"Watch your left twist, you are predictable," Captain Urso commands. Kinda odd, even when she tries to speak normally, it sounds like she is ordering something or another.

I correct back and try to see where my target has gone while I dance through this battered urban landscape.

"Fire at that Locust. FIRE AT THE LOCUST! NOW!"

I guess there is nothing like inspiring performance anxiety. (sigh)

I finally get the reticule back onto the speedy locust and press the alpha trigger. The larges reach out and cut bright scars across it as it tries to reach cover. The pulse might kills flies or mosquitoes, but the Locust was out of range to begin with and all I gain is heat.

"DO YOU NOT SEE THE LOCUST?!"

I want to snap back that I just hit it, but manage somehow to bite my tongue, fire the large lasers again, and watch satisfied as they eat a hole in the Locust's right torso armor. Suddenly Naomi announces a shutdown and the whole contraption sags forward while the controls blink off..

"You IDIOT!" the Captain all but screams.

Wow, this sure is culture shock.

"Captain, I..."

Naomi announces, "Simulation has ended."

"Captain?"

"You moron. Alright, you get your wish; get out of that 'Mech, you are now piloting the 2x."

"Yes, Ma'am. May I..."

"No."

"Well, would you be so kind as to explain what I was supposed to learn there?"

Silence.

"Captain Urso?"

Silence.

Great. Well that was an experience while it lasted. I pull the BTCT chip and the few things I had already added to the cockpit and pop the back hatch. Maybe once I'm back in the 2x, I should just pull up "Dancing in the Street" again and work on not getting hit.

…..

"She got to you, didn't she?" Master Wolte queries, his demeanor perhaps suggesting that I have again disappointed him.

"Well, the anger stuff is pretty different."

"Did you quit, or did she kick you out?"

"I get to go back to the 2x and Commander Tetsuhara moves up to the 2Q."

"Did she tell you why?"

I think some pain comes out in my voice, "no. I tried to ask. I want to learn, but this is like sleeping with an avalanche..."

"Take it easy. She isn't used to even dealing with what you represent."

"What is that?"

"Inexperience. Youth."

"What should I do?"

"Move your gear to the 2x as ordered. Be ready to do the best you can and learn everything you can so you can do even better."

I nod, "Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for taking the time, Master Wolte."

"Hanse."

"Hanse."

…..

An alarm starts and there is a red light or lights flashing down at the south end of the cavern. For a moment, none of us do more than look that way, each expecting someone else to know what is going on, then Fairuz jumps to her feet and runs. Yes, it is her six-by that is performing the light-show.

I think she has the loudspeaker on; that or she is suddenly VERY loud, "Captain and Commanders? You might want to hear this."

I manage to beat the other two to her vehicle.

She turns on her pa speakers and quickly drops the volume. A female voice says, "There are four 'Mechs actually standing in town across from your father's dealership. Big ones. And my mom says they had a dozen more that split at South Junction. I haven't gotten close enough to hear any of them talk, but Bobby says they are some kind of rangers."

There is the faint sound of someone talking off mic, then, "Mom says it might be important that the 'Mechs all have a big red, blue, and white five-point star. Hope that helps."

"When did this come in? Nanako asks.

"About five minutes ago." Fairuz shakes her head and looks worried. "there is no law to protect the people against sixteen 'Mechs. Their presence even without a threat will be enough, someone will talk."

Captain Urso strides away, back towards our encampment proper.

…..

"Listen up. We all need to be ready to move out in no more than 1 hour, a half hour would be better. The unit that killed both our teams is coming with almost four to one odds. We can not defeat them with only three experienced pilots. We need to move quickly. Any ideas?"

"I have lived on this planet all my life; I have lots of ideas," Fairuz answers.

"I have our maps and can help, too."

"Ok, you two and you," here she points at me, "follow me. The rest of you get everything ready to go. This is important, people! Let's go, NOW!"

We all move quickly and I almost think she smiles. Nah, couldn't have been.

…..

Ensign Mark's map table is set up and working in the bus. He pulls up a ten meter on us, then slides us down and away to look further north.

Fairuz stops him, "Here. There is a cave behind Ziggurat Falls..."

"Big enough for the BK?" Captain Urso queries.

"Oh, no, probably not. Sorry."

"It's Ok, it was a good idea."

Who is this? And where was she when I was trying to learn the Night Hawk?

"How about this as a temporary while we take some time to look for something better?"

"And 'this' is...?"

"It looks like an old town. No vehicles on the streets, at least not on this pull. These..." here he points to large rectangular blocks, "look like hangars or old manufacturing facilities. Even if we can't get the Black Knight under shelter, we can probably camouflage it enough to keep it from being found by sats while we look for better. Further, it looks like we can get there by good paved roads. No more than four hours at fifty, maybe faster if we can go full out."

"That's the old terra-former's village," Fairuz says thoughtfully. "I bet they did have something that would hold the big 'Mech."

The Captain rolls her eyes and snorts, "It is a Black Knight BL-6b-KNT. Please use the correct name."

Fairuz looks like she has been slapped. She steps back, clearly offended; then moves a bit behind me, as if for protection.

Captain Urso looks from her to me and back. Once again, she defies my expectations, "I am sorry I spoke to you that way, Ms. Abboud. I myself have no doubt called it a BK or a 6b or something else similar, it is unfair for me to expect more from you than I am willing to do myself."

Fairuz rather quietly replies, "Thanks."

The Captain looks back at me and asks, "does this course of action make sense to you, Number One?"

While I'm not sure, I suspect that the 'Number One' is a way of referring to her XO. I answer, "Makes good sense to me, Ma'am. Shall we go after it?"

She nods, "Yes. See to your readiness, we walk in twenty."

…...

"Pilots to me! Quickly!" Captain Urso calls out. She is standing with Fairuz Abboud at the foot of the Black Knight.

We all move rather rapidly to her; I wonder what is up?

"Ms. Abboud just got a signal that the Wacos are moving out on our side of Terrino. We need to establish battle structure. I want us to move as a lance with a solo scout out on her own. Lieutenant Al-Zafirah, are you willing to recon and track our opponent? I especially want early warning if they are overtaking us. Will you do that?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Fatima's smile is a klick wide, "I would be glad to."

"Good. Next, Number One, are you willing to run wing for Commander Tetsuhara today? I want you to understand it is not a demotion, but rather a chance for you to learn by watching her. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes, Ma'am," I reply. It feels kinda good to be asked. Even better to be treated like the XO in front of others.

"Lieutenant Tavares, I would like you to try to run on my wing." I can see Sonya's expression start to reflect fear, but the Captain is ahead of me, "Lieutenant, I don't need you to worry about the role or even shooting at anything. I just want you to run on whichever side I ask for, positioned fifty to ninety meters out and a little behind. I know you can do this. You with me?"

Sonya nods and seems to brighten... at least a little.

"Commander," she is now looking at Nanako, "I need you to be yourself, but understand the roles are a little different."

"I got your back, Captain."

"Ok, I'll pulse for sequence once we are all settled. I will then set up a sub for you, Sonya, so we can talk between ourselves. You two should do the same, Ok? That said, unless we get into combat I want radio silence; emergencies excepted, then only what we need to say."

Everyone nods.

"One more thing, when we walk out, we are going to take the 'Mechs out under as much cover as possible and swing back towards the mine shaft Commander Tetsuhara and I had been holed up in. Move single file until we are there. I'll flash my running lights once we are there, and I want us to move to a standard lance formation, two by two with our wings slightly wider than we are."

Sonya glances my way. "You'll do fine," I tell her.

"Any questions?"

We all shake our heads "no."

The captain waves her arms outward. "To your 'Mechs!"

…..

I'm strapped in and my 2x is all checked out. I still have the weapons on safe, but otherwise, I'm as combat ready as I will be.

Captain Urso sent the vehicles ahead of us, the bus left by itself ten minutes ago and Fairuz' six-by, the duce and a half, and the Land Train with it's lowboy went together a scant five back. I did notice that the bus has been repainted white to make it more visible and the camouflage tarp on the lowboy has been changed to something that looks like a bright blue. I think the description of this whole tactic is "hiding in plain sight" though I guess it seems rather foolhardy to me.

Fatima ran her 3L out just a few minutes ago, headed down the shortest route back towards Terrino. The rest of our 'Mechs are ready to walk. I do wonder about the swing back towards the mine shaft where she and Commander Tetsuhara had been hiding. She hasn't said why, but I wonder if she wants to distance ourselves from the vehicles, so that anyone seeing us and backtracking will wind up in a different place from where the vehicles left.

…..

Single file, keeping close to cliffs where they exist and under trees when there are none, we are walking towards the mine.

Upon reaching the dark opening, we gather together and only then move out into the open on a Northbound road. I guess this is a typical lance formation, leads side-by-side and wings about the same with just a bit more space between us. Captain Urso is on the right, Lieutenant Tavares further right, and Commander Tetsuhara left of center. We accelerate to full walking speed for the Black Knight and everything seems fine.

…..

Our first hint that something could be wrong comes about an hour out when a the fairly strong comm signal starts almost directly overhead. It is sequenced, but the origin is clearly not where we had expected one.

"I got red dots." Sonya, not really familiar with the sensors has been looking upwards. We all follow suit and are rewarded with four tiny flametraces almost directly above us. I'm about to comment on radio silence, but wonder if the Captain hasn't already done so and decide against it.

The Black Knight is running now, the thunder of it's steps on the concrete roadway leaving small compressions and kicking up pulverized pavement dust.

I pull up my Battlemap. We have roadway for many klicks, with low hills and what might once have been attempts at cultivated fields scattered among them. Nothing jumps out at me as a place to hide.

Back to reality and I see that I'm not paying enough attention; the BK has begun to drift right and Sonya's Spider is striding along with her. The Night Hawk, however, has accelerated while drifting left to where I'm almost behind her. I pick up my pace and change course enough to regain my position.

We seem to be angling towards an old structure, maybe a barn or something similar. I dare not bring up the map for fear I will miss some other change and wind up in the wrong place or worse.

The comms crackle to life on our sequence, "Four lances have changed course for your probable location and are moving with all speed." It is Lieutenant Al-Zafirah. "At least one 3L included in light Striker lance. No air spotted, but likely en route also. They are not responding to attempts to distract. Breaking off and making best possible shadow for main group. Will advise."

We reach the barn and grain silos, slowing and swinging around behind them.

"Face out, ready to run around that side for an attack," Nanako says on our sub. "When the Captain says 'Now!' accelerate and swing around for my flank. She will give us a threat order, target all fire on the next threat."

I move as instructed and reply, "Got it. Ready."

My heart is racing. I wonder what this daylight fight will be like and hope I don't let everyone down.

"Arcing now." Sounds like the Captain. "I have three on the ground, no, four. Threat sequence is..." there is a long pregnant pause, then, "Hussar, Commando, Mongoose, and Mercury. Combine attacks... NOW!"

Throttle up! My 2x accelerates, turns, and I'm sprinting out from behind cover.

…...

There they are! Dust and debris rises as they sprint mostly off the road through the pastures and fields. They seem to be really moving quickly, too.

The Night Hawk's twin large lasers reach out at a low running 'Mech with a huge laser on it's back just as that 'Mech opens fire on the Captain. A bare moment later, the BK returns the favor and something on what must be the Hussar flashes and begins to pump billows of smoke out to stream along behind it. Not in range yet, well, now I am and I track to hit it with the pulse. I can't see that I did any damage, but there is a lot of red on the status display.

An enemy 'Mech speeds past me, almost under my cockpit, startling me and I loose track of the Hussar.

BAMM! BAMM! I just got hit by something, the plate serving as my useless left arm is showering fragments across my vision and armor from my nose seems to be flying by also. The gyro's spin up a bit and I have to really resist the temptation to turn to follow the bogey.

At that moment, I hear a question in my memory and remember the Colonel's intense stare as he asked, "Can you follow orders?"

I stay on Nanako's flank and focus again just in time to see the Hussar pilot eject and the 'Mech collapse nose forward, flames and smoke billowing from something.

BAMM! BAMM!

This one is fast and I'm showing red on my right torso all of a sudden.

"That's the Commando." Nanako sounds so calm. "Thank it for your damage."

I turn towards where is was and see it making a tight turn back. My LPL slashes it but my missile salvo misses completely. Twin larges reach out from the 2q and track it surprisingly well for such a fast little target.

"Help me!" Sonya's terrified desperate cry suddenly pleads.

"Stick to your targets, I got her," Captain Urso states calmly.

"Lead the missiles on the Commando by twice the reticule as he comes back, then LPL when aligned," Commander Tetsuhara coaches me.

It surprises me that doing what she has said means the little pain runs directly into the salvo of six, raised arms suddenly sagging as the blasts stagger it, leaving a lot of blackened red torso for me to drop the LPL onto. The stuttering pulse of light dashes out into that chest before the 'Mech fully regains either it's balance or full speed. Something explodes within, bright electric arcs flashing out through a suddenly dense oily blackness. It's arm comes up too late and it's missiles remain in their tubes as another pilot leaves a falling 'Mech.

"Remember to dance while fighting," the Commander speaks again on our sub. "Straight lines and slowing down are bad."

She is right. We are turning back to where Sonya is running around the Black Knight trying to evade an equally tiny 'Mech in hot pursuit. Suddenly, her 'Mech jumps high into the air and the enemy slows trying to track her flight. The Black Knight has not been able to keep up with the speeding circles, but our 2q and 2x pairing has raced into range and we open fire. My pulse slashes mostly dirt, but I get some leg, too. Nanako also lays lasers across it's somewhat narrow back, burning wide glowing lines deep into the armor. Now the hunter knows he is the prey; as we recharge and close he pivots, trying to twist out from under our combined interest. He has but a moment of success, then darts straight into an alpha from the Black Knight. I almost pity the pilot, but whomever probably never felt a thing as so much power from many lasers and the ErPPC envelope the torso and cockpit. There is no eject from the slag pile with legs as it tumbles into the dirty brown muck of a well churned field.

"Evasive! Air inbound!" The Captain calls.

"Scatter!" is Nanako's order and I spin away from her just as I hear a tone and see the missile lock indicator flash. I spin to try to distribute the damage and dance as fast as I can towards cover. My right arm shudders as something blasts it and the whole 'Mech bucks against the force of the explosion. My equipment is gone there, no value left, but I'm still up and running for a stand of trees 200 meters ahead.

I hear explosions behind me but the trees are getting close and I dare not take my eyes off them to look back.

"Neutralized. Regroup."

I slow, turn back and then sprint to rejoin the other three. The spider has lost a lot of armor and looks horrible, the Night Hawk and Black Knight both have superficial damage, and I seem to have lost both arms and have paper thin armor on my nose and right torso. Still, we haven't lost anyone yet and they are down four 'Mechs and some number of aircraft.

"Listen up, team: we need to take an evasive approach to stall until we can figure out a way to shake the dropship's surveillance. Until then, we are in danger if the other lances catch up. Good work, by the way, everyone. Ok, Resume radio silence."

…..

We are running along to the right of the road still four together, though there is more of a gap between the Captain and Commander. I can't help but feel this is a useless gesture if we have someone tracking us from space, how will we ever get away?

As if to punctuate the thought, Naomi reports, "Sub-orbital sequence active again."

"Thank you."

"There is also an odd signal on the general planetary satellite channels."

"Odd how?"

"Uncommon."

I think for a moment, then wonder what it sounds like. "Can I hear it?"

"I show no record that human ears can receive satellite signals."

For a moment, I'm torn between wanting to punch the stupid thing and accepting her analysis. Then it occurs to as another question, "is there a broadcast component to the signal that might be in a language a human might understand?"

"Of course. It seems to be repeating a few short sentences."

"May I hear that?"

"Are you asking me to play the broadcast?"

I so want to hurt her. "Yes, please."

"From the beginning of the loop or at it's present position?"

My temper fails and I all but scream, "PLAY THE DAMNED THING!"

Intruding on our conversation before Naomi can start, our comms go hot and Fatima states, "Whatever you did is working, all four lances are turning back towards Terrino."

Naomi begins the broadcast:

"All Combat Units! This is Planetary Command to All Combat Units including any and all Mercenaries! We have four unidentified military dropships landing at the capitol spaceport! We detect a large contingent of naval vessels in and entering orbit! We have also lost HPG communications outside of the system! All contracts and criminal warrants are hereby rescinded for combat units responding for our defense, compensation will be twice normal emergency defense rates!. This is NOT a drill!"

I break radio silence as we continue running north, "did anyone else get that broadcast?"

"I don't think she broadcast it, it was on our sequence."

"No, the one about an attack on the capitol?"

"What?!"

"General planetary satellite channels or something like that. I can play it back if you rather."

The comms stay silent and I wonder if I should have spoken up.

"We head directly for the rendezvous. Scout, head directly for rendezvous as well." It is the quietest I have yet heard the Captain speak, I almost miss her words in the noise of my running 'Mech.

We pivot and there is no longer any obvious attempt to evade detection. What could possibly make us take such a risk?

…...

"I have an unencrypted broadcast from almost overhead," Naomi announces as we pound along.

"Please play it."

"Mayday! Mayday! This is dropship Mustang II! We have been attacked by unrecognized naval units and are going down! Expected Impact near 57degrees 14minutes North by 115degrees 17minutes West. Crew attempting to bail out! Any and all assistance requested! Hell, we're even asking for help from you Dragoon Bastards running away down there."

As we thunder along, there is a click on our comms, one has gone hot, but I sure can't hear what they are saying. Well, unless they are not talking.

Nanako finally speaks, I would guess she is the one who keyed the sequence open. "I have a distress call from a dropship. I would guess it is the one that launched those four 'Mechs at us."

"Yes, I know," Captain Urso replies. "We can do nothing for them right now without endangering ourselves and our own survivors."

"What is going on, Captain?" I ask quietly.

"I have no time to explain. We need to get to rendezvous ASAP. If we are seen, we will be in very great danger. Maybe we can risk coming back to help them later, but not right now."

…..

In the relative silence as we speed along, I ask Naomi, "Are there any changes to the communications on the general frequencies?"

"Yes, there are."

"May I hear them?"

"Yes, of course."

A cacophony of sounds and voices assaults my ears like a thunderclap, and I realize she is playing all of them at once. "ONE AT A TIME!" I yell at her.

"As you wish."

"... of Winfield's Regiment. With planetary militia, we are holding the invaders on their LZ at the capitol's spaceport. We require all operable combat units to respond to assist. Mercenaries will be compensated appropriate to service. This is Lt. Commander Janis Haalrich, communications officer of Winfield's Regiment, With..."

"Next, please."

Not only the next, but the following three sound like they are small militia units issuing orders and providing information while in combat. The second one seems to have what can only be a novice spotter struggling to find words to describe his targets: "I've never seen these 'Mechs before, and their firepower seems twice what our units have. And I thought there were squads of tiny 'Mechs running about, but instead they appear to be some kind of individual armor with jump jets and fairly strong weapons, too."

I move on from that one after a while of trying to make sense of it.

Then comes, "... further notice. This is Winfield Civil Defense. The planet is under attack from a strong force of unidentified invaders. Proceed to you assigned shelters, especially those outside of urban areas if possible. Warning, this does not appear to be a pirate raid, the aggressors are well armed and have extreme firepower. Take emergency supplies and expect to remain in shelter until further notice. This is..."

"Next, please."

"...Units! This is Planetary Command to All Combat Units including any..."

"Sounds like the first one you played for me a while ago."

"It is the same broadcast."

"Ok, then next please."

"The rest are sequenced."

"Thanks, that is enough."

…..

It's an incredible relief to see the massive structures, some like aircraft hangers seem made of steel and sheet metal, others resemble artificial mountains of stone and concrete, most with some vegetation attempting to reclaim the spaces on top. Great causeways of pavement fight with swaths of grasses and smaller trees to dominate the spaces between the giant buildings.

It is at the doorway into the lowest and broadest of the giant buildings that I see the most welcome sight: our duce and a half with what looks like a couple of miniguns jury rigged into freshly fabbed mounts on her back. Around it are several of our small band, rather excitedly jumping up and down.

The comms go hot and Captain Urso orders, "That ramp looks like it can accommodate the three of you. Get under cover inside, I will park in the hangar across the way."

Unexpectedly, Master Wolte keys up to reply, "I measured the height, you should clear by a meter and a half, Captain. It only looks small because of the size of this structure."

"Aff."

"Captain?" Hanse sounds taken aback.

"It does not matter anymore, Master Wolte. We are ourselves now."

…..

Once inside, I can see that there is a powersource in use somewhere, but only a fraction of the available space is actually lit; the rest is visible only in night vision and even then the most distant reaches still seem shadowy.

Our vehicles are all parked fairly close to the ramp, with some supplies and containers out and scattered about.

We each demech and are greeted with mostly cheers. Sonya falls on her knees and kisses the concrete. Captain Urso seems singularly focused, she walks past all of us directly to Master Wolte. He wears a concern that does not lessen with her approach.

With words spoken too quietly to hear, Captain Urso leans close to Master Wolte's ear and communicates some serious news.

I hear a gasp and look more closely.

Master Wolte is so pale and still that for a moment I think he must be having a heart attack. Whatever Captain Urso just whispered to him, it must be so much worse than horrible that I can not imagine what it could be.

Finally, he breaks his stillness and I just barely hear him reply with a question of his own, "Do we know which Clan?"

She shakes her head and he is again deathly still.