Aidan had considered going out in a lighter 'Mech, but he did not want to give up that much firepower. He had changed his Summoner's,primary weapons configuration, removing the right-arm PPC in order to increase the size of his shoulder-mounted LRM rack and also mount a Streak class short-range missile-launching system. But this also precluded his mounting an anti-missile system, something he liked to have regardless of his 'Mech's configuration.

"All right, Joanna, remember the drill?"

"Of course. Which one first?"

"The Stormcrowseems to be moving out ahead of the pack. All right?"

"I am with you."

Aidan and Joanna had realized that the odds in a Trial of Refusal were formidable in terms of firepower and maneuverability. It was one thing to go up against other 'Mechs one at a time, but when a line of them came at a warrior all firing at once, the target could not know where to direct fire. It was worse, in fact, than a Grand Melee, in which every 'Mech was on the same footing, the opponent of every other 'Mech on the field, all going for the same goal, the odds the same for every combatant. In a Trial of Refusal, the adversaries were all concentrated against the challenger, with not a single one of their shots intended for one another. The odds for the lone warrior were, therefore, actually better in the Grand Melee than in this Trial. Treating each opponent as if he were the only enemy of the moment allowed for less waste and more possibility. No matter how much Aidan ran the numbers through his mind or a computer, however, there seemed no way he and Joanna could win, especially with Ter Roshak out on his own instead of working with them.

He and Joanna had nevertheless agreed to start with a plan and stick to it, unless unexpected tactics from the other side forced improvisation. Both Aidan and Joanna targeted the Stormcrow.Sixty fiery arrows leapt from the shoulders of their 'Mechs and streaked toward the 'Mech. The pilot did not expect such a deluge of missile fire and seemed to have frozen into inaction at the sight. Most of the missiles impacted on the Stormcrow's,upper torso, blasting out a great hole. Another quick launch sent the 'Mech reeling backward. It teetered for a moment, then its middle chest exploded and the 'Mech fell. As the Stormcrowdisintegrated, the thin line rising above it was its pilot ejecting. Surprised by the tactic, the other 'Mechs had barely touched the 'Mechs of Aidan and Joanna.

"Nice work!" Joanna yelled.

"... and then there were eight," Aidan muttered. "That takes care of the advantage of surprise, Joanna. Now is the time for cowardice. Get moving."

* * *

Ter Roshak watched Aidan and Joanna fight with an almost academic interest. He had been responsible for the training of one and had been served by the other. They polished off their first kill quickly, taking little damage.

Then, as their opponents came at them, the two underdogs actually turned and ran! Joanna's 'Mech moved swiftly across the terrain, while Aidan's used a leap to move even further ahead. Back at the enemy line, the Executionerdetached itself from the others and made its own sudden leap forward. The jump was graceful, especially for a 'Mech of such considerable tonnage. It was not, however, perfectly calculated. The Executionercame down just short of Joanna's swift Mad Dog.Having tracked it well, she was already countering its fire even before its pilot could orient himself.

* * *

Ter Roshak turned his 'Mech, a rare Nova,one of two presently on Ironhold, and fired off a cluster of LRMs from the right-arm rack that replaced the 'Mech's usual medium lasers. The long-range missiles would surprise the Executionerbecause a Novawas not usually equipped with them. The missiles' flight was true, their arcs high to make up for the relatively short distance, and the missiles coming in at an odd angle that apparently the Executionerpilot did not detect in time. The other 'Mech was already reeling from the concentrated attack by Joanna's left-arm laser, whose large pulses were making an asymmetric tattoo on the 'Mech's chest. Two of the LRMs made direct hits against the Executioner'supper torso. The damage would not normally have removed the 'Mech from battle, but the pilot's cockpit was split open and its inhabitant killed instantly, never knowing what hit her. As Joanna's Mad Dogsprinted away, the Executionerwas left standing in the field, a shell whose upper surface was slashed open in many places.

For a moment, Ter Roshak was exhilarated. Killing the 'Mech reminded him of his days fighting side by side with Ramon Mattlov. Now he was focused on his cockpit sensors and the Mad Dogthat was heading his way, its large lasers already firing and doing glancing damage to Roshak's Nova.

"And then there were seven," Aidan said softly as he noted the Executioner'sfall. "You did that with just your lasers, Star Captain Joanna?"

"Truth to tell, I had a little help." She explained how Roshak's direct hit to the cockpit had annihilated the Executioner.

"The sleeping giant awakes early," Aidan commented. He saw that the Mad Dogwas closing in on Roshak's Nova.The contest was something of a mismatch, with the Mad Dogso much heavier than the Nova,but Ter Roshak had a couple of advantages over his opponent. First, he was a seasoned pilot, of an age not usually seen piloting a 'Mech. Second, the Novawas a relatively unknown quantity on a Jade Falcon planet.

"Should we help him?" Joanna asked, her tone almost analytical rather than sympathetic to Ter Roshak's plight.

"No, we must not waste firepower. He left us to fight without his help. Let him fight this one out on his own. Have we run far enough?"

"I think so. We seem to have two ranks of pursuit. I think it is time to take care of the front line. In the meantime we need more split in their ranks. You veer off to the right. I will join you in a moment."

Joanna was surprised to note how quickly she followed Aidan's directions. Perhaps he was a natural warrior, after all.

Aidan's Summonerturned and took a short jump toward the leading trackers, one of the Warhawksand the Ice Ferret.Simultaneously he noticed that two of the other four 'Mechs, the Dire Wolf andthe Gargoyle,had begun to go specifically after Joanna. The gap between the groups of 'Mechs was widening, what with the Mad Dogengaged in a rough contest with Ter Roshak's Nova.

As Aidan landed his Summoner,he glanced toward the two lead 'Mechs and thought of a little variation on that childhood rhyme that kept running through his head: "Seven little BattleMechs, thinking they were alive. Two tripped on wires, and then there were five."

* * *

Ter Roshak had come into the Trial of Refusal not caring whether he won or lost, lived or died. Dying would not, in fact, be so bad. He would have challenged the council instead of accepting the shame; fought in a final Trial instead of winding up in a useless life; died with honor in the Trial instead of dying as cannon fodder. Battling with the Mad Dog,trading it blow for blow, he felt some meaning had returned to his life. And to think he had been so ready to die only a few moments ago.

He had mounted a pulse laser into the left side of the Nova's torso. Right now he was cycling through the lasers on that arm and firing off the pulse laser in the torso in an effort to keep his heat under control.

The Mad Dogwas under no such constraints. It carried only two weapons, Gauss cannons that would spit out a melon-sized ball of hardened steel at Mach 2 every ten seconds. Twice the melons struck home, shattering most of the armor plate protecting Roshak's right and center torsos. Roshak now had to keep the exposed side away from the Mad Dog,which meant that he could not use the missile rack mounted in this 'Mech's left arm. Circling and weaving around his almost stationary opponent, Roshak stayed in almost constant motion, his slow and steady fire gradually chipping away the Mad Dog'sarmor. His opponent had yet to score another hit with his Gauss cannon, but Roshak knew it was only a matter of time.