BattleTech Legends: A Silence in the Heavens: The Proving Grounds Trilogy, Book One by Martin Delrio

Author:Martin Delrio [Delrio, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs

27

EASTERN SLOPES OF THE BLOODSTONE RANGE

ROCKSPIRE MOUNTAINS

NORTHWIND

23 JUNE 3133

The Northwind infantry was on the road again for the second time in as many weeks. The first time had proved to be a matter of “hurry up and wait.” Will Elliot and his comrades had come tumbling out of their barracks in the pre-dawn hours at their Sergeants’ urgings, collected their weapons and equipment, and hastened onto transports—only to find themselves cooling their heels several hours later in holding camps that were, presumably, closer to where somebody in charge believed that the front lines might eventually be.

This time, Will thought, matters appear more serious. Word had spread even before reveille that the Steel Wolves’ DropShips had come down somewhere on the far side of the Rockspires, and nobody was foolish enough to think that the Wolves were going to stay where they’d landed. The encampment had boiled over into organized chaos at the news, and by breakfast time the mess tents were full of speculation. Will hadn’t heard anything official yet, but it didn’t take an old soldier to know if the Wolves were down on Northwind then somebody would be going out to stop them.

He left the mess tent with his belly full of the comfort that came from hot tea and oatmeal and paused to sniff the morning air. Here in the midst of the Highlanders’ encampment in the Rockspire foothills, scents of fuel and torn earth predominated, but behind it all he could smell rain coming—not today, and probably not tomorrow, but before three days were out for sure. And if fighting in bad weather was anywhere near as bad as simply hiking and camping in it could sometimes be, then Highlanders and Wolves alike were in for an uncomfortable time.

An idea stirred into life at the back of his mind. It had something to do with how the instructors in boot camp had talked about showing initiative, but mostly it came from knowing he’d driven every road and tramped along every trail in this part of the Rockspires, from the time he was old enough to be let out alone without a keeper.

He spotted his fellow scout/snipers Jock Gordon and Lexa McIntosh coming out of the mess tent and took it for a good omen. “Hey,” he said. “Jock, Lexa—come with me.”

They joined him, Jock looking amiable and obliging as usual and Lexa—who was not as trusting as her male companions—looking dubious.

“What’s up?” she asked.

Will gestured toward the looming mountains, their lower slopes given a rosy tint by the early morning sun. “Those hills are where I grew up,” he said. “I used to earn my living as somebody who knew his way around them. And now some Wolf Clan bastard thinks he’s going to come through there and take over.”

“I don’t like it either,” Lexa said. “But what’s your point?”

“Point is, we’re scouts. It says so right on our shoulder patches. Jock, do you think you could get us a vehicle—some kind of truck, or one of the Foxes if you can find one?”

“Without orders?” Jock asked dubiously.

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