Carrier E, move to assist Three and put that Panther’s PPC to good use against that short-
ranged Hunchback, over.” Drake paused for a moment to collect and center his remaining
energy into orders to his men. He knew the Panther BattleMech’s long range particle projection
cannon would be the best answer for Treadmark Three’s request for cover fire.
“Treadmark Four and anyone with weapons in coordinates W or Y form up on me. The rest
of you rendezvous with Threadmark Three at coordinate J8. You are to move united into the
gorge at coordinate N19 and continue retreat from the Western Passage.” He sighed heavily,
feeling a moment of strength as a nervousness crept over him.
Collecting his thoughts again, he spoke. “God willing, we’ll meet you at the LZ on the other
side of the Passage. Kraywen you’ve got temporary or permanent command of the team,
depending on whether or not I see you in the morning. Set up long range scanners at the
dropsite and expect a coded transmission from our unit if we arrive. If you don’t get a
transmission, assume it is Llana’s boys and move off continent. If things really end up that
desperate, don’t forget about the favor that Trace Schroeder owes to us Kurakoa. He’s a good
man and will honor his word.” Drake paused again, looking around him to watch the
surrounding conifers dancing in the gathering wind. The storm is almost here. Almost here,
already.
“You sure about all this Carrier A, over?” Drake had expected a reply from Kraywen, given
the man had just been reassigned as temporary commander. He could only hope Kraywen
would prove a better tactician than himself.
“Clam up Kraywen and get to Williams’ position. You’ll need all the bloody Mechwarriors
you can get if you’re gonna stand a chance against the Breakers, over.” Drake could feel the
tension over the empty static. For a moment, the line seemed as cold and empty as the
impending sense of doom that now gripped his body in an intense shiver. He feared the shiver
might be the last significant muscle movement his body could produce. With a sluggish reaction
to the shiver, he slid his right leg forward to retain his balance. Suddenly he felt a fear he’d never
sensed before. He knew that if he fell, he might never get up again. The cold earth had never
seemed so threatening before.
“Very well, boss. See you at the LZ, out.” Kraywen wasn’t going to argue, knowing that the
gorge he’d been ordered into would provide his convoy with significant protection from the night’
s storm. The narrow path would also prove easier to defend if the Breakers mercenaries
decided to attempt pursuit.
Switching to message on all frequencies and flipping over a switch to transmit his message from
a larger `Mech-mounted transmitter, Drake made his first move to control the enemy’s attack
plans. “All Breaker units. Your Firestarter is dead. He has been destroyed by his own brash,
idiotic actions. I am the commander of the Kurakoa pirates. My name is Drake Cully. Any
who wish me dead can find me unarmed near my champion and bodyguard, the Guillotine
‘Mech. I ask only that you pursue me, a foe you have some hope of capturing, and leave my
men to their hasty retreat from the Passage. You have no hope of pursuing them through tonight’
s blizzard, so you might as well come for the prize you’re really seeking. I await you.”
Drake forgot his own fear as he prepared to order more of his men to their death. Fate had
been cruel today. Pirates or warriors, his men were his family and none deserved to die like
this. The small group’s sacrifice would be the single hope the other pirates had for a successful
escape.
“Treadmark Four, move up onto the southern ridge and be prepared for extreme range
shooting. Don’t run too hot just yet. We’ll have plenty of overheating to do when they close to
shorter ranges.” Drake’s breathing began to slow. “Carrier B and Treadmarks Ten and Seven,
scatter yourselves in the trees and power down. Be ready for a cold fusion startup and then I
want to..want to... see a constant stream of missiles coming out of those... short range
launchers.” Concentrating as hard as he could, Drake dropped to the ground as he lost his
balance. He struggled to move his face out of the snow so he could speak clearly into the mic
once more. It seemed the more he spoke, the weaker his physical body felt. As his mind began
to wander, he used Martin’s voice as a focal point for his determination. The man’s voice faded
back into his mind, though it was difficult to make out at first. Just a little bit more...
“Four to A. Get yourself into that Harasser. You won’t do anyone any good from where you
are now.” Drake cracked a tiny smile at Martin’s words. He loved hearing advice from anyone
courageous enough to second-guess their commander. Martin, who had once almost killed
Drake in an attempt to try and gain command of the Kurakoa, was actually seeking to protect
him.
“Negative, Fou...rrr... Hold your pos...position until you have secured ...a...a...safe retreat, if
it’s eee... even possible at that point.” He struggled to get out the last of his crucial plan as his
words began to slur together. “You are to evacuate...through the canyon at coordinate Y...23. I
want a clear destruction of any possible scouts, with you covering the rear, Four. The canyon
opens into a wider gorge that leads back to the LZ. Got it, o...over?” Drake knew the man had
heard the message, or Martin would have physically twisted the Guillotine ‘Mech’s torso to
personally check that his commander was still alive and standing.
“I hear you A. Drake, my friend, you are as stubborn as the day I met you. We’ll do what we
can to put these mercs in their graves. Treadmark Four out.” Martin smiled. Realizing he had
little time to do all that he needed, he gave his first orders. “Treadmark Four to Carrier B and
Treadmarks Seven and Ten. Be on your guard. I want a cold startup on my mark. I’ve got an
enemy Mongoose closing fast, over.” Martin shifted his `Mech closer to the top of the ridge.
He could feel the wind picking up, gently rocking his Guillotine in the breeze. He watched his
enemy come into extreme range over one of the farthest ridges and fired his large laser at the
quick-moving target.
Down in the clearing near the outcropping of conifers, a sudden gust knocked pebbles of
reddish rock across Drake Cully’s still form. As the first small snowflakes of the nightly storm
settled to the rocky ground of the Western Passage, they melted in a soft twinkle on Drake’s
open eyes. He had managed another tiny smile, his eyes filled with the only fire left in his frozen
body.
