The Jennersand both Firestartersof Fox Lance raked the Goliathwith relentless ruby beams of laser fire that shredded armor on the 'Mech's left legs. Through the ragged holes, Andrew saw the massive, corded myomer fibers that made up the artificial muscles driving the Goliath. One more barrage and that 'Mech is done for.

Andrew turned his attention to the Goliathjust forward of his position. It had begun to turn in an attempt to attack Delta company, but all it had managed to do was expose its left flank to Cat Lance. Without a second thought, Geoffrey St. Omer and his MechWarriors made the most of the opportunity.

The two humanoid Javelinslaunched two dozen SRMs at the ponderous Assault 'Mech. The missiles, augmented by another dozen SRMs from the lance's three Jenners,peppered the 'Mech's left flank and long legs. They spawned a fire-torrent whirling around the Goliath'sleft foreleg. As the twisting column of fire changed to dark, greasy smoke, it spat glowing, half-melted shards of ceramic armor to the frozen ground.

The Goliath'spilot fought valiantly to bring his machine around, but Cat Lance gave him no quarter. Even as the Goliath'sPPC muzzle tried to find a target, the Jennersfired their wing-mounted lasers. Like surgeons in a field hospital, they concentrated on the Goliath'sobvious injury.

Andrew dropped his targeting crosshairs onto the Goliath'sweakened forelimb. In concert with those of Cat Lance, his lasers stabbed out. The scarlet beams vaporized what little armor remained on the leg, then cut up into the Goliath'sshoulder. In a font of burning metal fragments, the joint melted and the left leg slipped. The Goliathtottered to the left, then the limb snapped off, spinning the 'Mech to the ground. The assault 'Mech tumbled back into half a somersault, crushing the cockpit, before it fell heavily onto its wounded flank.

Andrew pivoted his Firestarterto the left as a searing white fireball shot from the holes in another Goliath'sright flank. Andrew watched as the miniature sun of the Goliath'sfusion engine sent superheated plasma tendrils throughout the 'Mech's body. Looking like a DropShip blasting for the stars, the Goliath'sturret shot into the air on an argent jet, then exploded into a million smoking scraps.

Poor bastard. Never got out.Andrew felt a pang of sympathy for the Liao pilot, then glanced at the tactical display on his auxiliary monitor. FourGoliaths down and three badly hurt.

Suddenly, a spiral of oily smoke dissipated, giving Redburn a clear view of a Goliathin the middle of the Liao formation. Riding just above the stylized white castle marking the 'Mech as a member of Cochraine's Goliaths,Andrew thought he saw an insignia. He punched a command for magnification into his command console. The holographic display refocused closer, showing sunlight glinting off the bronze triangle boldly emblazoned on the 'Mech.

Typing hurriedly onto his command console's keypad, Andrew labeled the 'Mech's image with a digital ID tag, then sent the information out to his command. "Archer and Demon Lances, that's Colonel Fiona Cochraine. Hit that Goliathwith everything you've got!"

At his command, the two lances unleashed a hundred LRMs at the Liao commander's Goliath.Explosions saturated the 'Mech, flaying ribbons of ceramic armor from its surface. One flight wreathed the turret in flames, crumpling previously unmarred slabs of armor. The Goliathstaggered as the pilot fought against the detonation's Shockwave. Smoke poured from a hole in the 'Mech's chest.

With the range and hurried timing of the assault, the accuracy of the long-range lances' laser fire suffered. Somehow, though, the shots that did hit the target made up in quality for the deficiencies of the other attacks. One beam carved more armor from the Goliath'schest, leaving the 'Mech with only a pitifully small amount of protection against future assaults. Most important, one coruscating beam stabbed straight through the Goliath'shead.

Andrew saw the Goliathshudder. It wavered, and for a moment, he imagined that the laser had hit the cockpit, killing the pilot, but the 'Mech's continued activity dashed those hopes. Sending thundering Shockwaves through the ground, the Goliathplanted its feet widely enough apart to steady itself. Its PPC moved like an eye on a stalk, then locked onto one of the offending 'Mechs with the callousness of a child stomping on a cockroach.

"Craon, move! It's got you in its sights!" Almost reflexively, Andrew stabbed both feet down, igniting the ion jets on the Firestarter'sback. Inertia slammed him back into his command couch as his 'Mech rocketed up and out toward Cochraine's Goliath. No free shots on my command!Both arm-mounted flamers blazing, Redburn brought his 'Mech down on the Goliath.

Blood gushed from his nose and filled his mouth with a salty-sweet thickness as the impact's Shockwave jolted up through his cockpit. Andrew felt tooth chips grind beneath his molars. Lights flared everywhere in his cockpit and alarms rang with brain-numbing intensity, but failed to cover the scream of metal and the sharp cracking of ceramic armor. Static filled his holoscreens and sparks shot from behind his command couch.

Waves of heat washed up and over him as dazzling white fire flashed around the Firestarter.Again, he felt himself slammed down into the couch, but his legs had fallen from their positions on the jump jet controls. Some titanic force grabbed his Firestarterat the feet, whipping the 35-ton 'Mech into the air like a doll.

Andrew clawed desperately for the eject button, but gravity pinned his arms into place on the command couch's arms. Spots flashed before his eyes and a dim, horrifying realization crawled up from the place where his nightmares hid. Out of control! ...G-forces too much. Can't black out!Gritting his teeth, he forced his right hand to punch again at the eject button, but consciousness had already drained away before he could hit it.

42

Outbound, Terra

21 August 3028

Daniel Allard started so violently as Morgan Kell's low laughter filled his JumpShip cabin that he nearly dropped the green strip of silk hanging from his fingers. Dan whirled to face the narrow cabin's hatchway. "I'm sorry, Colonel. Is there something you need from me?"

Morgan smiled broadly and shook his head. "You've got it bad for that woman, haven't you, Daniel?" He folded his arms across the chest of his dark blue jumpsuit. "You've been preoccupied since we saw the Archon and her daughter off on their JumpShip earlier today. I'm sure your lady love would have been there, but she probably had many things to do."

Dan narrowed his eyes until they were little more than sapphire crescents. How much do you really know, Morgan? The Archon trusts you, but would she trust you with this ?Dan glanced down at the silk strip. "The Archon-Designate said as much to me when we saw them off. That's when she gave me this ... Said it was from Jeana."

Morgan held out his hand, and Dan reluctantly passed the cloth to him. "Well, Dan, this lets you know she shares your feelings." Morgan turned the cloth over in his big hands. "If Slangmore cadets successfully complete their final training run in a 'Mech, the graduates receive one of these headbands." Morgan smiled, the expression in his brown eyes growing distant. "I've heard stories about mortal wounds healing when bound with one of these things, and other superstitious tales that go around in MechWarrior circles. I do know of one Mech Warrior who used his Slangmore Sash to strangle the Draconian who captured him after he ejected."