BattleTech Legends: Decision at Thunder Rift: (The Gray Death Legion Trilogy, Book One) by William H. Keith

Author:William H. Keith
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2010-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty hours after the battle at the wadi, Harimandir Singh stared at an image of the boy he’d thought was dead.

“So,” he said. The word held calm acceptance, as well as grim anticipation. He fingered the 2-D photo his spy had handed him. “So Carlyle’s son is alive. And you say he’s the one behind this...this situation?”

Stefan nodded jerkily. Singh terrified him. He never knew how the Red Duke’s man would react to the news he brought, and the uncertainty was wearing on him.

Stefan had been recruited by one of Singh’s agents in Viscount Vogel’s staff shortly after the Commonwealth representative had arrived at the Castle. The young Trell was proud and ambitious, and had bridled under the subtleties of custom and prejudice that separated the off-worlder starmen from the “indigs,” the locals. That agent had played on both Stefan’s pride and his greed. Stefan now had more money in one of Sarghad’s banks than he’d ever seen in his life, and had been promised even larger rewards for continued loyalty in service to the Red Duke.

Stefan swallowed hard. “I was at the celebration, Lord. The King gave him a medal—his second, I believe—and made a speech. He called Carlyle’s son ‘the Deliverer of Sarghad.’”

Singh’s eyes flashed, sharp and cold. “He didn’t see you?”

“No, Lord. I was in the back of the room. The light on the stage was bright. He couldn’t have seen me, not in that crowd. I think everyone in Sarghad must have been there.”

“That’s good. Otherwise he might recognize you from our assault on the Castle.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Carlyle will have to die, of course. The question is what to do with this new unit he’s forming.” Singh looked thoughtful. “They have a full lance now. Four ’Mechs.”

“Only three, Lord. I overheard two astechs talking at the reception. One of the Wasps cannot be repaired, and they’re using it for salvaged parts.”

“Three ’Mechs or four, it does not matter. Light ’Mechs are no match for a Marauder and a Shadow Hawk.” He flipped Grayson’s photograph aside. “Carlyle knows he cannot win. Perhaps he will try something desperate.” Singh smiled. “Now, that would be...pleasant.”

“You will attack, then, Lord?” Singh’s relaxed and talkative mood made Stefan more bold.

“Eh? Not while they remain in that city. Those narrow streets and alleys are deathtraps for ’Mechs. No, we will remain here, and wait.”

“But Lord, how will you bring them out to fight?”

“We won’t need to. They cannot attack us here in the Castle, and very soon we will no longer need to attack them.”

“I don’t understand, Lord.”

“And it is not desirable that you do. If you knew the Plan, I would kill you now.”

Stefan paled, and remained silent.

“I want you to return to Sarghad. You’ve been my eyes and ears there, Stefan. Now you will be my hand.” Singh smiled at Stefan in his icy fashion, and the young Trell found the expression horrifying.

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