BattleTech: Divided We Fall by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Author:Blaine Lee Pardoe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs

THE DEN

PORAST, LA CRAST ISLAND

PARMA

DRACONIS COMBINE

THREE HOURS LATER

General Brubaker had switched to his MechWarrior togs and was making plans for reconnaissance patrols. So far there had been no sign of Crews and thus far all attempts to circumvent the communications protocols had failed. Frustration ate at him, that was why he wanted out of the Den and into the field. I have to find him before he does any more damage. His biggest nagging fear was that Crews had already used the Clan Wolf DropShip to go join his troops. We have to contain this—stop him before he gets off-world.

There was another emotion he was struggling with—guilt. One of Thomas Brubaker’s strengths was his ability to self-check and evaluate himself…step back and analyze his own actions. Grimly, he had come to a conclusion that gnawed at him—he had created this situation. Gamma had always been a rebellious lot, and I put a hot-headed leader in charge of them. I should have pushed harder to get those prisoners out of jail—that was one of the things that pushed Crews over the edge.

Nicholas taking the side of Kerensky, and wanting to go off and fight the Jade Falcons—that was something that Brubaker understood as well. They are a threat, just not an immediate one to us. Crews nearly lost his life to them on Arc-Royal, a lot of our people have shed blood against them. I didn’t take that into consideration. This was not about revenge, he understood that now. Nicholas isn’t the kind of man that wants his fate controlled by someone else—he wants to own it. I should have kept that in mind, because he’s not alone.

The demotion and taking his command from him…that was the right thing to do militarily—but not necessarily the Dragoon thing to do. I should have used this entire affair as an opportunity to work with Nicholas, teach him, make him a better commander. We are consummate professional soldiers—every one of us. At the same time we are a family. I overreacted, and turned my back on our Unity.

There was no good way to go back now, not unless he could get to Crews and try to make amends. With each passing hour, Gamma and the other units on next continent were loading up to leave and fight with Clan Wolf.

“Priority message for you, General,” the communications officer called him on his personal communicator. Please be Nicholas…

“Put it through.” He drew a fast breath and cleared his mind, gaining his composure.

Tai-sa Reiko Akamine’s crisp voice came on, derailing his calm. “General Brubaker.”

“Tai-sa Akamine,” he replied.

“I have just received a disturbing report,” she said coolly. “There has been an attack of some sort on a Combine prison facility…the one where your personnel were being held. Reports are incomplete at this point, but there is an indication that a BattleMech was used.”

Unity, Crews! “I do hope no one was hurt.”

“There were injuries, and a number of prisoners were taken.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” he said, gathering his thoughts.

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