BattleTech: Emerald Sword: (A BattleTech Novella) by Tom Leveen

Author:Tom Leveen
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2023-09-24T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

NINE

SAKER TRAINING CENTER

IRONHOLD CITY

IRONHOLD

CLAN HOMEWORLDS

11 MAY 2978

The Falconer Commander’s voice held no inflection whatsoever. She was merely reciting facts. Douglas felt somehow comforted by it, considering he may have seen his last sunrise.

“You will not speak,” Smith went on. “You will not ask questions. This is your only briefing. Your life depends on your attention to detail. So listen closely.”

The Elementals straightened in their seats. Burna ran an arm beneath his nose.

“Your Trial is designed to simulate an actual battlefield experience. You will be taken as a group aboard a hoverbus to three different locations, where you will dropped in two pairs of two and one group of three. You will be given a map and two checkpoints, both of which you must travel to on foot.”

She paused to ensure she had the sibko’s attention. She most surely did. Burna coughed slightly, but quickly regained his composure. Douglas risked shooting him a look. Burna’s bald head shone with sweat as he shifted in his chair.

“The simulation parameters are as follows: you have been separated from your unit and must reach the first checkpoint to transmit a report. The report returned to you is that enemy fighters are in the immediate area, and that you must return to your armor and navigate to checkpoint two, where your Trial will continue with one or two of your sibko…if they are still alive.

“Be ready for anything. You will carry no weapons or equipment on your person, but you are permitted to make use of the environment around you. If attacked, you must ensure your enemy is incapable of following you.”

To Douglas’ shock, Burna actually began to raise his hand and made a slight noise with his mouth before catching himself and returning to seated attention, lips tightly closed. It looked like his right hand was trembling slightly.

What is wrong with him? Douglas wondered. He looks pale. Shaky. Bad day to catch a cold.

He refocused. I must pay attention to detail. No one in all the rumor mills he had overheard mentioned being hooded, or the details of the Trail. The Falconers would not repeat this information, and his life depended on knowing it perfectly.

Douglas breathed, and clenched his hand into a fist. It did not shake.

“At checkpoint two,” Falconer Commander Smith said after a sharp glare at Burna, “you will face three adversaries apiece, in growing order of strength, power, and capability. Destroy the first target, and you will become a Warrior. Destroy two, a Star Commander. Destroy all three, you will be conferred the rank of Star Captain.”

From the corner of his eye, Douglas noted Burna lick his lips. All his boasting had come down to today. Probably he was anxious about becoming a Star Captain. The others looked tense, but attentive.

“But remember,” Smith continued, “if you engage, intentionally or accidentally, with any of the other opponents or one another before they have become activated, then all of your opponents become activated. In that rare and dishonorable event, you will have entered a free-for-all, in which every opponent is fair game, and you are fair game to every opponent.

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