next twenty years.”
“The Fifth Sword of Light escaping?” Max wondered, picking out another Tokugawa - the one he’d seen earlier had been taken out already - and pelting it with LRMs. “DuQuesne will have a lot to answer for.”
“He’s probably speaking to a higher authority.” Frederick’s Zeus indicated the red Dragon, where it lay on its back. “That ‘mech has a Warlord’s rank markings - most likely he ordered the retreat and then led this charge to expunge the shame.”
Max blinked and then nodded. By the Draconian code of honor, that would make some degree of sense. And in that case, this campaign was… well, it wasn’t over but what remained was mopping up.
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Book 2 - 05, Chapter