BattleTech, page 3
Jasper suppressed a smile. “We’re not.”
“Yes, we are. We have a basic plan. Now we need a timeline. That’s your job.”
“We also need ground details.”
“Since you’re the one on the ground, that’s your job again. We can see what’s there from afar. You see what’s actually there—seen and unseen from above. What you can count on is the Endeavor’s Run landing wherever you tell us it needs to land and when. Protect Barbican and escort them to us. That’s your mission. Yes, we need details, but those will come closer to evac time.”
He blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ve got a meeting with a couple of your infantry peers tonight. I’ll ping Diamond tonight, too. Hopefully by tomorrow morning, we’ll have a plan together.”
“Who have you got?”
“Fynn Pohl and Benjamin Delamere.”
Nadine hmmed. “Not bad. You can count on them and anyone they vouch for.” There was a pause. “Right. Let’s get on the shortwave and fool the enemy.”
By the time they finished the open call on the shortwave, it was late enough that Jasper thought to radio back to the academy to see if Noah’s crew was anywhere near ready to go.
They were.
He waited by the side of the road until the transport came into view. Then he escorted Noah, his team, and the last of the academy’s supplies to the Vengalil estate.
By the time the mini-convoy arrived, the rest of the academy cadets had the estate buzzing. The scars from the previous battle were there, but muted. The pit trap had been cordoned off, the broken ground smoothed, and the torn trees removed to another part of the estate.
The Valkyrie was situated by the manor house, with large power cables sprouting from it like tentacles. The Locust was still up and patrolling, the Catapult and the Rifleman were in the small ’Mech bay, and the surviving vehicles were parked in a neat circle on the outer edges of the building’s perimeter.
The whole time they walked within the estate walls, Jasper tried to not look at where the Ostsol had fallen, where Ethan had died in his place. He did anyway and was surprised to see the ’Mech was gone. He didn’t know which side had taken possession of it. He wondered if he’d ever know. It added insult to injury.
His comms came to life. “This is Private Cotesworth to the Commando. Please bring the Commando into the ’Mech bay, cradle three.”
He saw the cradle outlined on his head-up display. “Acknowledged, Private. Do you know where Delany—Cadet Menard—is?”
“Main house. She asked me to remind you to go see her.”
“Thank you.” Jasper maneuvered the Commando down the ramp and into the small ’Mech bay. It looked like a half-dozen battered, uniformed men and women were clambering over the other ’Mechs in the bay while a dozen or so cadets ran back and forth on various errands for the technicians.
It made sense. Knowledgeable technicians and mechanics were too valuable a resource to waste on nonessential tasks right now. As soon as the Commando was in its assigned cradle, Jasper got out of the cockpit and remembered to grab the shortwave radio.
A sergeant in a torn uniform was already on his way up the ladder to the scaffold that ran around the interior of the bay. It was amazing how much the Vengalil ’Mech bay looked like the academy’s ’Mech bay, but in miniature.
Jasper nodded at the man as they passed. In another life, they might have had a short conversation. But right now, the sense of time and danger loomed large. No one had any use for small talk. At least, not in the ’Mech bay.
As Jasper headed to the main house, he realized the sense of activity had only seemed large from inside the Commando. In reality, there were too few cadets on the move. He hoped that was because they were inside setting up for a long stay. But he was afraid it was because there weren’t very many of them left.
Delany sat at a table just inside the foyer. She’d turned the greeting place into a small but effective command post. He watched her give orders to cadets as they reported in.
To Kristen Frosig she said, “All right. Now that the kitchen is in operation—good job there—take a thirty-minute break and get some food.”
To Hugh she said, “We have at least four more cadets coming in. Noah Osborn will be in the infirmary most of the time, but he’ll need to have some quiet space away from the rest. See what Sir John or Dr. Manning have near them. Osborn is to be considered part of the medical staff until further notice.”
Jasper started to move forward, then Noah and Nicole walked in. He paused and waited as everyone else in the entryway did the same.
Noah saluted for both of them. “Cadets Osborn and Tourneir, reporting in.”
Delany looked between the two of them, then asked Noah, “Is Cadet Tourneir part of your staff now, or can she be reassigned?”
Even though Delany had asked Noah, she had included Nicole in on the question, making it more of a request. Nicole and Noah glanced at each other. Nicole shrugged and looked away.
“Staff for the moment,” Noah said. “I’ll need time to assess the infirmary—or report in to whomever is in charge in there.”
“Sir John is for now. Dr. Manning is the senior-most medical person.” Delany nodded to the left. “The infirmary is set up in the ballroom.” Then she nodded to the right. “The kitchen and dining room are that way. I expect both of you to get something to eat before you report in at the infirmary. Cadet Frosig, escort them. Afterwards, Cadet Salter will help you figure out where you’ll be sleeping.”
Jasper smiled to himself. He could tell both Noah and Nicole wanted to head straight to the infirmary, but Delany was right. They needed to eat. His own stomach growling reminded him that if he could eat, he should. Not until I report in, too.
As the knot of cadets left Delany’s desk, Jasper walked up. He thought about asking her when she’d last eaten, but her tight, strained expression made him pause. He saluted and said, “Cadet Roux, reporting in.”
Delany nodded, a ghost of a smile flickering over her face. “Good to see you. Let’s go have a chat.”
4
THE VENGALIL ESTATE
LIEGEDEN, EMPORIA
FEDERATED SUNS
17 APRIL 3150
2000 HOURS
Delany had the tired look of a cadet who had pulled an all-nighter to get a vital assignment completed. Along with the dark circles under her eyes, her mouth had a pinched look about it. That made Jasper worry.
“Okay. First, am I in trouble? And second, can this chat include food?”
Delany eyed him with a furrowed brow and a smile hovering in the wings. “Did you do anything you think you should get in trouble for?”
He shook his head. For once, he was innocent of wrongdoings. At least, he thought he was. A quick inventory said he was.
“Then, no, you aren’t in trouble. Though, things are not awesome. In general. Not specific. For anyone. But at least we have a roof over our heads, clean water, and relative safety for the night.”
“Good.” Jasper tilted his head. “What about food? I got something this morning but missed lunch…whatever it was. I’m a growing boy, and I’ve got to eat. Bottomless stomach here.” He didn’t ask when she’d eaten last. He figured if she was going to teach him by being a good example, he would follow her lead and do the same. Besides, eating was social. Having someone to eat with made everything better.
Also, now that he thought about it, he was really hungry.
Delany sighed. “I know what you’re doing. C’mon. We can get a plate from the kitchen and then find a private spot to talk. I want to know everything.”
They walked through the hallways of the large manor house. It seemed well built and structurally sound. Despite the estate’s occupation and then the shelling, it still stood strong. Jasper wondered if it had once been a siege compound—like the academy—and if that was what allowed it to stand as long as it had.
Even with the cadets and surviving academy personnel running around, the large house didn’t seem crowded. Jasper wondered if that was a trick of the imagination, or his fear of losing everyone he ever cared about. He shook the fear away. Most likely, teenagers and adults alike were in clusters for companionship, and out of need—eating or doing whatever task had been assigned to them.
The kitchen was a welcome beehive of activity. A couple manor servants ran herd over cadets cooking, prepping, and cleaning. It was hot, busy, and almost normal. Plates of food were handed to cadets waiting at a side hallway. A quick look down it gave Jasper the idea that this was where cadets stood in line for a meal.
The head cook turned as Delany and Jasper walked in. She had the look of a grandmother on her last thread of patience, but smiled when she saw Delany. “Good thing it was you, Menard. Otherwise, you’d get a hiding.”
Delany smiled. “Serine, this is Cadet Jasper Roux. He’s my second-in-command. Wanted you to meet him.”
“Ma’am,” Jasper said with a nod.
The tall, wide woman gave Jasper a keen once-over and returned the nod. “Good to know.” She turned back to Delany. “When was the last time you two ate?”
Delany glanced at Jasper. “That’s what we’re here for. Sorry we didn’t go through the line…”
Serine waved it away. “Line’s dying down. In fact… Hemu! Go get a count of unfed cadets, workers, and other personnel. Don’t forget to check the infirmary and the ’Mech bay. Everyone needs to eat tonight. That’s an order.”
One of the cooks gave Serine a mock salute and left the kitchen. As he did so, a cadet, Liam Patel, walked over with two plates. He looked tired but accomplished.
“Thank you, Liam. It looks good,” Jasper said as he took the plates and handed one to Delany. The plates weren’t overflowing, but they each had a decent portion of what looked to be meatloaf, potatoes, and peas—a hearty meal.
The young cadet goggled at him. Probably because someone knew his name. “You’re welcome.”
Delany smiled her thanks, then gestured Jasper to the back hallway. He followed, looking around to get his bearings. He would need to know how to get to the different places in the house as soon as possible. Delany, however, walked with the air of someone who already knew her way around.
“You’re familiar with this place?” he asked.
“Yep. The Vengalils and Menards have been friends for ages. I’ve spent many summer days here.” She gestured to a side door. It led to a small, private enclosed patio and was completely silent. “Good for us, since it’s still standing.”
They sat down at the patio table and began to eat. Jasper mentally fidgeted, waiting for Delany to tell him what she needed to. When she didn’t, he asked, “I’m your second-in-command? How did that happen?”
“How’d I get to be in charge? I mean, people just started asking me what to do and then did what I told them to. It was weird.”
Jasper shrugged. “We needed a leader, and you were doing it already. Seriously,” he added at the face she made. “You’re a senior cadet. You’re Blooded. And you’re respected. Why wouldn’t everyone look to you to bring order out of chaos?”
“It’s what I figured. Makes sense anyway.” Delany didn’t smile or nod. She ate in fast, neat bites. “You’re my second-in-command because I know you and I want to keep you close.”
“Keep your enemies close?”
For a moment she didn’t answer, then shook her head. “Enemy, no. Chaos factor, yes. Decent at following orders, yes. Also, there’s your sister’s information network. She’s more than a chaos factor. She’s a wild card.” She gave the shortwave radio backpack a significant look.
Jasper didn’t know if he should be offended or not. “Right.”
Delany just stared at her half-empty plate.
The silence grew between them until Jasper couldn’t stand it. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
She looked up. “Oh, yes. Did you get through to the DropShip from your ’Mech? Anything I need to know?”
Giving a mental sigh of relief that he could provide what she wanted, Jasper nodded. “Yeah. We’ve got a basic plan shaping up.” He told her everything about the two conversations—both secured and over the open radio.
Delany ate and listened without questions. Her only comment was “Barbican…why? Huh. The outer defense of a castle…good choice of a name. Not too on the nose or anything.”
It answered his question of what the word meant.
“So, my—our—my thought is this,” Jasper said. “Whatever we plan to rescue Mason Ritza and his people, we plan for at least two hours earlier than the time we say over the open channel. Also, we give them different coordinates and stuff. I’m gonna bounce the idea off Nadine the next time we talk.”
Tilting her head, Delany asked, “Why bother? Why not just do everything over the secured channel?”
“Too much talking over the secured channel will alert the Combine. I’m pretty sure they can tell we’re talking over an encrypted channel—”
“If they’re scanning for it at the right time.”
“But, if we give them a plan to focus on, they may not pay as much attention to when a ’Mech talks to the DropShip. Especially since we started the conversation in the clear. We need to continue it. Pretend we don’t have a secured way to talk.”
Delany looked skeptical. “If they’ve overheard the shortwave in the clear at all. Sounds like you’re making things more complicated than they need to be.”
Jasper shrugged. “I know. It’s all guesses, but ‘security through obscurity,’ right? Just because we don’t know doesn’t mean they aren’t listening in. Either way, the next time I talk to the Endeavor’s Run, I need to be well away from the estate. Just in case. I don’t want the Combine to immediately know where we set up base.”
Delany stabbed her meatloaf a couple of times, then ate a bite. “Makes sense. It sounds like you’ve got it all covered.”
That forced a bark of laughter from him. Jasper shook his head. “I’ve got nothing covered. I don’t know where Mason is. I don’t know how we’re going to get to him. I don’t know where the DropShip needs to land. I don’t know what I’m going to tell Fynn or Benjamin when they track me down. Nothing beyond the fact that Nadine is alive, and we’ve got a friendly DropShip in orbit. Other than that, I really don’t know anything.”
“You know more than you think you do.” The problem seemed to buoy Delany’s flagging spirits. “As for your questions…that’s easy. It’s not like you’re going to be able to personally escort the Ritzas to the DropShip. That’s what the infantry is going to do. Get as many decoys on the field as possible. Get them to find as many ground vehicles and drivers as they can. If your plan gets discovered, the Snakes won’t know which vehicle has the heir.”
“Huh. That’s a good idea.” Jasper nodded. “I can suggest that to Fynn and Nadine. Knowing her, she’s going to want to be in the thick of it.”
Delany shook her head. “Can’t until she’s on the ground, and you’re her point of contact.”
“I’m gonna need someone to man the radio when I’m in my ’Mech. I can’t do both at the same time.”
“Details. Maybe Elias, if he’s recovered enough. Now, what will you tell Diamond?”
Jasper paused and thought as he shoveled potatoes and peas into his mouth. “Well, we need to know where the Ritzas are,” he said after he chewed and swallowed. “Find the nearest place a DropShip can land without destroying too much—” He stopped at Delany shaking her head. “What?”
“Nearest place a DropShip can land, period. Buildings can be rebuilt. Emporia’s blood cannot be replaced. Getting Mason off-planet is the most important point.”
He frowned. “I’d like to not destroy any more of the planet if I can help it.”
“If wishes were fishes, beggars would eat. Understand your priorities. Do whatever needs to be done.”
The blunt rebuke stung. Jasper focused on making sure his anger didn’t get the best of him. “Fine. Find out where Mason is. Find the place nearest to them that a DropShip can land. Get the infantry to escort them to the Endeavor’s Run while every last ’Mech we have protects them. Blast off.”
“And then?” Delany asked.
Jasper grinned wide, a mouth full of teeth. “That’s up to you, Fearless Leader. I’m just the chaos factor. You get to deal with everything else.”
“Asshole.” The word was said without rancor.
“Petty, insignificant details.”
Delany scraped at her plate, cleaning it fully. “Well then, I guess we have the beginnings of a plan in place. I’m gonna go back to my post and put out any fires that have cropped up in the last—” She glanced upward. “—fifteen minutes. What about you?”
Jasper gazed out into the broken grounds of the Vengalil estate. “Find out where my bunk will be while we’re here, call to Diamond for information, and then find Fynn. There’s not much more I can do than that.”
“That’s enough for now. See Hugh for your bunk assignment. Let me know whatever you think I need to know about Diamond and the infantry cadets tomorrow—unless it needs immediate attention.”
“Will do.”
Delany left him there with his thoughts. Right now, he wondered exactly how many operational ’Mechs he would have to protect Emporia’s heir when it came to it.
He stood and walked out, knowing that answer would come soon enough.
5
NEKOHONO’O-CLASS DROPSHIP FUJINAMI
LOW ORBIT, EMPORIA
FEDERATED SUNS
17 APRIL 3150
2000 HOURS
Tai-sa Takeji Yoshizawa stood in his ready room, trying to think of anything that could distract him from his current pain. He seized on the beauty that was his command DropShip, the Fujinami.
The ship was a marvel, and as unique as Yoshizawa himself. It was an outcast, a fierce competitor, and completely dedicated to caring for its crew. It had been among several prototypes the Draconis Combine Admiralty had commissioned for the defense of the Pesht Military District. A variant of the Nekohono’o-class assault DropShip, it served as an extended command and logistics hub, as well as an orbital hospital. This particular design had been rejected as too expensive. That left this singular, precious ship at his personal command.
