Mission 2: Ranger Rescue

            His third night off-duty, Dan stayed in a cabin in an off-the-path town whose name he would soon forget.  It was cold there at night, which he liked.  This trip had to feel different from his cadet life, as different as possible.

            He paid the manager early the next morning, then went back to the cabin and put together two suitcases.  In the first case he put the things he would need on the road.  Into the second went uniforms, documents, most of his books.  He couldn’t decide which case his gun should go in.

            Outside he heard a groundcar pull up.  He hadn’t seen another car here since he arrived, besides his own, so he figured it had to be Professor Sekhar.

            He took his jacket, which was a bomber pilot’s fur-lined leather type, and went outside.  He was right, it was her.

            “Thanks for coming, Professor,” he said.

            Amanda Sekhar crossed her arms.  “That’s all right.”

            “You got a heavier coat?”

            She nodded and took one from the back of her car.

            “Want to go for a walk?” Dan said.  “There’s a stream back here that I like.”

            They walked along the stream a little ways.  The streambed was black with rocks, which made the water stand out darkly against the snowy shore.

            Finally he said, “You ever have a student desert before?”

            She shook her head.  “I’m not sure how to compare you with other Academy students, Dan.”

            “It’s not like I’m the only republican student at NAIS.”

            “No.  But you’re the only one who’s out here.”

            Her footing slipped.  He moved to help her, but she’d already grabbed a tree to steady herself.

            “We can stop here,” said Dan.

            She ignored him.  “Why did you ask me to come out here?  Do you want me to convince you to come back, or to go?”

            “I want to know what you think I should do.”

            “I don’t think you want to desert.”

            “No.”  He twisted a pinecone off one of the tree’s branches.  “But the reasons why I don’t want to—they don’t seem like good reasons.”

            “What reasons are those?”

            “I like fighting.  I think I like it enough that I don’t mind fighting for a cause that I hate.”

            He could tell she didn’t know what to say to that, at first.  Then she said, “You’d change things if you could.  That’s one of the tragedies of life in the Inner Sphere: only a few people are in a position to make a difference.”

            “So since I can’t help, it doesn’t matter what I actually do?  Might as well join the armies that support feudalism?”

            “It does matter.  It might matter a lot, but not in the way you think.  The people who hold the real power in our world, who can make a difference, are the MechWarriors.  That’s the sad fact.  But if you become one of them, you enter those halls of power.  Someday you might be in a place to really change things.  If you disappear out there--” she gestured at the New Avalon wilderness “--you never will.”

            “At least I won’t be a part of it then.”

            “Don’t deceive yourself.  We’re all part of it.”  She stepped closer to him and tried to look him in the eye; he turned away.  “I know what you’re really afraid of, Dan.  You’re worried that it will change you, that you’ll become like them.  But that won’t happen, not to you.  I know you.”

            He walked at graduation, saluting the flags with the rest of them.  But he sat with Dom Harris, away from the other officers.

            The speaker was Morgan Hasek-Davion.  Seeing him inspired mixed feelings in Dan, as the Davion nobility always did.  Hasek-Davion had helped liberate dozens of worlds from Capellan tyranny.  In a meritocracy, he'd have easily earned his place; in any just democracy, he'd have earned the people's vote.  But who could guarantee that the next Davion would be as dependable as Morgan or as clever as Hanse?  And if he or she were not, the people would have no recourse.

            He'd been sixteen when he enrolled at NAMA.  Monarchism had seemed like a fact of life then, not something for reasonable people to question.  Now he faced ten years of service under the Inner Sphere's most powerful monarchy with a sense of moral ambivalence.  The Federated Commonwealth didn't have the vote, but at least the people's basic liberties were respected.  And if he was going to be a MechWarrior, he'd have to serve one of the Great Houses one way or another.

            Still, the way his father served the Steiner-Davions--by arms-length contract rather than sworn fealty--seemed nobler to Dan.  He remembered how jealous Jake Khumalo was when Dan left for the NAIS.  Now Dan was the jealous one.  Jake was an Excalibur, a mercenary.  Master of his own fate.

He missed his dad and the Excaliburs terribly.  Under contract near the Lyran Periphery, more than twenty jumps away, Geoff couldn't even attend his graduation.

            He chose the Tenth Lyran Guards for his first post.  Stationed in Steiner space with the Guards, at least he could visit dad, Nini, Jake and the rest when he had a leave.  And Dom would be nearby too, working with the Defiance Industries design team.  No matter how he felt about the FedCom, he was glad to be stationed near friends and family.

SKONDIA, FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH

FEBRUARY 3049

            Dan's first exercises with the Tenth went well.  The Banshee-S was a dream come true, and his assault lance maneuvered expertly, even without prior practice as a team.  He couldn't believe these troops were classed as a green unit.  That would change once they saw some action, he figured.

            One in particular—Leftenant Michael Casey, commander of the other lance in Dan's company—was frankly amazing when it came to 'Mech piloting.  As he approached Casey after the last day of exercises, he overheard a major say, “I've seen a Warhammer move that way once, and it was Natasha Kerensky at the controls.”

            “Casey!” said Dan.  The other leftenant was dropping down from his Warhammer's rope ladder.

            Casey nodded at him.  “Leftenant Kenner.”

            “Let me buy you a Pharaoh, man.”

            “I'm afraid I don't drink, Leftenant.”

            “Hey,” said Dan.  “We're both leftenants, so let's forget that part.  It's Dan, all right?”

            “All right.”  But from Casey's expression, Dan could tell it wasn't exactly all right.

            “Look, there are only two leftenants in Ecker's Company.  If we can't be buddies, who else is there?”

            “Certainly not Ecker,” said Casey.  “If you'd like to bond, I suggest we commiserate about that goddamned fool.”

            “He seems fine.”

            “You had to stretch the bounds of his orders twice today to correct his mistakes.”

            “He's not the best in the field, maybe, but come on.  From a Lyran officer, I expected a lot worse.”

            Casey took a long look at Dan, then spoke in a measured voice.  “From the way you talk, Kenner, one would think we were playing for lower stakes than our lives.  But that's ultimately what we'll be risking.  And Ecker's decisions will matter.”

            Dan could see his point.  “Well, so will mine.  I hope you'll hold me to the same high standard.”

            “I do,” said Casey.  “When you make a mistake, you'll hear from me.  So far you haven't.”

DECEMBER 3049

            “Ho ho ho,” said Dan as the door opened.

            “Kenner!”  Kai Allard looked surprised to see him.  They shook hands.  “I guess I knew you were with the unit, but it never really occurred to me to look you up.”

            “I know what you mean,” said Dan.  “Figured we'd run into each other at some briefing or other, but it never seemed to happen.  I was going to see if you wanted to come out for a beer, but I scouted ahead at the bars and it's insane out there.  So,” he pulled a bottle out of his bag, “I dipped into my private stock.  Assuming you're not working late or something.”

            “Not at all.”  Kai invited him in.  “But don't be too put off when I get red-faced after two drinks.  The Asian man's curse.”

            Kai updated Dan on mutual NAIS friends who'd graduated with his class.  He was settling in well with the Guards, he said.  “How about you, Leftenant?”

            “I've got a good lance,” said Dan.  “Company CO hasn't impressed me as much, but we get along.  The real character is the other lance commander.  This guy's so good he reminds me of you.  But he's ice cold.”

            “Is that Michael Casey?”

            “You know him?”

            “No, but I have heard a few stories.  People keep suggesting that I duel him in the simulator.”

            “I doubt he'd go for that.  The man is entirely business.  But it sounds like your reputation is spreading?”

            Kai shrugged awkwardly.  “Such as it is.”

            “Well.  I suppose I may have had a bit of a hand in that.”

            Kai gave him a skeptical look.  “You know, I have never understood why you're so friendly with me, Dan.”

            It was an awkward thing for him to bring up.  “Well,” said Dan, “I'm a MechWarrior for a reason.  I respect your art.”

            “But I'd have expected you to have a problem with nobles, given what you believe.”

            “If you actually thought you were entitled to anything, it would probably piss me off.  But if anything, you hold yourself to a higher standard.  It's weird.  I haven't really found a way for my politics to coexist with the rest of my life.  I mean, what about my career, for Christ's sake?”

            “I've never understood that either,” said Kai.  “It's not as if you have roots in the Commonwealth.  You weren't born here, unless I'm misremembering.”

            “No, I wasn't.”

            “Then why not serve a democratic state, like the Free Worlds League?”

            Because Thomas Marik wants my father dead.  Although he couldn't tell Kai the whole story, Dan did answer with some honesty.  “The League isn't a true democracy.  Only a few planets elect their Members of Parliament.  Most of them are hereditary nobles.  And anyway, their Parliament is essentially powerless now.  Besides,” he said, “I wanted to go to NAMA.  I didn't even become a republican until my second year there.”

            “And now you're trapped in a ten-year term of compulsory service to a nation you don't believe in.”

            Dan shrugged.  He'd already wrestled with this issue, and found resolution at least for now.  “I don't feel trapped, really.  I wanted to be a MechWarrior, and the last governments I would've gladly served died before the Star League.  You have to fight for someone.”  Kai didn't exactly look mollified.  Dan understood at last what was bothering him.  “When you think about why soldiers have fought with honor, throughout history, it hasn't usually been because they were patriots.  They didn't want to fail their fellow warriors.  'We band of brothers,' remember?  I may not believe in the Commonwealth the way you do, but I'd never let you down in the field.”

            Kai nodded with respect, and Dan could see that at last he believed him.

BLACK EARTH, FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH

MARCH 3050

            The cover of BattleTechnology said "Mystery Attackers!"  There wasn't much new information in the article, though.  Morgan Kell's son had been lost in the Periphery, it said.  But there was no mention of the fighting on Anywhere and Barcelona.

            I suppose it's a good sign that the LIC is getting intelligence to us faster than the press, thought Geoff.  Still, the Lyran reports had so far been quiet about the fate of the garrison regiments these Periphery Clans had attacked.  Edited for mercenary consumption, perhaps.  Hauptmann-General Bissel had order the Excaliburs to dig in for planetary defense, which was perhaps not a good sign.  Geoff had expected they would first face relief duty on one of the worlds under attack.  But if the garrison troops collapsed immediately...

            Nini came in, and the magazine cover drew her eye immediately.  "You got a hardcopy issue?"

            "Took me all morning to find one," said Geoff.  "There's not much new information, I'm afraid."

            "Still, what a photo.  Look at that thing."

            "You ready to take one on?"

            "Don't joke about it.  These things have me scared shitless.  We were making good money just sitting still out here.  Now all of a sudden we're on the front line, against 'Mechs like that."  She gestured at the image of the "Vulture."

            "They may only have Star League tech.  We can match that, at least with half our 'Mechs."

            "Does that look like Star League tech?"

            "There were a lot of lost designs.  But no, you're right.  The aesthetic is totally different.  And if those are twenty-racks on the shoulders, I don't think even the SLDF could fit that much weaponry on a sixty-tonner.  This is something new."

            "We have to be ready to evacuate, even against orders, if we can't beat them.  Keep the DropShips fueled and ready to lift off."

            "That's smart," he said.  "There's a good pirate point close to the planet, too.  I'll order Camelot and Avalon to jump there."

Dear Colonel Kenner,

            I write to you with an offer of considerable profit that I hope you will accept.

            As I'm sure you know, the Seventeenth Skye Rangers recently engaged the Clan enemy on Barcelona.  You may not be aware that they've been denied relief of any sort.  The regiment has been forced to abandon their defensive positions and go to ground.  Area Commander Bissel has denied their request for evacuation.  These elite warriors, including many sons and daughters of my own duchy, stand to lose their lives and their families' prized equipment if nothing is done.

            As the only unengaged mercenary unit in the region with their own complement of JumpShips, the Excaliburs are in a unique position to be of service.  I hereby offer you a bounty of one million kroner for each Ranger MechWarrior or pilot rescued from Barcelona, with an additional million for every intact BattleMech or fighter recovered.  My astrogators have plotted a pirate point that should serve for inserting your forces.

            I understand that you are under contract to the Commonwealth, and would be held in violation if you accepted another assignment.  This is why I present my offer in the form of a bounty rather than new employment.  I hope you will find a way, within the boundaries of your terms of service, to render aid to the people of Skye.

with regards,

Margaret Aten

Duchess of Summer

            “We take it,” said Taggart.  “Obviously, we take it.”

            Nini disagreed.  “These guys mauled the Seventeenth Skye and you want to just drop in on them?”

            “We rescue one company, we make twenty-four million in a day.”

            “I agree with John,” interjected Geoff, “and not just because of the money.  We're going to face these Clans eventually.  We need to know how to win—if we can.  If there's a chance to learn that without risking the whole regiment, we need to take it.”

            Nini nodded.  The matter was closed.

            “We'll take Camelot only.  We may need to get out fast with the L-F battery.  The two Overlords and Pendragon will give us the best carrying capacity.  We take one battalion—yours, John, since you're keen to go.  Plus the command company.  That way we can fit another battalion's worth for the trip home.  The Seventeenth can't have more than that remaining.  We'll take the maximum possible fighter complement, though.  Descent and liftoff will be the most dangerous junctures.  We'll need protection then.”

            “How are you going to square this with the terms of our contract?” said Nini.

            Geoff shrugged.  “We're allowed a certain amount of discretion in conducting recon missions.  We'll call it reconnaissance in force.  By the time the Area Commander asks about the details, we'll be gone.  Then what's he going to do?  Fire a unit that's sitting on the front line?”

DROPSHIP LANCELOT

BARCELONA SYSTEM, JADE FALCON OCCUPATION ZONE

            Geoff floated beside Taggart over the array of screens where Lancelot's orbital survey cameras were dumping their images.  The two colonels sifted through the data, not trusting the computer with images of unfamiliar BattleMechs.

            “There are two active enemy forces, each about the size of a reinforced battalion,” said Taggart.  “One seems to be sitting things out for the moment.  The other has broken into a reinforced company and six of these five-'Mech elements they like.  The groups of five are searching the marshes north of the capital for Ranger survivors.”  He looked up at Geoff.  “Funny that they're using 'Mechs for this duty.”

            Geoff nodded.  “Maybe they don't have VTOLs with them, but they must at least have sensor-equipped fighters.”

            “Anyhow, it's no trouble of ours if they're not using a proper search procedure.”

            “No, in fact, it gives me an idea.  All three of your companies have at least one ECM-equipped 'Mech, right?”

            “Right...”

            “I want your battalion split into companies.  We'll drop them along the path of three of these groups of five.  Set the ECM to passive, and make sure all your 'Mechs stay within 180 meters of the ECM unit.  You'll let the enemy force go by, then follow behind it.  If the Clan 'Mechs find a group of Rangers, you attack immediately.  If not, you follow for twelve hours, then set up an ambush.

            “Meanwhile, we'll land the DropShips in this flat spot between these mountains, with the armor and the command company for protection.  The fighters will return to orbit.  It's not ideal, but it's the best way to keep them in reserve, and they can keep an eye on the other three Clan search teams.”

            “Do you think the ships will have enough protection?”

            “Hard to say.  But we have a small force and we need to split it if we're going to trail the Clan search teams.  It sounds like if we're going to have a chance, we need to outnumber them.  Can you think of another way to accomplish both those tasks?”

            “No, you're right.  We'll just have to keep the fighters ready in case the DropShips need their help.”

            “All right.  Let's brief the troops.”

            Thirty-four MechWarriors and six fighter pilots crowded onto Lancelot's bridge, while eighteen others on Galahad listened via laser comm.

            “I know you all,” Geoff told them.  “I know you're courageous soldiers.  You're going to have to temper that courage with a little wisdom today.  Can you do that for me?”

            A rumbling chorus of 'yessir's rose from the troops.

            “Our golden rule today is: fight when ordered, run when ordered.  You stay back and don't engage until your company commander gives the word.  If you hear the order to withdraw, you obey.  Captains, don't be too hesitant to sound the retreat.  We have to face the possibility that we just can't win against this enemy.”

            He nodded to Taggart.  The Welshman said, “We're going into the unknown today.  You'll all be my good boys and girls, I know you will.  We'll get through this safe and sound.  Now, to your machines.”

            Stalking the Clan unit was the most suspenseful mission Taggart could remember.  It wasn't easy to keep a BattleMech company hidden from an enemy  The Star League Stalker's ECM went a long way and the terrain here was ideal for hidden pursuit.  Still, the enemy 'Mechs were moving at a steady pace.  Both the Stalker and Taggart's Atlas had to jog just to stay close enough to keep tracking the enemy.

            The company communicated only by line-of-sight laser comm.  They kept tight formation, with Taggart watching his tactical map hawkishly to ensure none of the 'Mechs stepped out of range of the Stalker.

            As the enemy force passed each steep rock formation, Taggart's company moved out from behind the next formation and quickly closed the gap—a sort of leapfrogging maneuver from cover to cover.  He was about to give the order to move again when he saw the lightest Clan 'Mech step back, retracing its path.

            “Hold position here,” he told his warriors.

            Had the light 'Mech detected them?  Was that even possible, through the ECM?

            The other four were turning now.  There was only one explanation.  They couldn't have detected Taggart's 'Mechs, even with an active probe, but a probe could potentially notice the ECM's jamming signal if it got too close.

            “They know we're here,” he said over the comm, “but they don't know our numbers and composition.   Get close to the hill and prepare to go at them.”

SCENARIO 2-2: RANGER RESCUE

PLAYER: Excaliburs

ENEMY: JadeFalcon

OBJECTIVE: Eliminate all enemy units without a single Excalibur unit destroyed or immobilized by damage.