Prince of Havoc

by Michael A. Stackpole

Caroline Seng, was bumped up to become Candace Liao's military advisor back on St. Ives. She folded her arms over her cooling vest and slowly shook her head. "I still do not think this is wise, Highness."

  Kai shot her a sidelong glance. "Piloting a captured Clan 'Mech into battle isn't really going to be a problem, Colonel. I've been fully checked out on it."

  "Yes, sir, I don't doubt that. What I'm talking about is the paint job you ordered. We're going to be in green fields and you've got this Stormcrow painted up like a ghost. It will stand out."

  Kai glanced down for a moment, then smiled at her. "The reason for the white color, and the red and blue yin/yang crests is because those are from Cenotaph Stables on Solaris, my stable. Those are the colors I wore when I was proclaimed the Champion of Solaris."

  "I know that, Highness."

  "Kai, please, I've told you to call me that." He sighed. "My mother rules the St. Ives Compact, but here I am not a ruler, I am just a warrior."

  "A warrior who's just had his 'Mech painted up to be a big target." Tsang frowned, her brown eyes narrowing. "Do you think this Vlad won't be hunting for you anyway?"

  "Oh, I intend he should hunt for me. And I mean for him to be angry at my audacity in having this paint job on my 'Mech. If he knows about Solaris, this should infuriate him. It means he's going to go after me, and after me exclusively. I'll be well-matched to his Timber Wolf, so that means the rest of you can deal with his people."

  The colonel's frown deepened. "Well-matched to his Timber Wolf! How do you calculate that? His OmniMech masses twenty tons more than yours, is more heavily armored, and is bristling with weapons. He's going to be only slightly slower than you are, and he's supposed to be a hot handin a 'Mech."

  Kai's smile shrank somewhat. "Your analysis is correct, but with the autocannon I can pack more of a punch when I get in close. I tighten a spiral on him and he ends up getting hint bad. Regardless, the purpose of this exercise is to drive them from the Kawlm box. Whoever ends up in possession of it wins our little contest, and while I'm occupying the attention of their commander, I expect you to pound the rest of them."

  "That's our plan." Tsang tossed Kai a salute. "Good hunting, Kai."

  "And you, Colonel. Let's mount up." Kai returned the salute, then climbed up the gantry. He moved along the catwalk, his steps echoing mechanically. Reaching the Stormcrow, he dropped through the top hatch and secured it, then lowered himself into the command couch. He fastened the lap belt, then the restraining belts that criss-crossed his chest. They felt snug against his cooling vest. Good, I'll stay where I'm meant to stay.

  From a pocket on the left side of the cooling vest, he took out a pair of plastic lines and clipped their metal ends into the sockets on the command couch. Because the fusion engine and the 'Mech's weapons produced tremendous amounts of heat, pilots wore as little clothing as possible in the cockpit and all donned a cooling vest. Aside from the cooling vest, his only other clothing were his armored boots, which covered him to mid-shin, and a thin pair of shorts. He knew that, by the end of the battle, he'd be sweat-soaked and exhausted, but the cooling vest would keep him from being poached alive in his sweat.

  From a rack above and behind his head, he grabbed his neurohelmet and pulled it on. Hie heavy helmet settled onto the cooling vest's padded shoulders, and Kai felt a familiar ache begin there. He tightened the chin strap to hold the helmet snugly on his head. The neurodetectors built into the helmet allowed a pilot's own seme of balance to work with the 'Mech's gyroscope to allow for movement and recovery from the devastating damage inflicted in batde.

  Kai flipped up the padding on the command couch's right arm and pulled out four small, disk-shaped pads and four wire leads. He peeled open the adhesive on the back of the pads and stuck them onto his thighs and upper arms. He clipped one end of the wires to the metal button in the middle of each white circle, then snaked the wires up through loops on his cooling vest and plugged them into the neurohelmet at the throat. The sensors on his arms and legs would further aid in balancing the 'Mech.

  Kai closed the compartment's lid, then reached over and punched the ignition button. An inhuman voice crackled through his helmet's speakers. "Authorization code request."

  BattleMechs, being the fearsome war machines they were, had been fitted with security devices that did not allow unauthorized users to operate them. The first was a simple voiceprint check. "Kai Allard-Liao, Star League Expeditionary Force. Check Code 413256."

  "Voiceprint match obtained. Personal authorization request."

  Each pilot filed a personal authorization code, guaranteeing his 'Mech would remain his alone. Some pilots recorded simple nonsense, assuming that would be tough to crack, while others went with family mottoes or other phrases that seemed suitably martial. Kai always tended toward some thought that would set the proper mood for the battles he was facing.

  He cleared his throat. "To try is to court failure. To do is the path to victory." a rumble shook the Stormcrow as the fusion reactor kicked in. The various monitors scattered around the cockpit flashed to life and data began to scroll over them. The weapons monitor reported that all six of his lasers were on-line and charging. The ultra-heavy autocannon was shown to be operational, and all the ammo seemed ready to be fed without a hitch. The heat monitors showed everything to be cool and blue.

  Finally, the holographic battle display materialized in front of him. It condensed a 360-degree view into about 160 degrees, with gold lines designating his weapons' forward firing arc. A golden cross hairs floated across the semi-transparent display in response to his working the joystick on the command couch's right arm. When it swept over another of the Lancer 'Mechs, the computer flashed a gold dot in the center of the cross hairs, indicating he was on target.

  He punched up the unit's tactical frequency on his communications unit. "Colonel Tsang, this is Kai. I'm good to go. Shall we? The Wolves await."

  * * *

  Kai's Stormcrow and two birdlike Ravens formed the vanguard of the St. Ives force. In addition to being faster than the Pillagers, Cataphracts, and Blackjacks that made up the rest of the company, the Ravens were equipped with a lot of electronics that made detection of the enemy easy, and also jammed some of their sophisticated fire control systems. The Kawlm District's gently rolling hills and sparse tree stands didn't really allow for much in the way of hidden 'Mechs, but the Guardian Electronic Counter Measures suites on the Ravens did offer some protection against ambush.

  Kai held the Stormcrow back from top speed since he had no desire to outstrip the 'Mechs coming up behind. Colonel Tsang, piloting one of the massive Pillagers, had the three of them spread out in the unit's second rank, so their Gauss rifles could provide a devastating salvo. The blocky Cataphracts and the long-legged Blackjacks in the third rank had more speed and a full array of longer-ranged weapons that would suit them well in engaging the Wolves.

  One of the Ravens dashed over to a small stand of trees near the crest of a long swell of hill. Kai noticed that the Lancers' dark green and black camouflage really did help hide the Raven, but with the flick of a finger he could switch his holographic display over to infrared or magnetic resonance and the 'Mech would stand out from the landscape as if outlined in neon. And I will do that in visible light.

  The radio crackled with the Raven pilot's report. "I have visual. Ten of the Clanners. One Timber Wolf, two Man O' wars, three Fenrises, and four Novas." aside from the Timber Wolf and the Man O' Wars, the Clan 'Mechs were smaller and very fast. While under-powered when compared to the Lancers, their speed would make them difficult to hit. Seems this Wolf is keeping to his namesake and has sent against us a force that will hurt in a pack Kai took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. But how well will a pack do without its alpha male?

  The St, Ives force moved forward and at the sight of it, the smaller, faster Clan 'Mechs began to spread out The Man O' Wars came forward, but the Timber Wolf held back a bit. Kai knew it wasn't out of any fear, but in invitation. the Man O'
Wars began to exchange ranging shots with the Pillagers, shooting well past his Stormcrow. They're letting me pass, no doubt at Vlad's orders.

  Kai kicked the Stormcrow up to speed and moved in toward Vlad. He took the 'Mech on a looping course to the right, cutting in front of one of the broadly built, macrocephalic Man 0'Wars. The Clanner didn't shoot at him, but as Kai swung past, he twisted the Stormcrow's torso to the left and pointed the autocannon at it. A great golden gout of flame vomited from the weapon's muzzle. The storm of depleted-uranium slugs ripped into the armor on the 'Mech's right flank and arm. The shots didn't completely strip the Man O' War of armor in those spots, but any shot from the Lancers could get through what was left without a problem.

  He allowed himself a grim smile. That ought to infuriate him. He he gives me safe passage and I blast one of his compatriots. He's seeing this as some grand battle between good and evil, but I know it's just a war for turf. He's looking for honor and I just want to drive his people from some computer-designated box.

  Coming out from the Man O' War's shadow, Kai braced himself for Vlad's first shot at him. The boxy, shoulder-mounted LRM launchers on the Timber Wolf blossomed with fire as twin salvos flew out at him. The larger laser mounted in the right arm, and the medium laser underslung on it, both missed wide and almost caught the Man O' War Kai had previously hit. The medium laser on the 'Mech's left arm did hit, carving semi-molten armor ribbons from the Stormerow's right flank. The missiles blasted all over the 'Mech's extremities, chipping away at the armor, but coming close to breaching nothing.

  Kai conquered the tremors the LRMs had started in the Stormcrow and dropped his cross hairs over the Timber Wolf's forward thrust fuselage. He triggered five of his medium lasers, but only hit with three. Two pared armor off each of the 'Mech's birdlike legs, and the third drilled the armor over the 'Mech's right flank We've taken similar damage, a little factoid I'm sure gives him great confidence.

  He smiled. "Time to wipe the smirk off his face."

  Keeping the Stormcrow running at top speed, he tightened his approach to bring the 'Mech in very close to Vlad's Tmber Wolf. Vlad had already been turning his war machine to continue tracking Kai's spiral course, so this sharper approach forced an adjustment. He knows that for me to close is crazy, and now things aren't going the way he planned them. That's the thing about the Clans and bidding—-it eliminates as much chance from warfare as possible, so they don't handle this kind of chaos very well. at point-blank range, Kai dropped his cross hairs on the Timber Wolf and triggered an ultra burst from his autocannon. The flickering muzzle-flash tracked shadows over the Timber Wolf's torso as autocannon fire pitted the armor on the 'Mech's left leg. The weapon came up, playing the second volley into the Clanner's right flank. That shot ate away the last of the armor and chewed into some of the internal structures, but hit nothing critical.

  Two of the medium lasers on the Stormerow's right arm blazed. One ruby beam knifed into the right arm, boiling off amor plates. The second slashed at the right leg, liquefying more armor there.

  Vlad's counter-attack came swiftly and savagely. The large and medium lasers played their red and green beams over the Stormcrow's right flank. Warning klaxons screamed in Kai's cockpit as the lasers melted the last of his armor and started on the 'Mech's frame. Kai glanced at a monitor and watched his right flank redden, but he saw no vital systems getting hit, and knew he'd been very lucky.

  The beams from the Timber Wolfs left arm caressed his 'Mech's right arm, dissipating all the armor and roasting the limb. Despite the beams' fearsome power, they failed to damage the arm's weaponry. Next shot and the limb goes, but he's still got to hit it and I don't want to give him that chance.

  Kai fought the controls and kept the OmniMech upright. That pass was a bit too close for comfort, but Vlad didn't expect it Kai smiled as his 'Mech shot past the Timber Wolf and into the area behind the Clanner's original deployment. There are plenty more things he won't expect, though, and if that ties him up, Colonel Tsang can win the day.

  9

  First Genyosha Command Center, Neegdye District

  Strana Mechty

  Kerensky Cluster, Clan Space

  23 April 3060

  Hohiro Kurita, clad in a black silk kimono embroidered oyer the right sleeve with golden stars, walked across the 'Mech compound, keeping his tread even despite the depressions 'Mech feet had made in the ground. He wove his way around puddles and did not hurry himself, even though he could see the eleven warriors waiting in a circle for him. The sun poked through broken clouds and warmed him, but he knew that heat was only a prelude to the hell his 'Mech's cockpit would become in battle.

  He came around to the eastern edge of the circle and knelt at the low lacquered table there. He could feel the sun on his back and was glad he'd delayed the ceremony until an hour after dawn. Had it gone off as his subaltern had wanted, the warriors with whom he was going into battle would have only seen him as a silhouette backed by a rising sun. The symbolism would not have been lost upon them, but Hohiro knew they needed no mythical omens to spur them on to their utmost performance.

  His willingness to be seated at the east had been a concession he granted his aide, but only after he forced the man to arrange the tables in a circle, instead of in two ranks. If only Shin were here to serve as my aide. He'd have no part in these games. Hohiro refused to be exalted above the warriors he would lead, especially here, on Strana Mechty, going into battle against the Blood Spirits.

  Hohiro rested his hands on his thighs and smiled as the other warriors bowed to him. They made their bows low and held them out of respect for him. He returned the gesture, not going quite as deep as they had, but holding it just as long. He meant to show them respect, and to inject some solemnity into their meeting.

  He straightened up. "This is a good day to meet an enemy. The clouds are present not to shield us from the sun, but to shield the sun from us. It would be jealous of the brilliance we will display on the battlefield. When warriors gather to recount tales of battles won, they will revel greatly in their own victories, but someone will say, 'Yes, but if only we had been at Neegdye, fighting the Blood Spirits.' "

  Hohiro reached down and grasped the sake flask on the table with his right hand. It had been fired black and decorated with golden stars, as had the small cup that he filled. He poured twice, filling it halfway, hesitated, then poured twice more. In doing so he avoided fining the cap in four motions. Since the Japanese word shi meant both four and death, by taking the care he did, he avoided invoking an ill omen.

  He set the flash down again. "I know there are among you those who would have wished we were fighting the Smoke Jaguars, but I must ask why? Did we not defeat them at Wolcott? Did we not break them at Luthiea? Have we not driven them from Combine space and ravaged their homeworld of Huntress? To engage them now would be to hunt a foe who is too weak to pose a threat."

  Hohiro raised his cup and sipped the sake. The potent liquid burned its way down his throat. He set the cup back down and waited for his pilots to drink, then he continued. "We have been given a new foe to fight. In this choice Victor Davion has honored us because these Blood Spirits are a fearsome lot. Of the Clans who did not invade, they are the most militant. From them will come the impetus to continue the invasion."

  He let that thought sink in for a moment. "Our task, then, will be to shatter their force and break their resolve. In defeating them, we will bleed white the dreams others have of conquest. Victor Davion and the others fight to lay the past to rest, but we battle to secure the future.

  "The First Genyosha is a storied unit. My grandfather ordered it created to allow a great warrior to redeem himself. Here and now, we will redeem the honor of the Combine and guarantee that those who suffered under the Clan invasion never again need fear for their futures. This is our mission, this is our destiny. The Blood Spirits await us in thickets and ravines, hidden among hills and valleys. We, the elite of the Combine, will root them out as we would feral bea
sts and slaughter them."

  * * *

  Hohiro laid a hand over the top of his cup and smiled. "Leave the rest undrunk. When we return here we will finish it, reveling in stories of our battles, knowing that other warriors will wish they, too, had been here to drink with us, fight with us, and know victory with us."

  The Daishi Hohiro piloted had the gray paint scheme of the Genyosha, with the Combine's dragon crest on its right thigh, and the black tsunami with gold stars crest on its left flank. The OmniMech trotted forward on bird legs, exploding a deadfall log with a crackling crunch as a foot came down on it. Both arms ended in a quintet of weapon muzzles, and the boxy launcher for a rack of LRMs hunched its left shoulder. Though the weapons array was more suited to a longer-range battle, the large lasers, medium lasers, and autocannons would do some serious damage in the close fighting the Neegdye District offered.

  Hohiro knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Blood Spirits expected his people to break down into smaller and smaller groups so they could be ambushed. They believe of us what early reports said—we were not at all prepared for the Clan style of Combat. Even winning against the Smoke Jaguars will mean nothing since that Clan's defeat clearly showed them to be inferior.

  The heir to the Combine's Dragon Throne smiled. They will discover we are more disciplined and more than ready for them. The fact that he knew as little about the Blood Spirits as they did about him did disturb him a little, but his people had fought and bested Clans who had won the right to invade. Had the Blood Spirits been that good, he'd already have engaged them and beaten them in the Inner Sphere.

  Out in front of his 'Mech was the only other non-humanoid 'Mech in his group of five, a Dragon Fire. The 'Mech had little more than vestigial arms, with a Gauss rifle and autocannon taking up most of the room in them. It packed a trio of lasers built into the torso and head, but most important of all it had a Guardian ECM suite. With it in place, the enemy's ability to concentrate their fire would be hampered.