News from the prison break came first. Phase Three had been Kurt's part of the plan, and the captured MechWarrior and salvaged Crusader were the result. Phase Two, the prison break, was not so successful. The 3rd and 5th infantry platoons had made it into the prison, but only found a dozen or so militiamen. Either more troops were hidden elsewhere, or the rescued were the last survivors.

"The VTOL was on us before we even left the stockade," Captain Marcus recounted. "O'Reilly's men had a few missile launchers, but he wouldn't let them fire until he was sure the Crusader was following. Rebbie was only there in case something went wrong, damn it. What if the pilot got a message off?"

Kurt estimated the mech duel to have lasted under a minute. He did not want to think what could happen if the Coral Vipers decided to initiate a manhunt for the Marauder. While the plan had anticipated the Crusader, O'Reilly's actions were still reckless. His main concern was what might have happened if the Crusader fired its LRMs. "Eli can pull that information from the mech computer. Was there any sign of the other mechs?"

Marcus shook his head. "None. We didn't even see the Crusader until it flanked us. Luckily, we were too fast for the MechWarrior to keep up."

That was bad news, so far as Kurt was concerned. It left him with questions that could only be answered with an interrogation, something he wanted to avoid at all costs. No one but a MechWarrior knew what questions to ask. Kurt would have to take part in the interrogation personally. The very thought made him shudder. "We will have to figure that out later. I want you to send out a couple of scouts to pick up Wadsworth and that jeep. If the mercs caught up with her, I want to know."

Marcus gave a crisp salute. He knew there were several reasons for Kurt's worry, the least of which was Dana Wadsworth's technical expertise.

When the infantry captain left, Kurt found Captain O'Reilly and questioned him on the evening's events. His version was similar to Captain Marcus', except for one important detail. "The VTOL kept its distance, probably because it thought we didn't have any weapons that could hit it. When the Crusader came towards our flank, the VTOL pilot got sloppy and wandered too close. The first missile knocked it out."

"With perfect timing," Kurt added. "I was about to open fire when I saw your rockets." Kurt remembered his own impatience and agitation before the trucks and Crusader arrived. Was O'Reilly's decision to hold fire the work of a wise unit commander, or was he simply good at excuses? Kurt was conflicted about which infantry captain to believe. Marcus' exasperation reminded Kurt too much of how he felt before his part in the battle began, so he decided not to reprimand Captain O'Reilly. "Your men did a fine job today, Captain."

There was a commotion on the other side of the camp. The Coral Vipers prisoner was struggling against his guards, a couple of O'Reilly's men. It looked like he was about to get away when two more soldiers with assault rifles pointed their weapons at him. The MechWarrior glared before his shoulders sagged in defeat. "To think you were once on our side," one of the infantrymen mocked. "You're trash, Melton."

Kurt was taken aback by the reminder of the enemy's identity. They were not faceless mercenaries or soldiers, but the planet's former protectors. And this MechWarrior, a man named Melton, had slaughtered dozens at the starport a few weeks earlier.

The same soldier who spoke moved to strike Melton with the butt of his rifle, but Captain O'Reilly cut off the attack with a barked command. When he was sure they would not beat the prisoner, he gave out orders. "At ease, men. He won't try to escape. Isn't that right, MechWarrior Melton?"

Melton looked at O'Reilly as if he were a dead bug stuck to the bottom of his boot. "How dare you presume anything about my behavior, surat? You fight with but a toy gun; you are inferior." The authoritative tone and the expression on Melton's face made a few of the soldiers whither. For a moment, they looked unsure of themselves, even with guns in the MechWarrior's direction. He had a confidence they could not fathom.

Kurt was able to hide his reaction. He had no doubt as to the better MechWarrior, and Melton knew as well. The captured MechWarrior wore a smug grin when Kurt approached. "You piloted the Marauder," said Melton. "You have the look of a MechWarrior."

"That's right." He looked into Melton's eyes and was surprised by what he saw. Confidence and respect for a fellow MechWarrior, with an underscore of hatred. Kurt assumed that the hatred was for the battle's outcome. In the meantime, there was something he wanted to know. Namely, how he had won. "Why didn't you use your LRMs against me?"

Melton laughed once, an almost forced sound that was more condescension than amusement. A few of the infantrymen clearly wanted to shoot Melton for the insult.

Before Kurt could ask anymore questions, Eli called him aside. "What is it?"

Eli was re-checking information from his notebook. He spoke distractedly. "I took a look at the ammunition stores on the Crusader to see what we could use. The list is one hundred-thirty machinegun rounds and twenty-three SRMs."

Kurt started. "That can't be right. How much ammo would a Crusader usually carry?"

Eli pointed to a spot on the notebook. "Two hundred machinegun rounds, ninety SRMs, and two hundred-forty LRMs. It's possible our raids mean the mercs are short on weapons, but the Coral Vipers are part of Wolf's Dragoons. They have a better supply chain than some Davion regiments."

"That doesn't sound good." If the ammunition had been destroyed in the fight, then the ensuing chain-reaction would have all but destroyed the Crusader. Either the mech did not have the ammo to begin with, or the MechWarrior had used it elsewhere. After the incident at the starport, Kurt was very afraid.

"Captain O'Reilly!" The militia officer came towards the AFFS Leftenant. "I'm putting you in charge of the prisoner. Make sure he's well-treated. I plan on returning him to Wolf's Dragoons when this is all over, and I don't want to have the most feared mercenaries in the Inner Sphere as my enemy."

O'Reilly held up a hand. "Say no more, sir. We're of similar minds. He will be safe if you want to ask him anymore questions."

Kurt was not sure O'Reilly really did understand, but his orders were going to be followed. They always were. Eli's information meant that an interrogation could be avoided, at least for the time being. If the Crusader released its weapons on Capital City, they would hear about it all too soon.