Natasha slapped the flat of his belly with the back of one hand. "You better believe it. The second I launch on one of your targets, it becomes a free-for-all." Her voice lost some of its jocularity and settled into a colder tone. "I need it like that because I'm going to have to ace my trio and kill one of yours to make these idiots sit up and take notice. Hope you won't mind me stealing one of your targets."
"Take them all. They're small."
Her laugh was half-hearted. "Can't do that. You'll have to take one to be put on active duty. That's the only way to get you in my unit." Serious again, she exhaled slowly. "On the other hand, only by taking four 'Mechs will I get a Cluster command. But if that's what it takes to get through the age bias, then I'll do it."
"I have no doubt that you will succeed, Colonel," Phelan said, though Natasha sounded as though she were still trying to convince herself of that fact.
"Are you so certain?"
The young man nodded confidently. "I recall your once saying that old age and treachery will beat youth and beauty every time. Sure, we'll be facing warriors younger and faster than you, but none of them will take either one of us seriously."
"Except Vlad."
"Yeah," Phelan said as his mouth soured, "except Vlad. This isn't going to be easy, but if anyone can do it, you can."
Natasha gave Phelan a sly smile. "Yes, I definitely want you in my unit."
Halfway down the row of BattleMechs in the hanger, Natasha gave Phelan a gentle shove toward his machine. "Here you go, kid. Warm it up and check all the weapons. I'll be online on Tac 29. We won't be able to communicate once the test starts, but until they give the word, we can exchange data."
"Roger."
"Phelan, remember that we have some advantages. They don't know about the configurations of our 'Mechs, but we're running assault 'Mechs that'll outmass any one of them. They're running nonstandard heavies, so we can't be sure what we're up against. The most important thing for you to remember, however, is that this is live. The testers are volunteers who are willing to risk death. That doesn't mean you go out to smoke them, but if it happens, it happens."
"I know that. With Vlad out there, though, I think they're going to be going directly after me."
Natasha shrugged. "He'll let the others soften you up first, then he'll take you. Play smart and you'll be ready for him."
"Thanks. Good luck."
"Save the luck for the other guys. Old age and treachery will do fine for me." She threw him a wink and headed off to her own 'Mech.
Phelan paused and looked up at his BattleMech as it stood there waiting for him. Six times his height, the war machine was painted black except in two spots. On the right hip, he saw the red wolf's-head crest of the Kell Hounds, the mercenary unit owned by his family. On the head was painted a mouth with sharp white fangs, war paint reminiscent of the markings on the 'Mech he'd lost when captured by the Clans almost two years ago.
Phelan made a couple of guesses from the exterior about the weaponry arrayed in the machine. The blocky shoulders were dotted with missile launch ports. The right arm ended in a blocky weapon pod with three laser muzzles poking from it like stubby fingers. The left arm ended in a muzzle, but it bore none of the telltale circuitry he would have expected on a PPC or laser, and it looked nothing like the autocannon muzzle hanging from the weapon pod underslung on the torso.
A box with six launch tubes was attached above the cockpit, just aft of the hatch. As he mounted the 'Mech, Phelan took a close look at it and decided it was a "fire and forget" packet of missiles. One shot and it's gone.The coding on the side of the launcher indicated that these were short-range missiles. If I have to use them, it will mean that things have gotten a bit dicey. Still, just like wearing this pistol, it's nice to have something for emergencies.
Phelan dropped into the cockpit, sealed and pressurized it, then brought the 'Mech online. As he satisfied the computer that he was the pilot assigned to the machine, it gave him a full readout of the 'Mech's offensive capabilities. He saw a number of things that confused him, so he switched the radio to Tac 29.
"Natasha, I have a couple of questions for you."
"Ask away."
"The LRM launcher in the left shoulder is loaded with Swarm missiles in its first twelve racks?"
"Swarms are LRMs that will saturate an area with submunitions. Our foes will be grouped together like Siamese triplets at the start of this operation. Standard procedure is for them to engage us one at a time. You've shown how to really screw them up when you just start nailing anything and everything. The Swarms will ladle out damage generously."
"But won't that get all of them attacking us at once?"
Natasha's laugh survived computer modulation intact. "Of course. Would you prefer that they use a strategy that makes them comfortable or uncomfortable?"
"Point taken. This LBX autocannon has Cluster loads."
"Shotgun shells. It'll sand all the armor off a foe. Once you've softened him up, your lasers ought to cut him to ribbons."
Phelan nodded to himself and studied the auxiliary monitor. "Gauss rifle in my left arm?"
"Great weapon. It uses magnetic currents to launch a ball of ferrous metal about the diameter of a melon. Generates next to no heat and packs one hell of a wallop. The only problem is that its power requirements are fairly heavy. If you try to shoot it and the lasers at the same time, the computer will have to cycle and allocate power, so it will take a bit longer to get your salvo off."
Phelan looked up and through his cockpit canopy and saw Natasha's BattleMech stride into view. It had the same bird legs as his 'Mech and a cylindrical body built up at the shoulder to accommodate missile launchers. On the 'Mech's right side, Phelan saw the stubby muzzle of an autocannon and a triangular configuration of laser muzzles in the chest. Both arms ended in slender sets of two weapon barrels in an over-and-under arrangement. Natasha's 'Mech was painted black, and the red hourglass marking of a Black Widow spider emblazoned the 'Mech's abdomen.
Phelan smiled as he read the computer's name for her 'Mech. "Widowmaker? That's appropriate. Looks like you're loaded for bear, Colonel Kerensky."
"For Wolves, Phelan. I know that isn't precisely the Kell Hounds color scheme on your 'Mech, but you're no longer a hound. You're a Wolf now—we both are."
Phelan started his BattleMech forward. "Let's go prove it to the others, shall we?"
* * *
Two sets of three BattleMechs stood waiting to test the warriors. Their paint schemes allowed the outlines of the 'Mechs to blend with the red rocks and sandy terrain, but the visual trickery did not fool Phelan's weaponry. "I've got my three targets over on the left. I wonder which one is Vlad?"
"It doesn't matter, does it?" Natasha's 'Mech moved slightly forward of Phelan's position. "Tell you what. I'll mark the 'Mech of yours closest to my set." She sounded tentative, then seemed to recognize it and uttered a soft curse. "Dammit, these young pups won't get to me."
Phelan said nothing.
"Sorry, Phelan. I don't like this, but there is no other way to make a difference. When we get the go-ahead, let him have it with your long-range weaponry. I'll toss a barrage of missiles at the Mad Dog,but I'm going to take one of my own targets with my beams."
"Confirmed."
Ulric's voice boomed through the speakers in Phelan's neurohelmet. "Natasha Kerensky and Phelan of the Wolves, this is your testing time. Every aspect of your performance will be examined and evaluated. The rating generated by this process will determine your duties until the next testing period. Defeat no enemies and you will lose your status as a Warrior. Defeat one and you will be given a 'Mech assignment. Defeat two and you will earn the right to be a Star Commander. Three kills will earn you the rank of Star captain. Do you understand this, Quiaff?"'