His right fist still cocked and ready, Justin stared down at him. "If you're not a coward, then you'll accept my challenge to do battle." Justin looked up at the other MechWarriors who had gathered around to watch. "If the others think it proper, I suggest we battle for the right to Noton's alcove."

Capet smiled easily and pulled himself to his feet. "Is that all you want, Xiang, a fair fight? Will you use your Centurionagainst my Rifleman!I assure you that I will not make Billy Wolfson's mistake."

Justin smiled cruelly. "Which error is that, Capet? Exposing his back to me, or accepting your advice? I am touched at your concern that I will not be able to match your Rifleman,but I suggest that you not lose any sleep over it."

Justin turned and began to walk away, then stopped. Resting a hand on the shoulder of the Maskirovka agent accompanying him, he faced Capet again and smiled. "Oh, and don't count on getting that 'Mech regiment Prince Davion has promised for my head. He may hate me, but he's not stupid enough to actually grant you a command. When you die, it will be here . .. right here on Solaris."

45

Styx

Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine

23 May 3027

Captain Stefan von Breunig turned as Leftenant Andrew Redburn and Joana Barker entered the command center of the mine complex. Beyond him, through the glass wall, the Bifrostand the Silver Eaglehung suspended by invisible magnetic fields in the cavernous docking bay. Silvery cables, as slender as threads from this distance, fed power from the base's generators to the Bifrost'sjump coils. Melissa marveled at the beauty, then shivered at the danger.

"This is Leftenant Andrew Redburn and Miss Joana Barker. As you have requested, I have assembled a number of the passengers here to discuss the problem you outlined to me earlier." The Captain smiled as he introduced the last two of the passengers summoned to this meeting, though Melissa easily read the fatigue and frustration in the dark circles under his eyes. I'll wager he hasn't slept a wink in the two days since they captured us.

Melissa nodded to the auburn-haired woman standing across the room from them, and assessed her as she'd learned to do during her military training days. Though shorter and stockier than Melissa, the woman appeared very fit. As their gazes met and Melissa stared into those brown eyes, she realized that the woman was assessing her, too.

"I am Danica Holstein," the woman told her, smiling with impatience in her voice. "I command this little outpost we have usurped from the Draconis Combine." She turned and indicated the young man behind her. "This is my son, Clovis."

Though she knew it was impolite, Melissa could not avoid staring at him. Born a dwarf, Clovis wore meter-long stilts so that he could reach the computer controls with which he fiddled. He was apparently well-accustomed to the Styx planetoid's reduced gravity, for the dwarf moved with incredible agility. Like a master musician in concert, he let his stubby fingers drift over the half-dozen keyboards. He turned just long enough to nod at them in profile, then brushed his long, black hair from his face and again attacked the computers.

Danica addressed herself to the group of Silver Eaglepassengers. "Clovis informed me earlier today that a Combine ship has appeared at the nadir jump point. It has already sent one Drop-Ship in our direction. According to its acceleration vector, we estimate that it will arrive on the twenty-fifth, only forty-eight hours from now. I've brought you together so we may discuss our options."

Erik Mahler stepped forward. "Do you think it represents more than a routine patrol?"

Clovis answered in a voice far deeper than it seemed his small chest could contain. "Patrols use ScoutClass ships. This is an InvaderClass JumpShip and it's sent a FuryClass DropShip toward us." As he cocked his head, the dwarf's eyes revealed their hint of blue. "The acceleration vector says that they're probably carrying somewhere between thirty and fifty jump troopers."

Melissa heard those words and slowly sank back through the crowd. To take a base this size would require a company of light 'Mechs.She stared down at her fingers and quickly went through the guidelines she'd been taught for an assault on such a base. Yes, they 'd certainly need a company of light 'Mechs to subdue this base. So why were they sending jump troops?

Melissa wormed her way through the crowd and found Andrew. She pulled him to the back, then clapped a hand over his mouth. "Andrew, the jump troops on that ship must be elite ISF troopers."

Andrew's eyebrows shot up, but her hand stifled his outcry. He hesitated, then pulled her hand away. Cupping his hands around her ear, he whispered softly. "How do you know that?"

Melissa shrugged. "A Furyis built for hauling infantry, not 'Mechs. It can hold more than a hundred comfortably, so why would they send less? In fact, why would they send anything but 'Mechs? The only answer I can see is that they have troopers who they believe can accomplish the job. That means ISF troops."

"Damn!" Andrew's eyes narrowed. "That also means something else. Clovis said Kurita patrols use Scoutships, which means Kurita knows about this outpost. Curious, isn't it, that they decide to clean it up now, yet they chose such a discreet force to do it."

Melissa felt her insides coil. Somehow, by some means, they've learned who I am!She looked up at Andrew and his curt nod confirmed her fears. She leaned back against the wall, overwhelmed by doubt and anxiety, yet some of the discussion around her registered, albeit dimly, on her brain.

Andrew Redburn pushed his way to the front of the crowd. "Excuse me, but doesn't it seem foolish that the Combine would waste fifty soldiers assaulting this base?"

Danica Holstein shifted her attention to the Leftenant. "Perhaps, but then we have seen governments do so many foolish things. That is why my son and I fled Summer when we did. What is your point?"

"My point is this. From what little I saw of this base, it would take a company of 'Mechs to conquer it." Around him, the few MechWarriors in the group nodded in cautious agreement. "I would suggest that the troops aboard that Kurita ship are tough enough to accomplish the job they've been sent to do."

Danica considered his statement silently, but Clovis immediately spoke up. "ISF, that would be. It's too much of a coincidence to think that they've finally decided to blow us out of here. In fact, all they'd need for that is a bomb. No ... it must be that they want someone."

"Be that as it may," Andrew said, taking the floor again. "We have to plan a defense to hold them off. If we don't, many people could die."

Back against the cold wall, Melissa hugged herself tightly and winced at the clawing fear in her stomach. The sinister voice crawled again from the black pit of her self-doubts and whispered in its evil way. The ISF want you. Kurita's elite troops are coming for you, little Princess. Perhaps this is what you deserve....

Melissa looked up as Clovis produced a schematic view of the entire base on a holovld screen set high in the far wall. This whole asteroid is a deathtrap, Melissa, and here you will die.

Danica turned to face the screen. "As you can see, Leftenant Redburn, it would be it difficult—at best—to defend this maze of mining tunnels and the company-town complex. I concede that there are hard points, but those were meant to seal off the complex in case the outside were breached. This was not built as a military complex, and we can be certain that the ISF troops have extremely up-to-date charts on our set-up."