BattleTech: Betrayal of Ideals by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Author:Blaine Lee Pardoe
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2016-09-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Tiki Province

Circe

Clan Space

11 October 2823

Point Commander Cale signaled the first contact with a hint of tension in his voice. Star Captain Trish Ebon listened carefully. I have to set the tone here. “This is Amber Star. I have multiple signals on the ground and closing at moderate speed on your position.”

She licked her lips. Both the Khan and the new saKhan had contacted her and had given her both warning and rules of engagement. Reinforcements had arrived, and her work had been stepped up from simple inventorying of the Brian Cache to removal of the goods inside. “You are authorized to ignore our normal rules and conditions for combat trials,” Franklin had told her. She had heard the words, but at the same time had cursed them. Total war was an ugly thing. The rules regarding trials had removed some of that horror. Now her Khans were unleashing her from their restrictions.

Damn them all.

Her own long-range sensors picked up the mag readings of multiple BattleMechs closing on her position. She switched to tie in communications and read their IFF transponders. It was a mix of Clan forces. Jade Falcons—no surprise there, given their loss of the bunker earlier. There was a Ghost Bear contingent, a Star of ’Mechs. The Wolves were there, and the Coyotes. The Steel Vipers were present as well, though they only came with a pair of BattleMechs. It was insulting on its own.

These were the forces that had won the Trials of Possession for the Brian Cache. The only problem was that they had no right to it. It was property of the Wolverines. Trish knew she had some advantages in the fight. These were discreet Clan forces. They would not be willing to coordinate their efforts. She could divide them easily enough, since they would struggle to work together. Numerically, the odds were even. She knew the terrain well enough, but the Jade Falcons had scouted it and knew it as well.

The best edge she had was that she was not going to stand on formality. The Khans had told her that she didn’t have to, and she wasn’t going to. Trish had met with her warriors and told them what was happening, told them that these Clans were going to come. She told them that they were coming to rob the Wolverines. They were behind her and behind Khan McEvedy. “We have incoming targets. I will attempt to…” she hesitated for a moment, “…negotiate with them. If that does not work, I expect you all do to what is right for your Clan.”

Negotiate? Negative. I want to lay waste to them. I hate having responsibility.

Trish switched to the broadband channel. “This is Star Captain Trish Ebon of Clan Wolverine. Approaching force, identify yourself and your intentions.”

After a moment, a deep voice came on. “This is Star Captain Jacob Hall of Clan Ghost Bear. We represent the winners of Trials of Possession for the contents of the Brian Cache you are occupying. Under the

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