He heard the whine ot a power plant behind him, followed by the distant thud of footsteps. He sprawled out facing the alley, keeping his profile low. Anticipation pumped up his heart rate and made his breathing shallow.

A rock bounced on the roof and came to rest less than a meter to his left. ‘He did that on purpose,’ Naiku hissed, then he crawled across to pick up the switch farthest left.

The noise from the 'Mech increased and then split into two. One swelled in volume and closed from behind and left. The other jumble of sounds moved perpendicular to the first, behind Naiku and off to his right He heard the crunching of Mechs stepping on rubble. Lighter sounds of movement came from the alley below.

Naiku's breath came faster. He inched toward the building's edge. The fingers of his left hand curled over the corner and he slowly pulled so that he could see the alley.

A burst of fire from below and right nearly made him trigger the first switch.

It was one of his own, he realized. ‘Fake out,’ he whispered, trying to calm himself. He considered going back to the batteries and using them to restart his heart. Instead, he took a deep breath and peeked over, prepared to watch the powerful machine enter the trap.

The Marauderturned the corner and Naiku stifled a laugh. Instead of the sand and olive tones he'd expected, the Mech was an explosion of brilliant colors. Splashes of blue, orange, and red cascaded down the machine and disappeared into its heat sinks.

As the prismatic 'Mech stalked down the alley, Naiku remembered why he was sprawled on the roof. He triggered switches, activating paint sprayers to release a fine mist in front of the parti-colored MarauderA shortage of acid meant some sprayers contained thermo-chem.

The 'Mech left a swirling trail as it moved rapidly through the spray. Two-thirds of the way through the alley, it slowed, rotating side to side. Its sensors, paint-covered, couldn't maintain images and had to constantly reacquire them.

No rifle fire taunted it to move on. The Kurita soldiers were content to let it stand in the corrosive alley. Finally, it exited. As the Marauderrotated its torso left, rifle shots pinged off its right side. The 'Mech stepped right, trying to turn its torso and arms to face its attacker while it moved.

The combined effects of heat and acid had peeled and bunched the metal in the rotation ring like mud in front of a skidding tire. The gyros attempted to compensate, but the torque forces propelled the torso forward. The pilot tried to use the 'Mech's arms for balance, but the arm movements were also impaired by the corrosion. The Maraudertook two staggering steps and fell canopy-first into a concrete warehouse.

With a metallic screech, the canopy jumped its track. Twisted open and held on one bent hinge, it vibrated briefly as the engine sounds died away.

The street was silent. Then, the patter of feet closing on the downed giant echoed through concrete canyons. As the other three soldiers cautiously approached the 'Mech, Naiku called from his high vantage point, ‘The pilot's trapped, but his arms are moving. He's reaching for something.’

Wanabe broke away from a covering wall and positioned herself to see the pilot She raised her rifle and sighted. ‘Whatever it is, doesn't look like he can get it.’

Mannimoto scrambled up the torso of the downed 'Mech. ‘He's taken something.’

By the time Mannimoto reached him, the pilot was already dead.

Wanabe moved to the cockpit area and peered inside. ‘No insignia. Even the normal manufacturing information is missing.’

First checking both ways. Toshira crossed the street to join them at the Mech. ‘Thank you, Miko.’

Mannimoto finished his search. ‘Nothing on the pilot’

Toshira scanned the cockpit. ‘Miko, can you tell what he was reaching for?’

‘Something down here.’ She pointed below the canopy rail.

Naiku arrived and stared over Wanabe's shoulder He reached inside, fingering a switch and following a wire harness. ‘Might be a destruct switch.’

‘What? That's not standard.’ Wanabe looked at Naiku, then to her Sergeant.

Toshira motioned to the Recruits. ‘You two check on how Gudmansen is doing.’

They hesitated, then jogged down the street. Mannimoto nodded at the pilot's form. ‘An honorable man. Knew his duty.’

‘An honorable man. Almost like a good Kurita soldier.’

‘I see you had a similar thought, Toshira.’ Mannimoto checked the brightening sky. ‘No insignias.’

‘Clean 'Mechs.’

‘High-priced operation.’

Toshira pulled off his helmet again and absently rubbed his bald spot ‘But mercenaries don't usually commit suicide.’

‘And in such a hurry.’

‘Don't follow you there.’

‘They haven't rested. At least, not long.’ The Corporal stood and paced. ‘As no other 'Mechs have been sighted, it appears these hit the base andthe armored column. And then came back here and kept coming at us all night instead of moving off.’

‘Maybe a deadline.’

Mannimoto reached out his hand to help Toshira up. ‘I don't know. But it will make interesting conversation when we get back.’

‘When we get back?’ Toshira grabbed the hand and pulled up. ‘Why. Corporal, you're becoming an optimist.’

Three blocks from the repair shop opening, a Marauderrose from behind a rubble pile, facing their direction.

‘Move!’ Not waiting to see if Mannimoto would listen. Toshira pushed the Corporal through the entrance. ‘Hurry up. everyone. About one minute to company.’

The 'Mech charged down the street, stopping in the middle of the block to scan with its clogged Dalban HiRez.

Inside the opening, his back against the wall, Toshira struggled to stay put and monitor the 'Mech. ‘He's still got some sensors.’ He snapped his head right, looking expectantly at Naiku. ‘Ready?’

Naiku frantically worked on the trigger and shook his head.

Toshira, trying to buy time, picked up a sprayer and filled the opening with an isotherm mist.

The Mech set one giant metal foot onto the rubble and shifted its weight forward. The footing held and the Marauderwaded into the debris.

Everyone heard the crunching sounds. Mannimoto mouthed, ‘Move.’ and waved urgently at the Sergeant. Toshira started inching away from the opening.

The Mech jammed its arm into the opening. The metal-on-concrete noise filled the repair area.

Toshira stared into the muzzle of the Hellstar PPC. felt the radiating heat. He'd never been so impressed in his life. The instant seemed to stretch in time, with all going in slow motion.

The effect broke as the 'Mech lifted its arm and cleared away concrete.

Toshira leaped sideways, caught his balance, and streaked for the rear opening. ‘Ruuunnn!’

Mannimoto pulled back and headed through the destroyed warehouse.

Wanabe dragged Naiku through the opening. ‘He doesn't want to use his weapons. His sinks are clogged!’

Snickering, Naiku regained his feet.

Concrete shattered and fell off reinforcing bars.

Pale and out of breath, Toshira scrambled up the rubble. He slipped halfway though. ‘Gudmansen out? Ropes ready?’

The obstruction finally split in half and toppled to either side.

With help, Toshira got to his feet. ‘Aragi. go back so we can pass the signal to Gudmansen.’ He crouched beside Wanabe and peered back into the repair area.

Emerging from the dust, the Mech entered the repair shop and stood there. Only a dripping sound could be heard as liquid trickled from the hoses of the wash tanks.

Mannimoto continued running, passed by Gudmansen and the ropes, and left the ruined building.

The 'Mech thudded another step into the room and stopped, easily spotting the gray-painted plywood covering the pit. The Marauderstarted around the obvious trap.