BattleTech: Shrapnel, Issue #11 (The Official BattleTech Magazine) by Philip A. Lee

Author:Philip A. Lee
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2022-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

HAMPSTEAD PLAINS

DENIZLI

JADE FALCON OCCUPATION ZONE

2 FEBRUARY 3141

Rafeny’s Point was gaining on Point Two. They appeared as a pair of dust clouds a few kilometers ahead. He kept a nervous eye on the engine readouts as Skarleth pushed the hovercraft to the max. He was tossed up and down in his seat when they went over a bump.

An hour ago, Point Two had chosen a better pass through a line of hills, and did not have to turn around like Rafeny’s Point. Rafeny had cursed his navigational chart’s lack of detail. He also wished they had the usual VTOL among the Herd to help them fix that problem.

He was yanked to the left as Skarleth dodged rough ground, but he praised his driver’s skill. The wrong debris could rip the hoverskirt open and bring their whole journey to a tragic end.

Ahead, Rafeny saw a thick line of trees. They grew taller as the minutes passed. Since the two competitors ahead were both hovercraft, he knew they could not plow into the trees. Unless there was a way in, they would have to turn. If they found a path, the choice of which turns were made could change which Point would be in the lead.

The two vehicles disappeared into the tree line. Rafeny urged Skarleth on. More painful minutes dragged by as the competition sped ahead, out of sight. It was almost a relief as Rafeny’s Point passed the entrance to the woods and trees began whipping by at uncomfortable speeds. The engine throttled down as Skarleth slowed the Epona and swerved between the trees. Claustrophobia enveloped Rafeny as the forest flew by too quickly and years of training screamed that they should not be there.

He glanced at the radar to confirm their Hephaestus was still with them. “Palomino Nine to Ten. Can you jump and tell us about the road ahead?”

“Aff, Nine. Jumping.”

Seconds later, Palomino Ten was back on the comm. “It is one big maze out there. Point Two appears to have split up.”

“Acknowledged. We should slow and give the engines a little break.”

They spent twenty minutes ducking in and out of dead ends and tight curves that seemed to go nowhere. Eventually, they had to stop as they came nose to nose with Point Two’s Shamash. Its Pointmate, the Epona, pulled up behind it.

“Palomino Nine to Point Three,” Rafeny radioed. “Does this mean you have not found a way through?”

“That sums things up nicely, Nine.”

“Palomino Nine to Ten. Turn around. We are leaving the way we came.” Rafeny turned to Skarleth, who nodded and spun the vehicle without needing an official order.

“We will lose the better part of an hour,” Rafeny lamented. “That means we probably lost our advantage over the other Points.”

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