Andrew's square jaw dropped. "Those idiots. If the Maskirovka has spies able to tap into the base computer, this place will look like a quillarripe for the plucking."

Craon opened his hands. "That's why I've got that gut feeling, Captain."

The loud, bone-rattling scream of a 'Mech raid warning klaxon obliterated Andrew's reply. Within the space of a heartbeat, both men had begun sprinting to where their war machines waited for them.

Andrew snapped his Centurion'sright arm up and tracked along the Vindicator'sflight trajectory. He dropped his crosshairs onto the humanoid 'Mech, saw the sight flash once, then stabbed his thumb down on the firing switch. Fighting against the auto-cannon's recoil, he kept the gun on target.

The hail of depleted uranium slugs savaged the Vindicator'salready-damaged right leg, blasting completely through the 'Mech's knee. The limb's lower half twisted free and rocketed skyward on a jet of flame. The 45-ton war machine, unable to sustain controlled flight with only two-thirds of its jump jets, slowly began to spin over. Its flight path deteriorated badly as the 'Mech continued its lazy roll, then finally slammed into the ground, exploding into a roiling ball of argent fire. "Cap, break left!"

Craon's shout brought Andrew about instantly. A blue line of PPC energy sizzled through the space his Centurionhad just occupied. Damn! Would have breached my back if Craon hadn't warned me!Continuing his spin, Andrew came face to face with a humanoid, battle-scarred Griffin .On virtually the only untouched section of armor, high on the machine's right breast, Andrew saw the gold and green chess knight crest that marked this 'Mech as another member of the Second Ariana Fusiliers regiment.

Four coruscating spears of laser light flashed from Craon's Jenner.Each one cut deep wounds into the armor on the Griffin 'sarms, dropping half-melted ceramic plates to the ground. The other two beams vaporized the Fusiliers' crest and liquified half the armor on the Griffin 'schest.

The Griffin brought its pistol-like PPC up, the coils glowing with cerulean light. Its particle beam leaped like an electric arc from the weapon's muzzle to the chest of Andrew's Centurion.Squinting against the harsh blue light, Andrew fought to control the Centurion'sreaction to the beam's impact. Rocked back into his command couch, he saw armor shards arc away from his 'Mech on superheated plasma jets.

Andrew dropped the Centurion'stargeting crosshairs onto the Griffin 'soutline, then stabbed the firing switch angrily. The auto-cannon's roar was deafening as it vomited out a storm of hot metal and orange flame. As the autocannon rose with the recoil, its shells raked a diagonal line across the Griffin 'schest from hip to shoulder. The shells chewed twisted scraps of armor from the 'Mech and opened holes through which Andrew saw the Griffin 'sferrouranium skeleton.

"Cap, swing wide left!" Archie St. Agnan's voice seethed with outrage. "Archerlance has this one."

The Griffin all but vanished from sight as wave after wave of LRMs from Archer Lance's Valkyrieswashed over it. They exploded all over the war machine, cloaking it in a solid sheet of flame. Armor remnants pinwheeled away, smoking like damaged aircraft, then bounced across the landscape. The Griffin 'sright arm, still clutching the PPC, whirled free of the fiery vortex, narrowly missing Craon's Jennerin its erratic flight.

The firestorm raging over the Griffin evaporated like a magician's illusion to reveal a badly damaged 'Mech. The cratered armor had been utterly carbonized. Chunks had been blown from the cylindrical LRM launching canister perched on the 'Mech's right shoulder, and the canister now drooped impotently toward the ground. The armor had been blasted from the 'Mech's left thigh, leaving only tatters of the thick myomer muscles that made possible the machine's movement.

The Griffin 'sfaceplate exploded outward in a glittering crystal shower. The pilot's command couch followed immediately on a tongue of red fire. The 'Mech, unbalanced and frozen in an awkward pose, tottered in reaction to its pilot's ejection. Tipping backward, the Griffin fell to the dusty, armor-strewn plain with a thundering crash.

Andrew checked his scanners. "I've got nothing on screen."

Archie's voice buzzed into his neurohelmet. "Archer is clear, and the other lances report the same. Our sector is safe." A chorus of agreement from the other lance leaders followed Archie's report. Andrew keyed up Craon's Jenner."What about you, Robert?"

"Sonovabitch!" Craon's voice, filled with equal parts surprise and pride, echoed in Andrew's cockpit. "I don't believe it!"

Andrew frowned. "What is it, Leftenant?"

Hearing his voice, Andrew could easily visualize the broad smile on Craon's face. "Just got a message from Colonel Stone, sir. He said that if we're through playing around, he's got a real fight over in Charlie sector. If we don't mind, he said he'd be honored if we'd join up and help him."

Andrew smiled. Would wonders never cease?"Did you copy that, lance leaders? Let's head on over south and help the rest of ourregiment show these invaders how a real Davion Guard unit fights."

50

New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Suns

20 January 3029

Hanse Davion cinched his robe tighter around his waist, then rubbed one hand through his closely cropped red hair. Stifling a yawn, he smiled at Quintus Allard. "Good morning, Quintus." The Prince took a closer look at his Minister of Intelligence, Information, and Operations, then narrowed his eyes. "Or is it still evening for you?"

Quintus bowed his head. "I'm sorry to have awakened you at this hour, but it's important."

Hanse stiffened. "Is there a problem with Operation Ambush?"

Quintus smiled broadly, which drained some of the weariness from his seamed face. "Not really, sir. We had some trouble on Axton ... elements of the Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers blooded an NAIS training cadre and escaped with a few supplies. All other Capellan assaults were met and neutralized. Operating on Duke Michael's last report, they expected to find little or nothing in the way of garrisons on five supply worlds. They lost everything." Quintus glanced down at his notepad. "And even that little thing on Elgin seems to be progressing nicely."

Hanse clapped his hands together. I've owed you this, Maximilian Liao! Now I begin to repay you."What's the word from Northwind?"

Quintus's smile dimmed. "The Northwind Highlanders arrived in time to kick the Draconis forces out, though the First Kearny Highlanders got ripped up by the Fifth Sword of Light before the Sword was forced to retreat offworld. All our units there, including Team Banzai, were seriously mauled. The Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry is going back to its homeworld for rest and refitting. Team Banzai, or the ragged battalion they've cobbled together from the survivors, is en route back here, to New Avalon. They want Dr. Banzai treated in the NATS Medical Center."

"Of course. Whatever they need," the Prince said. "But what about Bradley's Bravos?"

Quintus smiled. "Major Bradley kept them on Northwind. Says he's got a contract for a year's service and he means to fulfill it."

Hanse nodded approvingly. "They're affiliated with the Kell Hounds, aren't they?"