Chapter X

Wolf Dropship,
5 Kilometers outside Blitz Team HQ,
Planet Zi

Mechwarrior Phaia watched the radar, observing the movements of enemy Zoids storming out of the HQ. The Liger Zero led the pack, followed by a red dinosaur-like and a dog-like Zoids. Phaia didn't remember seeing the last two Zoids before, although the red Zoid looked very much like the Gun Sniper that she took out earlier. Behind the Zoids, a truck rolled out, carrying the wreck of Nikolai's Timber Wolf. She could only guess that Nikolai was inside the truck.

"What are those two Zoids, bondsman?" Phaia asked Harry. "The red dinosaur and the dog-type?"

"The red Gun Sniper is Naomi Fluegel. She is the best sniper in Planet Zi. The Command Wolf is Brad Hunter, a mercenary working for the Blitz Team. Naomi Fluegel has her own team, but she hangs around Brad often. You know what I mean."

"Coffin mate," Phaia hissed in disgust.

"Miss Phaia, I believe I can be of a use in this situation," Harry unexpectedly said. "Your force is seriously outgunned by the Blitz Team and Naomi Fluegel. The Liger Zero is stil hurt, but it is the best Zoid in Planet Zi. Not to mention Naomi Fluegel. You are one man short. You can put me in one of your battlemechs to even the odd."

"Harry, what are you doing?" Doc Taros yelled. "Are you going to fight your own kins? You traitor!"

"Harry is bound by honor to the Wolf Clan, so it is the right thing to do to prove his honor," Phaia explained. "However, you have not proven yourself that you are trustworthy. Why should we trust you and benefit from your loyalty?"

"You beat me in a fair fight, and you spared me from death. I am obligated to return your mercy."

"You don't have loyalty, Harry Champ!" Doc Taros roared. "You're doing this because you're trying to make a move toward my daughter!"

Phaia shot a fuming gaze over Harry. "You have a coffin mate, freebirth?"

"No! God, no!" Harry whined. "I am an honorable warrior, just like you are! The Blitz Team is the bad guys! Put me in a battlemech and I will prove it to you!"

"You put him in a battlemech and he'll shoot you from the back!" Doc Taros grunted. "That's just the kind of man he is!"

Phaia had never been in this situation before. She could easily solve this matter by issuing a Trial of Grievance, letting Harry and Doc Taros fight in a circle of equal. But the Wolves did not have time for a trial. If they waited for the trial to conclude, she was afraid that Nikolai might have to pay the price. Not knowing what to do, Phaia turned to her commander, "Ovkhan? What do you think?"

"Your bondsman, your decision, Phaia," Darien replied. "We are two men short, since Yuri is still injured. We can use Harry, if you trust him enough to put him in a battlemech."

That was enough for Phaia to make up her mind. "Neg, ovkhan. I do not trust him just yet."

"Very well," Darien summed up. "Yuri, stay here and guard Harry. Phaia, Mikhail, to your battlemechs. Doctor Taros, come with me. I will deliver you to your home, just like I promised your friends."

As the other went to the hangar, Phaia came to Harry, her teeth gritting in anger. "When I come back, you had better have an explanation about Doctor Taros' accusation about your loyalty and your coffin mate. If I do not find your explanation satisfactory, I swear by the blood of Nicholas Kerensky I will rip your throat with my bare hands. Do you understand, bondsman?"

"You can trust me, Miss Phaia," Harry replied, stuttering under the pressure of Phaia's verbal assault. "You made a big mistake by not putting me in a battlemech."

"I will see about that," Phaia huffed, then turned to Yuri. "Keep your eyes on him all the time."

Upon hearing Yuri's reply, Phaia rushed to the hangar. The techs did the best their could to repair her Shadow Cat, but the front right armor was still weak. She knew she could not afford to sustain another hit by the Liger Zero. On her right, Star Commander Darien Kerensky led Doctor Taros to enter his Executioner, and Mikhail climbed the ladder to his Timber Wolf cockpit. Sitting comfortably in her command couch, Phaia started her Shadow Cat and open a private comlink with Darien, "Ready when you are."

"You are the best sniper on Delta Galaxy, Phaia," Darien said while bringing his Executioner toward the bay door. "Pay close attention to Naomi Fluegel. We are not looking for a fight, but if Harry was right, she might give us trouble. Just make sure she cannot take her shots. Mikhail, guard the Command Wolf. Let me worry about the Liger Zero."

"Aff," Phaia replied while lining up behind Darien's Executioner. "Be careful with the Liger Zero. I hurt it on the last fight, but it is still very dangerous."

The dropship door rumbled open, and Darien stepped out, followed by Phaia on the left flank and Mikhail on the right. One kilometer away, the Blitz Team was waiting, with Liger Zero as the center point, sandwiched by Naomi's Gun Sniper and Brad's Command Wolf. Phaia put her crosshair on Naomi's midst and grazed the trigger of her Gauss rifle with her thumb, waiting for a sign from her commander to unleash her fury, if necessary.

Some Clan language:

coffin mate - Clan derogatory epithet for two persons that grow close together, like boyfriend-girlfriend, or even best friends.