Another eight seconds brought him to a comfortable range for his weapons. He flicked fire control for all weapons to the crosshairs adjusted by his right-hand joystick. He centered it on the outline of the Hagetakawhose missiles had hit him. His large laser missed high, but both the Phoenix Hawk'smedium lasers drilled through a rent in the Hagetaka'sarmor. They filled its right shoulder with fire and subsidiary explosions pumped black smoke out the right arm's autocannon muzzle. The limb twisted, then hung limp like a flag on a still day.

Crossing the last 100 meters, the Phoenix Hawksuffered damage from two other Clan 'Mechs, but the attacks only chipped away at armor. In a last-minute adjustment, Shin altered his course just enough to drift toward the Hagetaka'sright side. He lowered the Phoenix Hawk'sleft shoulder and barreled full force into the birdlike BattleMech.

The collision bounced Shin forward into the command couch's restraining straps. Metal screeched as the Phoenix Hawk'sleft shoulder pounded into the Hagetaka'sright shoulder. The sheer mass of both war machines ground the ferro-ceramic armor on their hides to dust, while the impact of the attack itself snapped the Hagetaka'sarm off at the shoulder. The Phoenix Hawkslid on past the empty shoulder socket and hit the 'Mech's hip where it joined the forward-hunched torso.

The Hagetakastarted to spin to the ground when the Coordinator's Grand Dragonhit it at top speed. Arms pumping like a sprinter, the Grand Dragonslammed into the Hagetaka,broadsiding it. The heavy 'Mech scythed through the Clan 'Mech's torso, popping the head and cockpit free to tumble across the ground.

Without the cockpit computers to monitor it, the Hagetaka'sfusion engine raged uncontrolled. A shimmering, silvery ball of boiling plasma shot like a comet from between the 'Mech's shoulders. Like a wraith leaving its body behind, its tendrils swiped at the Grand Dragon,but the Takashi's charge had already carried him beyond its vengeful grasp. The energy-ghost imploded, leaving the Hagetaka'slifeless husk smoldering on the ground.

Shin regained control of his 'Mech the instant it slipped beyond the Clan's initial line. He slowed his headlong rush because he had more than enough targets in the midst of the growing Clan formation. In addition, his task was to force the Nova Cats back into the Kell Hounds, and that would only happen if his force could form a line and drive the Clans before them.

A quick look at his holographic display told Shin that the shock attack had succeeded in penetrating the Clan line along a wide front. Clan 'Mechs were already falling back as Combine 'Mechs swept around him to consolidate the Reserve Regiment's position. The center battalion concentrated its fire in an arc that supported the northern flank.

"Yodama," Takashi radioed urgently, "I am bringing the center battalion around to stop them."

Shin glanced at his tactical map. "If you do that, we'll get their full attention. If they get through us, they have a direct shot at Imperial City."

"But if I let them flank us, they will strike at the city."

"The Kell Hounds' Crescent Hawk Company has our flank, Coordinator."

"Do they? I see no sign of them."

"They're there." Shin crossed his fingers. "They're there."

Venom filled Takashi's voice. "If they are not, I will slay you myself."

"If the Hounds aren't there, you'll have to fight the Clans for that honor, Takashi. I know my duty!I will do it!"

As the central battalion drifted to the south, the Clans increased their retreat, letting themselves get beyond the Combine warriors' effective range. The Reserves moved quickly and the Clans used their missiles sparingly, so the moving truce resulted in few casualties among the Kurita forces and fewer among the Clansmen. Even so, with the chase, the Clans managed to string out Shin's forces further than he would have liked. He slowed pursuit to consolidate his troops, and Takashi immediately rebuked him for letting the Clans slip around the southern edge of their line.

"You are a fool, yakuza, and a coward. As is my son for trusting you and your kind."

Shin saw a light flash on his command console. Save the rhetoric for the historians, Takashi. It's time for warriors to earn their pay.Shin keyed a command that downloaded tactical maps to all his 'Mechs. As a unit, they pressed forward as though initiating a second charge into the Clan lines.

As the Nova Cats readied themselves for the assault, the reformed Kell Hound Regiment came up and over the hills to the Cats' rear. They fell on the southernmost elements of the Clan force like a wave engulfing a sand castle. It seemed to Shin that the Clansmen were not so much surprised as overwhelmed. Unlike the way he had seen the Kell Hounds fight earlier, they did not hold back to fight at range. Instead they closed quickly, lasers and PPCs savaging targets at point-blank range.

The southern movement of the Nova Cats stopped abruptly as the Clansmen sought to regroup. From the north, Shin saw the arrival of the Second Legion of Vega and remnants of the Otomo and First Sword of Light regiments. As they formed a wall to cut off the Clans from their line of retreat, the Reserve's northern battalion closed ranks with the center battalion to strengthen its position. Scouts from the Clans headed directly east, up the hills to the ridgeline lying between them and their landing zone, but those 'Mechs quickly retreated as elements of Wolf's Dragoons took the heights.

Shin knew what could come next and worked his way to the front of the Reserve position. The Clans determined that the Reserve unit was the weakest side of the box trapping them. With a desperation born of knowledge that defeat was certain, the Nova Cats turned and charged the Reserves even as the other three sides of the Combine formation fell upon them.

"Brace for it," Takashi shouted. "Now we're the anvil!"

A racing Masakarihit the Phoenix Hawkwith a shoulder square into the middle of the Hawk'schest. Sparks exploded through Shin's cockpit as his 'Mech folded up around the 'Mech's shoulder, then flew backward. Shin dangled from the restraining straps, then slammed down into the command chair when the Phoenix Hawksmashed into the ground. Realizing that remaining on the ground was to die, Shin arched his back and used the 'Mech's momentum to help it roll around so he could more easily get it up on its feet.

He knew completing such an acrobatic move was impossible, but he would have settled for a shift from supine to prone positions. What he got, however, was entirely different than what he wanted or could have imagined. As the Phoenix Hawkstarted to roll, its legs thrust between those of a running Clan Daishi.The Clan 'Mech's pumping legs shattered those of the Phoenix Hawkand sent it spinning off on its back like a turtle sliding across ice on its shell.

Feeling like a pilot in a centrifuge, Shin knew such violent motion threatened to snap his safety belts and leave him splattered against the interior of his cockpit. Shin reached out with the 'Mech's left arm, skidding the Phoenix Hawkto a stop. He brought the 'Mech up into a sitting position, but before he could make any sense of the surrounding chaos, a Nova Cat 'Mech stamped down with a cloven hoof, destroying the Phoenix Hawk'sright hand and large laser.

The loss of the support dropped the Phoenix Hawkflat on its back. Shin fumbled as he reached for the ejection switch, but stopped before he triggered it. The Daishi'supraised foot eclipsed the sky and Shin saw the exact spot he would hit if he punched out.