Surrender Your Dreams by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Author:Blaine Lee Pardoe [Pardoe, Blaine Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780451461209
Google: 6ba6ngEACAAJ
Amazon: 0451461207
Barnesnoble: 0451461207
Goodreads: 245691
Publisher: Roc
Published: 2006-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Fortress Republic (+860 days)

Chin found Mannheim in the fake assembly plant watching the final loadout on his Shockwave. Jeremy watched him for a moment; Mannheim was half-leaning on the leg of the 'Mech, peering up. "He looks like a recruiting poster," he muttered. He seemed totally comfortable with the 'Mech, not at all intimidated. I doubt I'll ever feel that casual near them. Even with all of his training, piloting a BattleMech was not his first love. That was why when The Republic had recruited him as a ghost knight he'd leapt at the opportunity. It was much better to fight battles in bars and dark alleys than to stand in the open and face direct fire.

He was dreading this conversation, and realized he was allowing his thoughts to wander rather than deal with it.

Jeremy tugged at his uniform shirt, pulling it taut. He walked over to Hunter and together they watched the rack of long-range missiles being slid into place. Jeremy wasn't afraid to tell Hunter what he needed; he just didn't want to deal with the response he knew he'd get.

"Alright, Sir Chin, tell me what's on your mind." Hunter spoke without even shifting his gaze from the loader team above them.

"How do you know I'm not just here to wish you good luck?"

Hunter gave him a wry smile. "We've known each other for a couple of years now. The only time you voluntarily come into the 'Mech bay is when you can't put off your regularly scheduled training. Yet here you are."

"Point taken. You're right. I have come down here for a reason."

Jeremy looked away, then met Mannheim's gaze. "Once the fighting starts, I'll need to borrow a squad of Fidelis for a secondary mission."

Mannheim physically jerked away from Chin. "Please tell me this is one of your little jokes."

Jeremy shook his head.

"Damn it!" Hunter spat. "Those Protectorate forces outnumber us just by landing. Now you want to pull out a squad of our best troops at the last minute?"

"These are my orders from Redburn—no, from Stone himself. This is a necessary part of our mission here."

"Orders?" The older knight's face got red. "Orders from people who are not here. I have to deal with the situation at hand. We don't just have to fight these Protectorate attackers, we have to disengage them in battle—one of the hardest things you can do in a fight. You know that. You take off in your Fox and strip me of a squad, and you've cut me down by half a lance. I need those troops."

"You'll get them back," Jeremy said. "1 just need them for a little while."

Hunter banged his fist on the leg of the Shockwave. "What if I say no?"

Chin had not considered that Mannheim might be defiant. It caught him off guard, and he actually stuttered for a moment, searching for words. "Redburn told you the ghosts have orders that supercede your mission objectives. This is one of those orders. I don't like it either. I met with Redburn and tried to find another way, but he's hung this on me, and I don't have a choice.

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