Wolf's eyes flashed. "Another score to settle."
Cameron helped the women out of the van while Wolf talked to Atwyl. There was no luggage for the waiting crewmembers to carry. They scurried up the ramp ahead of the family. Cameron had a last word with Atwyl, before the aerospace colonel took off across the field in his hoverjeep. The great DropShip began to hiss and clang as the crew prepared for launch. A crewmember fretted, waiting for Wolf to board.
The Colonel held out his hand to Dechan. "Thank you."
Ignoring the offered hand, Dechan said, "I don't want your thanks."
"Well, you've got them anyway. I appreciate what you've done."
Dechan was distinctly uncomfortable. He couldn't look Wolf in the face. Staring off across the field, he asked, "Where will you go?"
"To the other side of the mountain."
"Why not just leave? Go to Davion?"
"Running away won't solve anything."
No, it wouldn't. "He'll come after you."
"He's welcome to try." Wolf smiled in the way Dechan remembered from years ago. It made him feel sorry for whoever got in Wolf's way. "Come with us. We'll need good MechWarriors."
"I won't leave Jenette."
Cameron called out from the top of the ramp. "Colonel, gate reports firing."
Wolf frowned. "There's no time to get her, Dechan. We can send a message for her to join us."
"And if they intercept it? No thanks, Colonel. I'll look after her myself."
"I wouldn't leave Marisha, either. Good luck, Dechan."
Turning his back on the Colonel, Dechan hopped aboard the van and ordered the anxious driver to pull out. Dust kicked out as the fans whirred to full speed, pelting Wolf as he ran up the ramp. Dechan didn't look back. The driver took the van around the bulk of the DropShip and away from the firefight at the main gate. They headed for a storage shed where technician uniforms and passes waited for them. While they changed, the Chieftainlifted for orbit.
39
When Colonel Atwyl woke me and ordered me to the spaceport without explanation, I was more annoyed then worried. Sudden assembly orders weren't standard in a safe zone, except during training. I had been dreaming about my sibko and, I suppose, I half-thought I was still in training. It wasn't until I reached the port and saw the frantic activity that I realized something serious was happening. Colonel Atwyl's briefing told me just how serious it was.
I was too busy to worry until some time after liftoff. Then, being mostly idle because we were running silent, I found the time. While I was glad that the Wolf had finally decided to fight back, I didn't see a lot of hope. Listening to the broadcasts, I heard the first lies. It seems a gas main had exploded near the Wolf family compound, causing casualties among the security forces. The public was being assured that no civilians—which currently included Jaime Wolf—had been injured. There was no mention of guns or rockets or escapes. I felt sure that the real news was being carried on tight beams or in coded transmissions that were, at present, unavailable to me.
The Chieftainwas fleeing the sunrise, burning through a low orbit away from the day that was dawning in Harlech. I was encouraged that our flight was unopposed. No aerospace fighters or other DropShips were rising from the port or dropping from high orbit to oppose us. The Chieftainwas powerfully armed, but a swarm of fighters or a group of DropShips could take her. We were too easy a target, hanging out here with only a pair of fighters for escort.
I longed to be on the ground where one could find cover from hostiles. A 'Mech carries a lot less armor and armament than a DropShip, but at least the jock is in control. Aboard a ship, someone else holds your fate hostage to his skills and luck.
I didn't know much about Colonel Wolf's plans at that point. I had been told where we were bound, the training ops center on the other side of the mountain. If all was well, we would soon be receiving landing clearance from the Home Guard forces stationed there. We had reasonable confidence that we would find a friendly welcome. After all, the usurpers had sent the Home Guard forces to the other side of the mountain to keep them out of the action in the World. Even if we weren't welcomed with open arms, we'd land. Some of the Guard had to be loyal. If we had to, we'd fight our way to a linkup with them.
Below and behind us, things were undoubtedly happening, but what? Once we'd established a base in the Outback, we'd have a chance to find out.
* * *
The dawn brought unwelcome news to the command center in Wolf Hall, but Elson took it calmly. Everything in his campaign had gone surprisingly well so far. Sooner or later there had to be a slip-up; but he wished it had related to a less important aspect.
Seventh Kommando was supposed to be the elite infantry of Wolf's Dragoons. They were very good, especially for non-Elemental 'pounders. But even the best commandos are at a disadvantage when they walk into a firefight after they'd been planning a quiet approach.
Somehow word had leaked and warning been given to Wolf's loyalists. They had arranged something more quickly than Elson had thought them capable, given Jaime Wolf's recent lethargy. The Wolf had escaped the trap.
The leak would have to be found and plugged, but there was no reason to punish the commandos, no need for harsh words or discipline. As much as Elson was disappointed by their failure, they were not at fault. At least they had eliminated one of Wolf's loyalists. Carmody's death would make it easier to isolate the forces of the Home Guard remaining in Harlech. In time, the forward-thinkers would be singled out from among them and reinstated in the Dragoon fighting elements. But there were more important things to accomplish first. He gave the orders to move on the Home Guard barracks. Fancher's picked team should handle that easily enough; the overwhelming force of the BattleMechs should cow the commanderless pensioners and trainees without need for battle.
"Unauthorized movement in Champaigne quadrant," the commtech reported.
Elson nodded to show he had heard. Despite the news blackout, word of Wolf's flight was spreading. The fight Elson had thought to see finished with the end of the night had likely just begun in earnest.
* * *
The city was still relatively quiet.
The spaceport was too far away; Dechan couldn't see if the fighting was still going on there. The early morning newscast babbling softly behind him had nothing to say about it.
The first of the morning commuters would be making their way into the city from the outlying suburbs. Some would be passing by the shattered gates of the Wolf compound. What would they think? Would they suspect what had happened in the predawn?
Spread below him, the city seemed still asleep, holding close to a dream of peace. It was an illusion, he knew, but he cherished it all the same. He wondered how much blood would spill in the day because he couldn't stomach seeing a little shed in the night.
To the north of the housing tower from which he watched, a familiar, ponderous motion caught Dechan's attention.
BattleMechs.
A lance of four was moving along Verban Avenue toward the city center: two heavies and two mediums moving at moderate speed. They spread out into a line when they reached the park. It was not an attack, else they would have charged right through rather than carefully avoiding small trees and the light recreation structures. Spaced evenly apart, they emerged on the side near Wolf Hall and halted facing the complex. He was too far away to see if any soldiers emerged to confront them. If the 'Mech pilots were siding with Elson, they would have turned their machines outward.