“... So they can hit the convoy, smash through them, and jump down into the valley,” Yukinov said, finishing the thought. While Chan was objecting, he had figured out what Minobu was leading up to. “I like it.”
Minobu bowed his head in acknowledgement. “If our onworld reconnaissance is accurate, no more than half of the Davion 'Mechs in the vicinity are jump-capable. The proportion of these that accompany the convoy is likely to be somewhat less.”
“How do you figure that, Tai-sa?”asked Sho-saCharles Earnst. Of all of Minobu's staff, he was the most outspoken. One or two of the other Ryuken officers also signaled curiosity by nodding agreement with Earnst's request for enlightenment.
“If McGuffin's prototype is indeed valuable to House Davion,” Minobu said, “they'll want a strong force to defend it, in case the convoy runs into trouble. A strong force means heavy BattleMechs, and most heavy 'Mechs are tied to the ground. Due to his requirements to defend other possible targets, the Davion commander will also wish to keep sufficient mobile elements to respond to our maneuvers. Mobile elements mean light BattleMechs, preferably jump-capable.
“That means something less than half the escort force will be available to pursue our raiders through the valley. Now, see the alternate channels that the river has carved over the eons. The Federated Suns commander will not know which channel we plan to use for our escape route, and he'll be forced to split his forces to cover all the possibilities. Some of his 'Mechs will end up in channels diverging from our route, effectively removing them from the battle. Others will reach dead-ends and the same result.”
“There's still a hole in this plan,” Chan put in, probably upset that his choice for an ambush site had been rejected. “The other convoy 'Mechs will be able to follow along the bank. They could provide direction to the pursuit as well as harassing fire, and their height advantage would be devastating.”
“It might, if they were allowed to take advantage of it.” Minobu had everyone's attention again. “But the Davion 'Mechs on the south bank will be occupied. After our main force makes the expected attack on Landova, we'll leave a skeleton force there to demonstrate our nonexistent intent to invest the proving grounds. Another contingent will form a cordon around the city, while the main force moves to engage the Davion 'Mechs with fire from the north bank of the Shaw. As soon as the ambush force is clear, the covering forces will disengage. The forces in Landova will also pull out and head for the DropShips. There should be no more than the usual problems in getting offplanet with our prize.”
“Sounds workable,” Yukinov said. “Who gets what assignment?”
'The hit-and-run nature of the ambush force would be best left to the Dragoons, I think,” Minobu suggested. “Got that right!”
“Thank you, Captain Stane.” The admonishment in Yukinov's voice had no visible effect on the ebullient woman. “I agree. That leaves the Ryuken and our heavier machines for the Landova operation.”
“Yes. But I think the lighter elements of the Ryuken can provide distraction for the Davion forces by moving—”
“Wait a minute. Wait a minute,” Chan interrupted. “Look at the dam here. It's got access paths down into the river bed. The Feds could pull their heavies back to it and move them down there to chase our raiders. If their lights maintain contact and slow our troops, we could have real trouble.”
“Respectfully, Major Chan,” Michi Noketsuna said, heels clicking as he performed a sharp bow. “If they do, they shall have the same trouble you feared they would provide our raiders.”
“Humph!” Chan looked sour. He did not like having his own objection brought back to shoot down his argument, especially by a whippersnapper Kurita officer, no matter how respectful. A glance at the holotank brought another idea. “What if they didn't go down but came back across? Whether they went after our covering force on the north bank or headed for Landova, they'd be in trouble.”
“I think you are right, Major,” Minobu conceded. “The dam will have to be destroyed after the convoy crosses it.”
“Kristen, your airpower going to be up to the job?” Yukinov asked.
“Too busy with the Davion flyboys.”
“Looks like we'll have to do it from the ground. What about those diversionary forces of yours, Tai-saTetsuhara?”
“They are the choice of necessity. Once we've encircled the Achernar facility, they would be available to make the strike.” Minobu considered the distances involved. “They should arrive at the dam just after the convoy reaches the ambush site. That timing may be later than Major Chan would wish, but they should still be able to destroy passage down or over the dam well before the Davion commanders consider any options along those lines.”
When the discussion moved to specific problems, such as timetables, jump-off points, zones of responsibility, and designating resupply points, Akuma lost interest. He found such trivia boring. He had listened intently to the earlier discussion, however, and agreed that the plan was well-formulated. It was a good scheme, with an excellent chance of success, and would suit his own plans very well. In the buzz of discussion that filled the MHQ, no one could hear him when he turned to his aides and said quietly, “Tonight.”
21
Ryuken-Dragoon Field Camp, Barlow's End
Draconis March, Federated Suns
1 October 3026
‘MechWarrior Malcolm Spence dropped two sugars into his coffee and looked up at the clock on the wall of the monitor hut. Unity! It was only 0130. There were still four and half hours till his relief arrived. It was going to be a long night. The Feds didn't know where the raider camp was, so they weren't likely to be making any attacks. But Stone Face Chan didn't care. “Full standard surveillance,” he had ordered, and Spence had ended up with the dead-man's shift. What had he done to piss off old Stone Face? Oh well, nothing for it but to muddle through. He would just have to stay awake, but that's what coffee was for. If only it wasn't so quiet.
When a knock sounded at the door, he nearly spilled the hot liquid into his lap. Before Spence could say anything, the door opened to reveal a tall, muscular Ryuken ‘Mech-Warrior. The outside moonlight turned his close-cropped blond hair to a silver skullcap, and the scar down his right cheek might have made him sinister if not for the man's easy grin and manner. “Hey, didn't mean to startle you.”
“That's O.K.,” Spence said, mopping up the mess. “What's up?”
“Nothing. Couldn't sleep. Nerves, I guess. Figured whoever had monitor duty might be wanting to talk awhile to kill some time. I've had the watch myself and know how boring it can be.”
“Too straight,” the Dragoon agreed.
“Name's Kahn,” the visitor said, holding out a hand adorned with a heavy gold ring that glinted in the light. Spence shook the man's hand, impressed at the strength of his grip.
“First or last?”
“Your choice,” the Kuritan answered, pulling up a chair.
They fell into the easy talk of fellow ‘Mech Warriors. Kahn was sympathetic to Spence's problems with a glitch in the jump jets on his Shadow Hawk,for it turned out that he had had the same problem with his own 'Mech two years ago. He and his Tech had never been able to trace it down. It had taken a complete replacement of the jet systems to clear up the problem.
Spence was caught by surprise when Kahn opened his eyes wide and leaned forward. “What's that?”
“Where?”
“Monitor four. There behind the 'Mech.” The Kuritan got up and leaned over Spence's chair, left hand pointing at the screen. Kahn's right hand rested on Spence's back and swiveled the Dragoon toward the bank of monitors. Kahn's ring was cold where it touched the skin on the back of Spence's neck.