Dan smiled. "From the way you say 'certain people,' I hear echoes of the word Heimdall." Dan shook his head as the other officers nodded or smiled. Because he'd grown up in the Federated Suns, and because of his father's work as a Rat-catcher, he had never understood this romantic attachment that the others felt for this outlaw group. He shook his head. "I should have known."

"We'll make a good Lyran out of you yet, Dan," Salome said with a laugh.

"Janos says that one of his 'pirate points' is near the main base, which will put us at one gravity hour out from the base. I expect no trouble, but I want everyone ready."

The officers nodded in unison. "How long do we have to recharge?" O'Cieran's question focused everyone's attention on Patrick.

"Janos said we'd run a 28 percent failure risk if we took twenty-five hours to power, and we've already got three under our belts." He winced and opened his hands. "The odds get better if we wait longer. Worse, if we don't."

The image of Janos's head and torso replaced the holographic image of formulae and tables. "Patrick."

Kell punched the button on a small commlink at his position on the table. "Go ahead."

"A Kurita ship has arrived at the nadir point. She's released one InvaderClass DropShip, and it's coming fast."

"ETA?"

"Twenty-one hours."

Kell nodded sagely. "That gives us nineteen hours to power the K-F drive. What does that make our odds?" Janos grimaced. "Worse, Patrick. Much worse."

* * *

Lieutenant Austin Brand disengaged his hands from Meg Lang's as they both snapped to attention and saluted. "Afternoon, Captain."

Dan's head came up, and his vision cleared. They'd been sitting beneath an apple tree on the Cucamulus'sstarboard agrodome. Locked deep in thought, Dan had not noticed Meg and Brand as he approached. He smiled now to see them together, then his brows furrowed. "Why aren't you down on the Nuadagetting your 'Mechs ready?"

Meg smiled. "My Waspis perfectly checked out, and Austin's Commandois on the Lugh."

Dan frowned at Austin Brand. "Lieutenant, I thought I ordered you checked out on one of the Panthers."

Brand nodded. "Done, Dan. Jackson gave me the PantherI walked into the Nuada,and so I needed only a fraction of the time others took to 'imprint.' Don't forget, the Pantheris a simpler machine than my Commando,even with the jump jets. My 'Mech is nestled in the Nuada'sdrop bays between your Valand Meg's Wasp."

Dan nodded distractedly. "All twelve bays are filled?"

Brand nodded and ticked the 'Mechs off on his fingers as he spoke. "You, Meg, Eddie, and I make one lance. Major Ward's Wolverineand Fitzhugh's Catapultare there. McWilliams and Lasker have been assigned to Panthersto even that lance out."

Dan wrinkled his nose with distaste and turned away. He grasped the thick branch of a gapel tree, then turned to face his people again. "That only gives us eight 'Mechs for the drop. I don't like it."

Meg looked at Austin, concern on her face. "Jackson and Jones have two more Panthersoperational. Bethany Connor and Cat are being imprinted on them. That gives us ten."

Dan looked up. "What about the Victor!"

Austin shook his head. "It's still on the Mac,and still imprinted for Colonel Kell. No one else here could pilot it anyway."

Dan nodded. "Well, get back to your 'Mechs. We'll be leaving soon, and Patrick wants us ready to drop when we arrive."

Meg frowned. "Hot zone?"

Dan chuckled. "This isKurita space."

Meg nodded. "Silly question."

"Yeah," said Brand. "Well, I have one that's not so silly." His eyes narrowed. "How can we charge a JumpShip so quickly, especially when the solar collector hasn't even been deployed?"

Dan's head came up, and anger frosted his words. "Don't think about it, Lieutenant. You're not being paid to think. When you get to be a Captain, then you can think. Dismissed."

As his two subordinates left, Dan ground his teeth. "And when they pay you to think," he murmured to himself, "that's when you wish you didn't have to . . ."

52

Solaris VII (The Game World)

Rahneshire, Lyran Commonwealth

26 May 3027

Fuh Teng and his mechanic, Tung Yuan, glanced nervously at the black shadows surrounding the cone of light where they stood. "Justin, do you really think it's wise for us to be in Montenegro at this time of night?" He glanced out into the darkness and watched for roving bands of hoodlums.

The MechWarrior chuckled softly. He turned his back to the warehouse wall and shook his head. "We don't have to worry. Gray Noton himself arranged the security for this place."

Yuan grunted and shoved his fists deeper into the pockets of his quilted black jacket. "In that case, his death does nothing to inspire confidence."

Justin laughed, then turned his attention back to the door beneath the sole streetlight. He pulled a key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock. As it clicked, he opened the door and ushered his two companions into the warehouse's dark interior. As Justin shut the door behind them, the utter blackness seemed to swallow them whole.

Justin flicked on the fluorescent lights, which sputtered to life. As their pale pink glow allowed Yuan a first glimpse, what he saw took his breath away. The Tech staggered forward as though drunk or in shock.

Fuh Teng wheeled and stared at Justin through slitted eyes. "You don't mean to use this, do you?"

Justin nodded, a vulpine grin tightening his lips. "I want you and Yuan to go over it. No modifications. Just check all the circuits and make sure it's fully operational for tonight."

Yuan turned. "What about the insignia?"

Justin smiled. "I can think of no better. Let it stand."

* * *

Justin squinted against the glare of the searing studio lights. A buxom blonde leaned over him, gracing him with an intimate view of her ample assets while she patted makeup onto his face. "There, Mr. Xiang," she cooed. "That'll make you look as calm and fearless as I know you are."

God, she's wearing enough perfume to be a Class 3 atrocity under the Ares Convention.Justin forced himself to smile at her. "Perhaps I should just find a power connection for my cooling vest."

She stared cow-eyed at him for a second, then laughed shrilly. "Oh, yeah, the lights are hot, aren't they?" She slowly straightened up. "Well, if you need anything, just let me know." She tucked a slip of paper down the front of his cooling vest. "Any time."

Justin nodded as she walked away, then glanced over at Philip Capet. He looks suitably nervous. Good.Justin shook his head slowly.

Capet's head came up. "What are you looking at, Xiang?”

“A man who is about to die."

Capet parried the attack with a laugh. "I don't see any mirrors, Xiang."

Justin smiled easily. "I hope you open a radio channel to me during the fight. I want to know what you see when your life flashes before your eyes. I want to hear you whimper."

Capet shot to his feet, but the arrival of the program's host forestalled any battle. The heavy-set man looked like a bumblebee in his yellow blazer and black pants. "Whoa, boys, we don't want a fight before the cameras start running." He rested his hands on Capet's shoulders and slowly pressed the champion down into his seat.