High Desert,
Southern Continent,
The Rack,
The Periphery
Miles Hendricks looked on in horror as the cliff-tops, less than a hundred metres ahead of him, disintegrated as the two land-air mechs slammed into them. The ground shook as several hundred tons of rock came crashing down in twin vertical avalanches, blocking the exit and knocking over the leading mechs like so many skittles. He felt the reverberations through his Orion's command couch as his hand slammed down on the throttle, bringing the heavy mech to a stop.
He activated his neurohelmet radio, selecting the command frequency. "Uh, General, whoever these sunzabitches are, they just brought the canyon down on us…we're trapped like fish in a barrel!" He swallowed hard and wished he hadn't sounded so panicky.
Macready, who had been supervising the Predators' rearguard at the canyon entrance, was in total disbelief. "What? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Sir, there's a hundred foot wall of rock in front of us. Those crazy bastards just rammed a couple fighters into the overhangs and brought 'em down damn near right on top of us. We can probably blast through, but it'll take some time".
The General vented his feelings with a string of vile curses that made Hendricks cringe. "We ain't got any time Miles. I've just pulled back to the canyon - they're about a couple of minutes behind us".
There was a moment's silence as the pair of them considered the implications of this.
"So, all our units are in the canyon now?"
"All, bar a few stragglers".
"Then we're screwed! If we try and fight our way out, they'll slaughter us…"
Macready, fed up with his subordinate, suppressed the urge to snarl at Hendricks. "Not necessarily. If I can get their commander to meet me in single combat, I might just be able to get us out of this".
"Sir, you can't be serious…"
"You got any better ideas?" snapped Macready, losing patience with his lily-livered subordinate.
Hendricks was brave enough when the odds were stacked in his favour, but it seemed his heart wasn't quite so stout when there was a possibility his worthless hide might be at risk.
"Hold position here. I want your men guarding the canyon in the event I lose or they decide not to play ball". The General smiled, in spite of his anger, at the thought of Hendricks and his men being the first in the firing line, should things take a turn for the worst.
"Yes, sir", replied Hendricks. He sounded subdued, already beaten. Or maybe, thought Macready, he'd resigned himself to his fate, whatever it may be.
Macready set his radio to broadcast on an open frequency that everyone on both sides would be able to hear. "This is General Springer Macready, commander of Second Regiment, Pearson's Predators, to the commander of the unidentified forces invading our homeworld. In the interests of preventing any further loss of life…and equipment, I challenge you to a duel. If you win, you will have our unconditional surrender. If I win…you and your troops will become prisoners of the Predators and your mechs will be taken as salvage".
All across the plains and all through the canyon, combatants on both sides paused as they listened to the challenge being issued. During the silence that followed, no-one moved, it was as though both sides were holding their breath, awaiting the answer.
Macready's patience finally snapped, "So…what's it to be? I think you've had plenty of time to consider".
A little over a kilometre away, out in the sweltering, dusty plains, Bainbridge contemplated the pirate commander's words in the stuffy confines of his Valiant's cockpit. He dragged an arm across his sweaty brow, wiping it with one of the sweatbands he habitually wore on his wrists. He reached under the console and took a swig of lukewarm energy drink he always kept there. 'Its no use…I can't delay this any longer', he thought. Philip checked his radio settings and switched to the open frequency the pirate commander was using.
He was about to reply when Keira O'Reilly cut in on their private channel. "Sir, don't do it. We've got them cornered. They've nowhere to run - you don't need to risk yourself".
"You know what they say about cornered animals, Keira…that's when they're the most dangerous. If we try and fight them in the canyon, the losses on both sides will be horrendous. It seems this pirate commander has some honour and concern for his own troops after all. If we can prevent any further bloodshed then we must do so".
He tried to force some humour into his voice. "What's the matter – you're not worried I'll disgrace the Guards' good name by getting blown out of my mech, are you?"
Keira hesitated before replying. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, sir. If this pirate Macready has survived this long, it's a fair bet he's a pretty capable pilot".
Philip frowned. "And you don't think I am?"
"Of course not…I mean I do sir, but…" she trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words, a rare occurrence for the normally loquacious officer of Irish descent.
"Look, Keira, if there's a way to end this without anyone else dying, then I'm all for it".
His words were punctuated by the dull thunder of explosions, interlaced with the sharper sounds of weapons fire. Left behind as the focus of battle shifted towards the canyon, their mechs were rocked by a few stray rounds, but were not targeted. It seemed that some pilots on both sides were letting itchy trigger fingers get the better of them. He had to make the call…now.
"But, sir…"
"Keira, if we follow our orders to the letter and wipe the Predators out, especially when their commander has bargained for the lives of his men, what does that make us?"
"It means we'll still be alive, which is more than we can expect if you lose!" O'Reilly retorted. Never afraid to show her emotions, she sounded angry and afraid now. "What makes you think you can trust him? What's to say he doesn't have some sort of ambush planned?"
"I believe Macready is doing this for his men. The Predators are outnumbered and outgunned – and he knows it. He knows the only way out of this is to cut a deal. I may not be a Solaris hotshot or a Succession Wars veteran, but I did graduate from Sandhurst with honours, which I bet is more than he can boast. I think I can hold my own against him".
The line went dead as O'Reilly cut the link. Philip sighed and made a note to have a talk with her when this was over. He switched back to the frequency Macready had used to issue his challenge. "This is Precentor Philip Bainbridge, commander of the Britannia Guards, representing the armed forces of the Britannic Coalition. I accept your challenge. Have your troops withdraw to the canyon and meet me out here on the plain. I will order my forces to withdraw to our drop zone".
He heard Macready's dry rasping voice in his neurohelmet's headset. "'Bout time, Precentor Bainbridge". The pirate commander gave a cackle of amusement. I was beginnin' to think y'all had gotten a case of cold feet. I'll be with ya momentarily".