STEEL WOLF
Chapter 2: Deadlock
Family Mansion, Vargas Estate, Korla,
Lyran Alliance,
June 16, 3075
Nikolai Kerensky hardly got a chance to see the inside of Alfonso Vargas' luxurious mansion before he was whisked to the command wing of the sprawling building. He did, however, get a view of the gardens, fountains, and sports car garages before being escorted into the mansion. Without a doubt, the wealthy Vargas family loved to show off its wealth on useless things like fountains that cost millions of C-Bills and wasting water on gardens of exotic flowers, but Nikolai knew that it wasn't his place to question such things. If anything, having a wealthy employer was the best position for him to be in.
The offices and rooms of the command wing were certainly less luxurious: computer banks, officers busy with paperwork at their desks, tactical maps, and code breaking teams were the main features here, and Nikolai felt much more at home in this place. By the mid-afternoon, he and several other men and women stood around a large holographic-display table in the main strategy room and listened to Alfonso Vargas speak.
"Nikolai Kerensky, Harry Saxon, Morgan Wynne, this is the general area you will be fighting in," stated Alfonso to the leaders of three mercenary gangs. Nikolai of the Arctic Wolves, Harry of the Screaming Skulls, and Morgan of Morgan's Marauders all focused on the table's map. The Vargas Estate, a roughly circular piece of territory almost 300 kilometers across, took up the map's center with a green outline. The sandy, rocky terrain of Korla stretched out all across the map, highlighting tactical areas such as valleys and mesas. Then the map zoomed out, shrinking the Vargas Estate to show the neighboring areas. A nearby nation-state, roughly half the Vargas Estate's size, appeared with a red outline.
Alfonso pointed at the red nation. "Everyone, this is the Alvarez County, a hotspot for aggression. As you know, in 3074 my Estate conquered the County from the Alvarez family to gain its technological wonders, but the Alvarez family and a lot of their troops and support staff escaped me and took refuge in other nearby nations."
"Any luck rooting them out?" asked Morgan hopefully, a tall young woman with lightly tanned skin and bright, lively eyes. Her long red hair fell halfway down her back. She wore camouflage pants and a white tank top, revealing her muscular but still feminine body.
"Yes and no," Alfonso huffed. "This other nation, bordered in yellow, is the Laurent Commonwealth, owned by the Laurent family. That nation had strong ties to the Alvarez family and harbors them with full hospitality." Anger infused his rich voice. "And the Laurent family is even supporting the Alvarez County's army with its military bases and supplies! The Laurent family is no doubt trying to help the Alvarez family re-conquer the County from me. This makes the Laurent family, and all their armed forces, enemies of us all."
Harry folded his arms and commented, "So you know where the fugitive Alvarez rats are hiding. Why dontcha just launch a frontal assault on the Laurent Commonwealth and end it? Your army was two regiments in size when I fought with you in 3074. Isn't that still that big?"
"Yes. The Vargas Guards regiment and the Vargas Pikers regiment are still at full size and prepared for combat," Alfonso told him impatiently, "but I lack the speed necessary to make a successful move on the Alvarez family."
"Still mostly using heavies and assault 'mechs?" Nikolai grinned.
"I've started to introduce more speed-oriented 'mechs to my army, Kerensky," Alfonso retorted, "but it's still not enough. The Alvzarez army, despite being just one regiment in size, has more speed and maneuverability than my forces, not to mention superior intelligence support. Don't forget that some of the other nations want to take down my Estate because of my conquests! This is what would happen if I directly assaulted the Laurent Commonwealth."
Everyone watched as clusters of green dots, representing the Vargas forces, all pushed slowly toward the Laurent Commonwealth. As the green dots moved, a smaller number of red dots, the Alvarez forces, exited the Laurent Commonwealth and slipped right past the Vargas forces and headed toward the heart of the Vargas Estate. Then, forces from other nearby nations poured into the exposed Vargas Estate, all attacking the Estate's military bases, cities, and supply lines. By the time the Vargas forces took the Laurent Commonwealth's capital, the Estate itself was ruined.
Nikolai let out a low whistle. "Like a pack of wolves pouncing on a moose."
"You'd know about wolves, wouldn't you?" sneered Harry.
"Let us not make silly comments," Alfonso said impatiently, motioning with his hands. He looked around at everyone with his calculating eyes. "I am in a delicate position. The Alvarez family and I stand at a deadlock, because their speed and allies make my frontal assault tactic impossible to use. However, my enemies lack the brute force to conquer my Estate, as long as I have both my army and my Long Toms and Arrow IV emplacements in my territory. The speed advantage of the Alvarez forces would do much less good on the offensive against me. Those artillery emplacements of mine won't keep me safe if my army is assaulting the Laurent Commonwealth, so I need my army here at home for now."
"What do you suggest?" Nikolai asked.
Alfonso pointed at the map again, where Vargas cities and military bases were shown as green squares. "The Alvarez forces rely on guerrilla tactics and ambushes to oppose me. My army has a large area to cover, spreading my forces thin to protect all of my territory. If I bunch up my forces, the Alvarez forces can easily slip through the openings and take out key bases. That's what I need you mercenaries for right now: to fill in the gaps and give me the advantage once again."
"Will three extra companies do the trick for that?" Nikolai asked. "Or do you plan to use us for specialized missions to weaken the Alvarez forces?"
Alfonso smiled. "You're thinking ahead, Nikolai. That is indeed what my plan is. I will you use you mercs to keep my borders safe until I can recruit more mercenaries and rally the other nations loyal to me. Then, I will have the numbers needed to take out the Alvarez family, and defend my lands. The Alvarez forces are the heroes of the nations who oppose me, as well as the smartest enemies I have. Taking them out and plundering their technology will move me one step closer to uniting this world under the Vargas banner! Peace can ensue and Korla will thank me for it."
Morgan shot Nikolai an amused look that he returned. Is this guy a wacko or what? Morgan mouthed behind Alfonso's back, to which Nikolai nodded with a suppressed grin. Still, a contract was a contract, and Alfonso's ultimate ambitions and dreams did not matter as long as Nikolai was paid well enough for his Arctic Wolves to fight. And it was good that Alfonso had a realistic plan for his mercenary helpers. Nikolai would never give up his Wolves as mere cannon fodder in a futile assault.
Nikolai changed gears. "What work will my techs do?" he asked. "I've got some fine mechanics with me including Lyla Lister and Cassandra Goyua."
"Korla is a world of machinery and ambition," Alfonso grinned. "Your techs will have plenty to do, especially when I plunder the Alvarez family's advanced equipment! I'll need mundane work like armor repairs and weapon refits, as well as any development projects my own mechanic crews can come up with. The Alvarez family has clever tactics and strange machinery: I can't let them keep that advantage for long."
I knew it. Lyla's going to have a field day here! Nikolai thought with content as Alfonso continued with the finer points of the feudal war. I just hope she brought enough sunscreen.
*o*o*o*o*
Mech Bay 01, Vargas Estate, Korla,
Lyran Alliance,
June 18, 3075
"This is the part I was waiting for!" beamed Cassandra Goyua as Carlos Vargas led her into the spacious 'mech bay situated near the Vargas family mansion grounds. Dozens of Battlemechs, from tiny light machines like the Wasp to heavy hitters like the Thunderbolt stood proudly along both walls, all painted in desert camouflage with red stripes on their wrists and ankles. The huge doors at the far end of the bay were wide open, revealing the Battlemech gladiator arena that the bay was connected to.
"All of my father's gladiator 'mechs, right here," Carlos grinned, holding Cassandra's hand as he led her further into the hangar with Lyla and Alphonse tagging along. "They've all been repaired, resupplied, and repainted just in time."
"In time for what?" Alphonse asked.
Carlos looked over his shoulder at Al. "Why, for the upcoming combat season! It's only a week away and I couldn't be more ready to fight. Last season, I didn't do so well, though..."
Cassandra gave Carlos a light punch on the shoulder. "Don't let that get you down, Carlos!"
"And it won't," Carlos assured her with a quick kiss. "Last season I had the misfortune to fight against Philip Deadeye, one of the best fighters. He took me out of the running just like that! But he retired when he won last season, so that boosts my chances this time!"
Cassandra laughed. "You get 'em, Carlos. So, this is your ride..." She stood before a Shadow Hawk that loomed over her, its guns silently pointing at the opposite wall. The 'mech's hands were clenched in fists at its sides, with one medium laser barrel mounted on each wrist. An LRM launcher was nestled on the 'mech's right shoulder, fifteen missile ports promising to deliver a deadly payload in combat. Finally, a bulky Ultra Autocannon 5 rested on the 'mech's left shoulder.
"It's a Shadow Hawk-7CS," Lyla commented with interest, putting her hands on her hips and craning her neck to look up at the 'mech's head. "Uses an Extra-Light engine, doesn't it?"
"Frees up room for a lot of ammo, yeah," Carlos added with enthusiasm, letting go of Cassandra's hand. "I can make that ammo last and I hardly even need the lasers!"
Alphonse, determined not to look like a novice, worked his brain quickly. He noticed the warm, dry air pouring in from the open bay doors. "You use mostly ammo weapons because of the hot climate here, don't you?"
"Naturally. Most 'mechs here, military and gladiator, rely primarily on ballistic and missile weapons," Carlos told him. "Energy weapons simply heat up 'mechs too much around here, and besides, missiles are more satisfying to use. I just love watching my foes getting blasted to shards and knocked onto their rear ends."
"I'm glad you're on our side, then," Al grinned.
Carlos gave him a calculating look. "Are you a 'mech pilot too?"
"Who, me? No, just a mechanic," Al shrugged.
"A raw rookie, too," Lyla added slyly. "He's being trained by Cassandra. Didn't even know the difference between a screwdriver and a hammer six months ago!"
"That's not true," Al bit back.
"It might as well be..." she teased him.
Cassandra hid a giggle behind her hand. "They're always like this, Carlos, but we all get along fine. Al's a nice guy. He's willing to learn."
"You don't have to patronize me..." Alphonse mumbled. It's weird being the runt of the litter here. Back on my university's football team, I was the big guy! Why does this Carlos guy get all the attention? I really like Cassandra but can't find a way to impress her.
"Anyway," Carlos said briskly, "I've been training in my simulator, I was thinking of doing some live-fire exercises to show off what I can do." A smile spread across his face. "Anyone want to watch me?"
Everyone agreed, and thus Carlos wandered over to his locker on the wall, gathered up his cooling vest and boots, and went into a small side chamber to change.
"Wait a minute," Alphonse frowned, giving all the 'mechs another look.
"Huh?" Cassandra perked up.
Alphonse motioned. "Alfonso Vargas is waging war with the Alvarez family and other nations..."
"So?" Lyla insisted.
"So, why isn't he using these 'mechs to fight too?" Al wondered. "All this firepower being used in the arena... you'd think Alfonso would want more guns on the battlefield to defend his realm."
"That would be true, Mr. Delarosa, if these 'mechs were owned by my father," came Carlos' voice as he returned to everyone clad in his vest, boots, and shorts. He ran a hand through his well-kept brown hair. "But all these 'mechs are privately owned by their pilots, including mine. My uncle used to pilot that Shadow Hawk in the arena, and now it's been passed to me. It's my pride and joy!"
"Then let's see it in action," Cassandra encouraged him.
After giving Cassandra a warm look, Carlos ascended the ladder into his 'mech, climbed into the cockpit, and shut the canopy glass. A minute later the 55-ton 'mech rumbled to life, unclenching its fists and raising its laser barrels to a combat posture. The 'mech's left foot lifted off the bay floor, planting itself forward with a heavy thump. Gaining speed, the Shadow Hawk took another step, then broke out into a casual trot toward the waiting arena. Hopping onto a small transport vehicle, Alphonse, Lyla, and Cassandra drove to the bay's opposite side and watched Carlos' Shadow Hawk march into the center of the arena.
Wind-blown sand rippled across the desert floor of the arena, over the small dunes and valleys that varied the terrain. Rather than being the stadium-like combat arenas on worlds like Solaris VII, this arena was merely a large square patch of desert bordered by ten-foot high walls to mark the boundaries. Four multi-story towers stood on the sides, housing seats for spectators. Alphonse had to guess that put together, the towers could support at least a thousands spectators, and camera stations on top of the towers could broadcast the arena games to all citizens of the Vargas Estate.
As the Shadow Hawk reached the arena's center, a number of large metal sheets popped out of the ground, with various 'mechs painted on them. Running quickly side to side, the Shadow Hawk locked its guns on the false 'mechs and opened fire. Fifteen warheads streaked out of the shoulder-mounted missile pod, leaving a cluster of gray smoke trails. Alphonse had to shield his eyes from the sudden light as explosions engulfed a target.
Both Lyla and Cassandra cheered excitedly as Carlos' 'mech trotted away from the ruined target, this time firing its UAC 5. The deadly shells rattled a second target, punching holes right through it. Then, two beams of red light lit up from the Shadow Hawk's wrists, melting the hole-ridden target into steaming slag. The rest of the targets fell within minutes as Carlos expertly combined quick movements with sharp aiming, Both Cassandra and Lyla were quite excited when everyone met up again in the hangar.
"You move better than I expected," Lyla commented brightly as Carlos descended the ladder of his 'mech.
"That comes from practice and dedication," Carlos winked with a toothy smile, and Alphonse fought hard not to roll his eyes.
"Keep this up, and you'll get that championship, Carlos," Cassandra told him fondly, giving him a quick hug. "I'll be watching!"
"Me too," Lyla added.
Carlos turned to Al. "Are you a 'mech gladiator fan, Al? Going to watch the season's games?"
Alphonse shrugged. "Sure. I'll watch you fight." I hope you get your ass kicked!