Wolf's Free£ancers

Web novel by LtCol[W£]GrinnerWolf

Templar

MechWarrior Chronicles

Winds of Change
A proud Khan. A rebellious warrior. Together, they must strive against all odds to ensure the survival of their clan.
A Web novel by A Garang Wolf, copyrighted by AFAR (©AFAR 2003) (ahfaiz@nstp.com.my). Other copyrighted materials belong to their respective owners.

Synopsis:
Due to unrelenting pressure from rival clans, the Ðreaded Legion faces total annihilation. In order to survive, it must adapt to new ways and leave clan space before it is too late. However, the Ðreaded Legion can never trust Inner Sphere surats completely. Thus it must prepare for the day when it needs to draw on its reserve fighting force no one suspects exists - the Wolf's Free£ancers mercenary unit.

Chapter 1: Rebel with a cause

Chapter 2: The long journey begins

Chapter 3: A question of faith

"Greetings, my Khan," said Darkstalker as Voltage entered the inner chamber of the Dreaded Legion intelligence headquarters. "Reports are coming in from Chorales Prime, confirming that the Clan Black Mamba strike force has jumped in at the nadir point of the Dewitt star system."

"And what is their status?" asked Voltage.

"Legion fighter-interceptors were dispatched as soon as jump signatures were detected. They came within short range sensor contact two hours ago and confirmed the presence of one nebula class destroyer and one Kerensky class dropship carrier with five Orion class dropships attached to its spine," replied Darkstalker. "Sensors also indicate the presence of two squadrons of space-superiority fighters flying in diamond formation and placing themselves between the Black Mamba capital ships and our fighter-interceptors."

"Has a batchall been issued?" asked Voltage.

"Neg," replied Darkstalker. "Sensors also indicate that the destroyer and dropship carrier have not unfurled their sails, and they appear to be moving off to the Dewitt system's pirate point."

"They are double jumping," remarked Voltage.

"That is what it appears," replied Darkstalker.

"My Khan," interrupted Chief Tech Alexander. "Star Admiral Hershey is online."

Voltage turned to face Hershey's disembodied head on the holographic display and acknowledged her simply by nodding and stating, "Star Admiral."

After a four-second delay, Hershey replied, "Greetings, my Khan. It is good to see you again."

"Aff," replied Voltage. "It is good to see you too, old friend. This is what we have been preparing for."

Another four seconds delay and Hershey responded, "Aff. I will issue the batchall."

"Star Admiral, I...," said Voltage, stopping in mid-sentence.

Four seconds later, Hershey smiled a reassuring smile and said, "It is a good day to die, my Khan."

"Good hunting, Star Admiral," said Voltage.

Another four seconds passed and, "Good hunting, my Khan," said Hershey.

Then, the display went blank.

Simultaneous HPG satellite links expanded a lot of resources and, so, were used sparingly. And while there was no real tactical benefit in Voltage communicating face to face with Hershey, it was one of the things Voltage felt that he needed to do in honour of Hershey's extraordinarily long service with the Legion.

Being of the same generation as Khan Zo Olla, Hershey had passed well beyond what constituted solahma age for space warriors, but her abilities as a warrior was unmatched. Her dying in a what was at best a delaying manoeuvre would be a terrible loss to the Legion.

Dreaded Legion Intelligence had warned of the high probability of Clan Black Mamba moving against the Legion after the latter had been weakened by the Ice Hellions' failed attempt at absorbing it. However, Legion intelligence also predicted that the Black Mamba would not seek to conquer the Legion, star system by star system. For, the Legion's forces in the outlying systems, though weakened, were still considerable.

Instead, the Black Mamba would build its forces along the border between Legion and Black Mamba space in order to tie down the Legion's outlying forces. Then, the Black Mamba would make a stab at the heart of the Legion with a relatively small strike force using a leapfrog manoeuvre which would bypass all but a few of the Legion's outlying systems.

Simulation after simulation had been on how that threat could be dealt with. Pulling Legion forces out of outlying systems to protect the Legion home world would only allow the Black Mamba to roll over whatever nominal forces that were left behind in the outlying systems. Hence the better choice would be to let the Black Mamba strike force through and wither it down using reserve space assets while the strike force was in transit.

Unfortunately, the trial of absorption against the space force-centric Ice Hellions had dwindled the Legion's space force reserves utterly. And this meant that the chances of the Legion doing anything more than just delay the Black Mamba strike force was next to nothing.

Nonetheless, success, no matter how small, would help to improve the Legion's ability to defend its home world, which was why Voltage was sending the Legion's finest space warrior to her death.

Legion listening posts had been monitoring the movements of the Black Mamba strike force and, from the data they collected, Legion Intelligence managed to predict with reasonable accuracy the points in space where the invasion force would turn up, Dewitt system being one of them.

Fortuitously, the Dewit system was also ideal as a rendezvous point for the Legion's space force reserves.

"There is nothing more for us to do but wait," said Darkstalker.

"Aff," replied Voltage. "And we must hold fast to our faith in Star Admiral Hershey."

"Aff," responded Darkstalker. "That should be easy enough. We do have the best space warrior in all of clan space."

Almost as soon as Darkstalker finished speaking, he wished he had not said anything to remind Voltage about how valuable the Star Admiral was to the Dreaded Legion. For, Voltage's expression darkened considerably at the thought of losing her.

Turning swiftly to face Chief Tech Alexander, Voltage ordered, "Patch me through to Star Captain Argamemnon."

"At once, my Khan," the Chief Tech responded.

Half a minute later, Voltage's wrist computer beeped. Switching on the display, Argamemnon's face appeared.

"Greetings, my Khan," said Argamemnon.

"You and I have to talk," said Voltage. "My chambers, in five," ordered Voltage, after which he cut off the communications link.

"My Khan," said Darkstalker. "I advise caution."

"I know what I am doing, Star Colonel," replied Voltage. "It is better that we have it out now, than later in the battlefield. We cannot afford too many... distractions."

Five minutes later, at Voltage's chambers, Argamemnon knocked at the door.

"Come!" shouted Voltage.

Argamemnon stepped in, closed the door behind him and stood at attention. Voltage was looking out the window at the activities on the parade grounds and at Argamemnon's faint reflection in the blast-resistant window screen.

"At ease, Star Captain," said Voltage, upon which Argamemnon stood easy.

"Do you know how much time I spend looking out this window and at the parade grounds?" asked Voltage.

Argamemnon looked down, knowing full well that the Khan had been observing the morning's proceedings. In hindsight, Argamemnon realised that he may have erred in striking Wolf the way he did.

"I do not really look at what goes on out there. I stare right through the cadets, the passing hover cars and sentries," continued Voltage. "Occasionally, something really catches my attention. Then, I have to decide whether or not I should get involved or leave it to my subordinates to straighten things out. As Khan, I do not have the luxury of looking at the smallest of details. I have to look at things from the broader perspective. But then, if I let small details slip by me, I cannot make good decisions that concern the overall well-being of our clan. How is it that small details slip by me? It is when people whom I rely upon to take care of those details fail me."

Finally turning to face Argamemnon, Voltage continued, "You disappoint me, Star Captain. I look to you the same way I had looked to Star Colonel Drago to help keep our clan traditions alive and thriving. Your arrogant display, this morning, did nothing but tarnish our traditions. What were you thinking?"

Argamemnon did not reply immediately, as he needed to word his response carefully. When he spoke, he sounded sure, but his words were less than convincing even to his own ears.

He said, "With all due respect, my Khan, there is nothing in the traditions that outlawed my conduct this morning."

"Indeed," replied Voltage, "Nonetheless, your conduct was a clear innovation of an age old handing-over tradition. What gives you the right to do this?"

Again, Argamemnon did not answer immediately, but he knew he had to come out with an answer quickly in order not to appear inept in front of his Khan. So, he blurted out his reply without fully composing his thoughts.

"I felt that I needed to demonstrate to the cadets the importance of keeping abreast with clan traditions," which did not sound very convincing.

"I see," replied Voltage. "In your fervour to champion clan traditions, you violated one of its most fundamental principles. 'Do not let your hatred toward others lead you to treat them unjustly. Be just, for that is a cornerstone of all clan traditions'," said Voltage, reminding Argamemnon of the oft-quoted verse in Nicholas Kerensky's Canons of Clan Traditions.

Not convinced that he was entirely in the wrong, Argamemnon went on the offensive.

"Permission to speak freely, my Khan," said Argamemnon.

"Permission granted," replied Voltage.

"Why do you favour him so?" asked Argamemnon in reference to Wolf. "He is the epitome of what goes against clan traditions."

Voltage sighed and then answered, "MechWarrior Wolf had been an exceptional warrior and traditions do make exceptions, quiaff?"

Argamemnon did not reply, but the expression on his face was one that said he was not convinced by Voltage's rationale.

"I am not trueborn, but you have accepted me as your Khan," said Voltage further and in reference to the fact that he had not been spawned in a steel vat but conceived, instead, in the womb of his mother, a medical technician of the Scientist caste whom Khan Odin Dread favoured and bedded in a moment of weakness when he was but a cadet.

"In fact, it is not even an issue these days. Nevertheless, it had been one of the greatest controversies of Clan Dreaded Legion. Recall that I had to fight tooth and nail to be accepted as a MechWarrior and then for the 'Voltage' bloodname trials."

After a short pause, Voltage continued by saying, "Then there is Star Admiral Hershey. She is well passed the age of a solahma warrior. Yet, she is still in her prime. In fact, her space forces are among the few things that stand in the way of our complete annihilation by other clans."

"Again, with all due respect," interjected Argamemnon. "You cannot compare MechWarrior Wolf to either yourself or the good Star Admiral. Surely, he is beneath you both, quinaff?"

"Had it not been for MechWarrior Wolf, I would not have become your Khan," answered Voltage, flatly.

"Forgive me, my Khan, but the Warriors of our clan are well aware of how MechWarrior Wolf had intervened in your battle against saKhan Carlen of Hells Horses and her keshik, and most of us are of the opinion that the importance of his intervention is, well, overrated," said Argamemnon. "As damaged as your Mech had been, it was highly probable that you would have been victorious in any case. You had two other assault Mechs left in your lance to help even the odds or even tip them in your favour."

With a sardonic smile, Voltage countered, "And how have you and those who share your opinion come to such a conclusion? By the battle reports that are in our archives?"

"Aff, my Khan," replied Argamemnon, confidently. "And by MechWarrior Wolf's own recounting of his intervention to almost every MechWarrior whom he meets, whether they ask him or not."

"Huh!" snorted Voltage. "Someday, when you are in the keshik of this clan, you will realise just how much 'truth' there is in the official archives."

"I... do not understand," replied Argamemnon, puzzled and surprised.

Voltage looked away, sighed and then said, "The reports were based on doctored evidence."

Argamemnon was stunned. "Neg," he responded with incredulity. "How is that possible?"

"It was then-Star Colonel Natasha Alejandra's doing," answered Voltage. "Being with Legion Intelligence, it was easy for her."

"Why?!" Argamemnon demanded to know, angrily.

"Because what happened back then appeared so utterly disgraceful by clan standards that we, Natasha and I, agreed that in order for the clan to avert a trial of annihilation, we needed to present evidence to the Clan Arbiters on Strana Mechty that, in spite of certain dishonourable acts by Dreaded Legion MechWarriors, our clan's conduct was, on the whole, honourable," explained Voltage.

Turning around in utter disgust, Argamemnon back-faced Voltage. "Neg! Neg!!" exclaimed Argamemnon. "All that I believed in, were utter lies!"

"Do not turn your back on me, Star Captain," warned Voltage coolly, but with a hint of threat in the tone of his voice. "I am still your Khan."

Slowly, and hesitantly, Argamemnon turned around to face Voltage again. "Why are you doing this?" asked Argamemnon. "Why are you telling me all this now?"

"Because you, Star Captain, need to know the truth," replied Voltage. "The ultra-conservative hard-liners of our clan now look to you for direction, much in the same way they looked to Star Colonel Drago before he died in honourable combat. And the fate of our clan lies in your hands as much as they do in mine."

With that declaration, Argamemnon became even more frustrated and confused. After a long pause, he finally asked, "What really happened out there?"

Turning around to stare outside the window again, Voltage began to recount how the real events took place. "SaKhan Carlen and the rest of the Hell's Horses keshik had already decimated Khan Odin Dread and his keshik. In spite of our Khan's victory in defeating Khan Rajendra of the Hell's Horses, he and the rest of his keshik were in the last legs of their battle due to the extensive damage they suffered in the first wave of the Hell's Horses' assault. And all that stood between saKhan Carlen and total victory was my severely damaged star of assault Mechs and then-Lance Commander Wolf's star of light, mainly Puma, Mechs. Clan battle doctrine dictates that we fight one-on-one till the end, but that would have meant easy victory for saKhan Carlen."

Pausing as if to draw strength, Voltage continued, "All of us were ready to die with honour, except Wolf. He argued that there was no honour in dying if the Dreaded Legion died along with us. I cannot recall his exact words but he made it plain that we were the last of the Dreaded Legion MechWarriors and it was our duty to ensure that the Dreaded Legion's legacy did not perish. He managed to convince everyone but me. Going on passive sensors, Wolf and the rest of his star mates hid in the shallow waters of the Chrysalis swamp-lake. There, they lied in wait, while my star mates and I, unwittingly or otherwise, became the bait. When saKhan Carlen came within striking distance of Wolf's star, he ordered his Mechs to concentrate ERPPC fire on her. All it took was one concentrated strike and saKhan Carlen's Mech turned mostly into molten-alloy and slag. At first, the rest of the Hell's Horses in her keshik did not react. Perhaps they were too stunned. Besides, my star of severely damaged Mechs could not have delivered such a devastating blow. But when they could not detect the presence of Wolf's Mechs hiding nearby, they vented their anger on my star. I had no choice but to order our return fire. And then everything turned into chaos. Fortuitously, the heavy metallic composition of the Chrysalis swamp-lake soil and surrounding mountains interfered with the Hell's Horses keshik's long range communications which meant that they could neither report the shameful turn of events nor call in reinforcements. Each time they tried to break away from the battle in order to get a message out, Wolf's star of fast moving light Mechs would cut them off. And when the keshik was all but destroyed I rallied our forces to beat the Hell's Horses back to their drop ships and off the planet. I took credit for turning the tide of war and Wolf took the blame for acting dishonourably by interfering in my duel against saKhan Carlen, which never took place. Wolf was stripped of his rank of Lance Commander and I proceeded to become Khan. And the rest is history."

For a while, Argamemnon said nothing. His expression was a mixture of shock and dismay.

Then, it hardened. When he finally spoke, he sounded cold and hostile.

"Again, why are you doing this? What is it that you hope to accomplish by telling me all this?" asked Argamemnon.

"In the coming months, we will battle against Clan Black Mamba here on our home world in yet another trial of absorption," Voltage revealed. "Due to our fast dwindling resources, it is likely that we will be faced with the same choice that the MechWarriors who fought at the Chrysalis swamp-lake battle had faced - to die with honour strictly in accordance with clan traditions or to take any means necessary to ensure the survival of the Dreaded Legion."

"And if we are faced by such a choice, what would you expect me to do?" asked Argamemnon.

"Simply what your heart tells you to," replied Voltage. "And to not be surprised if the decision others make are in conflict with yours," added Voltage.

"How can you even think that there would be a choice other than strictly observing clan traditions?!" Argamemnon asked angrily.

"I can, based on the same rationale you used to justify your treatment of Wolf this morning - justified innovation," replied Voltage.

"Oh! Come on," responded Argamemnon in disbelief. "Do not twist my words against me."

"Neg, I am not," asserted Voltage. "It is simply the truth. Think about it long and hard, Star Captain, but do not take too long. For, the time of our doom draws near. Do we submit or do we resist with all our might?"

Reaching down for the touch-screen embedded in his desk, Voltage activated a communications link to Darkstalker. "Star Colonel?" was all Voltage said.

"Aff, my Khan," replied Darkstalker over the link.

A few seconds later, Darkstalker entered Voltage's chambers carrying a handheld detector.

"You will surrender your wrist computer and any other recording devices you may have to Star Colonel Darkstalker," said Voltage to Argamemnon.

As he removed his wrist computer, Argamemnon stared at Darkstalker with contempt. He then said, "Of course, you would be in this too, quiaff?"

Darkstalker replied, lifting an eyebrow as he did, "I only seek to serve the greater good of this clan."

And after running the scanner all over Argamemnon, Darkstalker turned to Voltage and said, "He is clean."

"Dismissed, Star Captain," said Voltage to Argamemnon.

Meanwhile, Wolf was receiving treatment at the Dropship Tormentor's sickbay for his injuries he received during the training cadre handing-over ceremony earlier in the day. Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Rochelle Winters, insisted on replacing Wolf's broken teeth with ceramide substitutes before the droship was scheduled to take off.

He assured Wolf that it would only take a moment, but he ended up taking close to an hour.

"I really should get going," said Wolf. "Perhaps we can finish this later."

"Nonsense, MechWarrior Wolf," said Winters. "Later, this ship would be in space, and fixing teeth in null-gravity can be a very messy affair."

"I am not unaccustomed to blood and gore," countered Wolf, while trying to get up from the examination chair. "I will return when I am able to."

"You will remain seated in that chair, MechWarrior Wolf," ordered Winters. "I should not have to remind you that, on this ship, I outrank you. I do not like my sickbay messed up by floating globules of blood and spit. Besides, I am nearly done."

"Excuse me, Doctor," interrupted Med Tech 3rd Class Deborah. "May I be excused momentarily? I need to say good-bye to someone."

"For crying out loud," said Winters. "You should have said your good-byes already."

"Please, Doctor," appealed Deborah. "I will not take long. We will not see each other for another year, and a lot can happen in that time, and..."

"Oh! Alright," said Winters, more than a little irritated. "Better than hearing you go on and on about your love affair with that space port technician, what-is-his-name."

"Thank you ever so much, Doctor," said Deborah happily.

"There we go," said Winters to Wolf. "All done. Good as new or, I should say, better than new because they are stronger. Just do not bite on anything hard or get your teeth kicked in for the next few hours."

"My thanks," said Wolf and he quickly got up to leave.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Winters. "Is there a fire that the ship's captain should know about?"

Wolf left without answering. He did not have time to banter, as he was running behind schedule.

He quickly made his way to his locker, retrieved his hold-all and headed for one of the auxiliary exit hatches located a few levels below and toward the rear of the dropship. Along the way, Wolf found a secluded spot to quickly switch his uniform into that of a Tech 3rd Class of the Scientist cast.

When he reached the auxiliary exit hatch that he was supposed to use to escape from the dropship, Wolf found it securely locked down and armed; the lock-down and arming was standard procedure half an hour before take-off.

"Damn!" cursed Wolf, under his breath.

If he tried to open the hatch, he would sound off an alarm at the dropship bridge. But Wolf had no choice. He desperately needed to get off and he could not risk being spotted disembarking from the dropship's main boarding ramp; Wolf's was a face too well known to go unnoticed.

So, he grabbed hold of the manual release lever and pulled.

"Beep! Beep!" sounded Tech 2nd Class Ruolfo's wrist computer spoiling his tryst with Med Tech 3rd Class Deborah. Breaking his kiss, he switched on his wrist computer display. "Ruolfo here," he said while looking at his wrist computer display.

"Tech Ruolfo," said Bridge Tech 1st Class Robinson with a sour expression on his face. "Someone or something has popped Auxiliary Hatch #4. We need a visual inspection, quickly. The Captain is going through the pre-launch check list and you know the kind of stickler he is for having things in perfect order, half and hour before takeoff."

"Aff, I am on it," said Ruolfo. He turned off his wrist computer display and began kissing Deborah again.

The Dreaded Legion, like other militaristic entities proscribed against public displays of affection by its Warriors as well as support personnel and, so, the back of Ruolfo's service hover truck was the only place the two lovebirds could make out in such a short time.

Breaking his kiss gently, Ruolfo said, "I'm sorry, honey. I won't take long. The hatch is just above us and..."

Thud! Thump-thump!

"Eeek!" Deborah shrieked as something heavy landed on the hover truck. She made a quick grab for her white med-tech jump-suit and covered herself, while Ruolfo tried desperately to slip the upper portion of his pale-green jump-suit back on; he was only partially undressed.

Then, the hover truck rocked as though someone had just jumped off its roof.

Ruolfo got up and stuck his head into the driver's cabin to take a quick and discrete look-around. He spotted a tech whom he did not recognise walking away.

"Are we in trouble?" asked Deborah.

"No, but I think I know who popped Hatch #4," said Ruolfo.

"Who?" asked Deborah, as she too got up and stuck her head in the driver's cabin to have a look. After a short pause, she asked, "Is that him?"

"Yeah," replied Ruolfo.

"He looks familiar," said Deborah.

"Yeah? Well I don't recognise him. And he's certainly not on my shift," said Ruolfo. He then opened the driver cabin door and, as he was stepping out, shouted, "Hey you!"

Surprised, Wolf turned quickly, and spotted Ruolfo coming out from the driver cabin of a service hover truck. Behind Ruolfo was the Med Tech 3rd Class who had attended to him earlier.

"MechWarrior Wolf?" said Ruolfo and Deborah in unison.

Wolf had been made.

Quickly but still looking somewhat casual, Wolf walked back toward the hover truck.

Ruolfo brought up his wrist computer quickly to his mouth and activated it but then hesitated when he saw Wolf take out his service auto-pistol from concealment and point it at him. With a subtle head-shake, Wolf told him not to do it.

Slowly, Ruolfo put his hand down.

"Get in," said Wolf as he neared the truck.

Slowly, Ruolfo got back into the driver cabin and moved over to make some space for Wolf who was also getting in.

"Drive," said Wolf, as he got in and closed to cabin door shut behind him.

Ruolfo started up the hover truck turbines which then lifted up the truck on a cushion of air. And as the truck started to move off, Wolf said, "Head for that dropship hanger."

Dropship hangers were gigantic structures meant for housing dropships undergoing major overhaul. They would also be filled with thousands of personnel, ranging from regular non-Elemental infantry soldiers or pseudo-warriors who usually acted as security personnel, to technicians of the Scientist caste, to workers of the labourer caste.

However, dropship hangers were like abandoned structures when there were no dropships to overhaul, and they provided lots of places to hide. There were regular security patrols to ensure that no equipment gets removed or stolen, but due to the immense size of dropship hangers, those patrols were easily eluded.

The service hover truck carrying Ruolfo, Deborah and Wolf made it to the dropship hanger nearest to the Dropship Tormentor without being stopped or checked by security patrols and it entered the hanger's service tunnel. When it arrived at the loading-and-unloading bay, Wolf said, "Get out," to both Ruolfo and Deborah.

Ruolfo stopped the truck, turned off its turbine engines but left the headlights on, and got out with Deborah. Wolf got out too and flicked his auto-pistol at them indicating that they should proceed toward an unlocked storage chamber ahead.

The storage chamber was empty, save for a few small boxes, empty crates and row upon row of empty shelves. Upon entering the chamber, Wolf spotted a roll of masking tape on a nearby shelf.

"You," said Wolf to Ruolfo. "Sit down on those crates."

Wolf then walked over to the masking tape, grabbed it, tossed it over to Deborah and said, "Bind him, quickly."

Deborah complied.

After she had finished, Wolf said, "Now, go. We do not want anyone to miss you, quineg? But remember, if you sound the alarm, he dies."

Deborah attempted to say something, but Wolf cut her off by shouting, "Go!"

When she left, Wolf shut the storage chamber doors, and latched it. The chamber became dark but Wolf could still see Ruolfo faintly owing to some light coming from small windows placed near the ceiling at the back of the chamber.

"Now, what am I to do with you," said Wolf to Ruolfo, but before Ruolfo could say anything, there was a loud knock on the chamber doors.

Reflexively, Wolf pointed his auto-pistol at the doors.

"It's me," said Deborah from outside. "I didn't kiss Ruolfo good-bye."

'So, that was what she wanted to say,' thought Wolf belatedly.

Slowly, Wolf moved toward the doors. He unlatched it and "wham!" the doors burst open tossing Wolf backwards and onto his back.

Three burly men rushed in, jumped on Wolf and quickly overpowered him. One of them was Chief Tech Gonzales.

Although not as skilled as MechWarriors, technicians of the Dreaded Legion clan were generally competent martial arts exponents due to the extensive hand-to-hand combat training they received upon induction to their respective casts. And when it came to three Techs fighting against one MechWarrior, the odds were more than even, in favour of the three Techs.

Eyes filled with tears and sobbing, Deborah ran over to Ruolfo and began hugging and kissing Ruolfo desperately. Then she worked at tearing away the masking tape that bound his hands and feet.

"Pass me the masking tape," said Gonzales. "And close those doors."

Deborah picked up the roll of masking tape she left by Ruolfo's side earlier and tossed it over to Gonzales. And Snake closed the storage chamber doors; he did not latch them, as the latch had been busted.

Swiftly, Gonzales bound Wolf's legs and then his hands, as well as arms. Then Gonzales and the third tech named Jerry picked Wolf up and sat him on the crates next to Ruolfo.

Ruolfo stared at Wolf with contempt and as soon as his hands and feet were free, he gave Wolf a strong, hard punch, smashing Wolf's lips and whipping his head back but without breaking teeth.

"Pooh!" Wolf spat out blood and then laughed. "At least they did not break," said Wolf, in reference to his newly fitted ceramide front teeth.

"I do not know how you can laugh at a time like this," said Gonzales.

"Aff, well, life is one big irony. Imagine seeing you again, old friend, and having you... burst in on me like this," said Wolf and he continued to laugh.

"Do not 'old friend' me, Wolf," responded Gonzales. "No friend of mine turns deserter or, worse, enemy spy."

Hearing that, Wolf stopped laughing.

"Which one are you, Wolf?" asked Gonzales.

"How did you find me?" Wolf asked, avoiding Gonzales' question.

Gonzales sighed and answered, "We were on our way to the Dropship Tormentor, to bid you farewell, when we spotted you. Really, Wolf, no tech would wear a technician's jump-suit as smartly as you, a MechWarrior, would, especially if he were a Tech 3rd Class. And when you got into the service hover truck with Ruolfo, while pointing what looked like a service auto-pistol at Ruolfo, we knew something was wrong. So, we followed you here."

"Why did you not sound the alarm?" asked Wolf.

Avoiding Wolf's question, Gonzales repeated, "Which one are you, Wolf? A deserter or an enemy spy?"

Before Wolf could answer, Jerry grabbed Wolf's security pass and remarked, "Check this out, Chief. This pass looks authentic. If it's a forgery, it's a damn good one."

"Where did you get it, Wolf?" asked Gonzales.

"I made it," replied Wolf.

"On your Quantum 504 processor-equipped PC?" asked Jerry. "No way! Our Quantum 3000 mobile processor-equipped tablets are far more powerful than what you MechWarriors get to play around with and I can't come out with this kind of forgery," said Jerry further while tapping in information on his foldable tablet PC which was standard equipment for all techs of the Scientist caste.

"That could mean that he is a spy working with another spy on this base," said Snake, pitching in his own speculation.

"Guys?" Deborah interjected. "Shouldn't we inform security?"

"Not yet," replied Gonzales. "Which one are you, Wolf?"

"I am neither a deserter nor a spy," replied Wolf.

"Liar!" shouted Ruolfo as he took a few quick steps toward Wolf and then punched Wolf across the jaw. Ruolfo was quickly restrained by Snake and Jerry, while Wolf spat out more blood.

"You know what they will do to you, quiaff?" asked Gonzales in reference to how Legion intelligence would torture spies for information. "They will cut you up into pieces but keep you alive until they are satisfied that you have nothing more to confess and then they will kill you, if you are fortunate."

Wolf did not show any fear, not so much because he was a MechWarrior but more so because he knew that it was not going to happen. However, Wolf was afraid that if he were turned over to security, the ultra-conservative hard-liners among the MechWarriors would demand an open inquiry.

One revelation would lead to another, until Khan Voltage himself became implicated.

"Please, do not turn me over to security," appealed Wolf. "We have been in many battles together, Gonzales, and I have never once shirked my duty as a MechWarrior to our clan."

"How can I be sure that you are telling the truth, Wolf?" asked Gonzales.

"You cannot," replied Wolf. "At least, not yet. You are simply going to have to trust me, old friend, the way you have trusted me throughout all these years."

"I am sorry, Wolf," responded Gonzales. "That is simply not good enough. I have no choice but to turn you in. Snake, contact security."

"Wait, Gonzales," appealed Wolf. "I am being sanctioned... by Legion Intelligence."

"He's lying!" protested Ruolfo as he began to take a step toward Wolf but he was quickly restrained by Snake and Jerry.

"That would explain how he got hold of his pass," remarked Jerry.

"And if he is lying?" asked Gonzales. "We would be complicit to his treachery."

"Whichever is the case," said Deborah, "base security should be on alert status by now. They are, no doubt, looking for me and, possibly, for MechWarrior Wolf. I was due back onboard the Tormentor five minutes ago."

"Kill me," said Wolf. "If I am lying, you would be doing the Legion a favour. And if I am telling you the truth, you will not risk endangering the Legion's wellbeing by forcing it to expose its secrets, much to the clan's detriment."

The storage chamber fell silent for a few minutes. Finally, Gonzales pulled out Wolf's auto-pistol which he kept in his right trouser pocket, cocked it slowly to reveal clearly the explosive-capped bullet that was already loaded in its firing chamber.

But before he could do anything else, the storage chamber doors burst open. Two flash-bang grenades flew in, exploded deafeningly and blinded everyone in the storage chamber.

Then, two Elementals, clad in full battle suit armour, walked in and shouted, "Nobody moves!" in their low, loud, resonant voices, which sounded even more shocking when augmented by their battle suit external speakers. They aimed the muzzles of their anti-personnel gauss rifles mounted on their right shoulders as well as their arm-mounted pulse laser rifles threateningly at the curled-up figures on the storage chamber floor.

Then, several Legion intelligence operatives, clad in non-Elemental light battle suits, ran in to secure the room further, followed shortly by Star Colonel Darkstalker.

"What took you so long?" croaked Wolf, as he was being helped onto his feet by two light battle suit clad intelligence operatives who then helped to remove the masking tape that bound Wolf's hands and feet.

Darkstalker, who was wearing nothing more than his usual nondescript MechWarrior jump-suit and boots, smiled but said nothing.

Gonzales, Snake, Jerry, Ruolfo and Deborah were also helped onto their feet, and then their hands were cuffed behind their backs.

"Wait!" protested Wolf. "Let them go."

"It is standard procedure, Wolf," said Darkstalker. "They will be released, once they have been properly debriefed and sworn to secrecy."

"Wait. Let me speak to Gonzales," said Wolf as Gonzales was being led out of the storage chamber. Gonzales stopped and turned to face Wolf.

Approaching Gonzales somewhat warily, Wolf asked, "You would have done it, quiaff?"

With an earnest expression on his face, Gonzales said, "Neg, although shooting you would have been preferable to turning you over to base security."

Wolf looked puzzled and then realisation dawned upon him.

"Aff, Wolf," said Gonzales, with a slight smile. "I was going to hand over your auto-pistol back to you. Believe it or not, in spite of your seemingly strange happenstance, you were not behaving out of character to me. And when you appealed that I should shoot you instead of turn you over, my faith in you was restored... well, almost. A small leap of faith was still required, but the matter was quickly put to rest when Star Colonel Darkstalker came to your rescue."

"Again, my heartfelt thanks, old friend," said Wolf appreciatively.

"I hate to break this up," interjected Darkstalker, "but you do have another dropship to catch, Wolf. And, Wolf, 'very sloppy'."

Turning to face Darkstalker, Wolf replied, "Aff, well, I have had no formal training as a covert operative."

"Adapt quickly, Wolf," responded Darkstalker. "After this, you will be on your own."

Meanwhile, back at the MechWarrior barracks, Argamemnon was holding a private meeting in his living quarters with Star Commanders Shotlock and Hagar, and Lance Colonel Omegadoom as well as Lance Captain Bar.

"We must expose his treachery at an extraordinary general sitting of the MechWarrior Grand Council," said Hagar.

"And how would we do that, Star Commander?" asked Argamemnon. "I have no hard evidence; only circumstantial evidence that could easily be twisted to prove the Khan's innocence."

"What if you were to challenge him to a trial of grievance?" asked Bar.

"Neg," replied Argamemnon. "First, I would have to challenge him on the basis that the clan archives were a sham. Secondly, I would have to challenge him by accusing him of complicity. And finally, I would have to challenge him on the basis that he is unfit to be Khan."

Shotlock, Hagar, Omegadoom and Bar all nodded in agreement.

The three stages to challenging the Khan were purposely built into clan tradition to ensure that the Khan would not have to duel every other hot-headed MechWarrior who simply did not like the Khan. Exception would be made when an order had been issued directly by the Khan, in which case, a MechWarrior who wished to defy the order may challenge the Khan to a trial of refusal.

But even then, the Khan could appoint a substitute to fight on his behalf.

"I would have to defeat Khan Voltage's proxies in the first two challenges relatively unscathed in order to have a decent chance at defeating Khan Voltage himself in the final challenge," continued Argamemnon. "And the chances of all that coming to pass is all too slim."

When no one else said anything, Argamemnon revealed, "There is one other option, an option that would allow us champions of clan traditions to fight as one against Khan Voltage."

"Oh?" asked Shotlock. "And what would that be?"

"During our battle against Clan Black Mamba, we shall simply refuse to obey any of Khan Voltage's orders that we consider dishonourable," answered Argamemnon. "Then, if we survive, and so does Khan Voltage, we shall challenge him to a trial of refusal."

"But that could result in our lending support to the Black Mamba strike force, inadvertently or otherwise," remarked Shotlock.

"Aff, but that would be preferable to going against the core of our very beings," retorted Argamemnon. "If our clan perishes as a result, it would still go down in history as a true clan."

"Seyla!!" said Hagar, Omegadoom and Bar. Shotlock kept silent.

"One of the things Khan Voltage said to me earlier today was that he had faith in me to 'help keep our clan traditions alive and thriving'," continued Argamemnon. "Aff, I intend to do just that. In fact, I intend for us to do more than what he bargained for."

After a long pause, Argamemon said, "Well, thank you for showing up at this impromptu meeting of ours."

And with that, the others got up to leave.

"I shall inform you all of any further development," continued Argamemnon.

Also, as it was dusk and his living quarters had become dark due the failing of ambient light, Argamemnon said, "Computer, lights."

Nothing happened.

"I said, lights!"

"Please restate your command," said Argamemnon's PC in its saccharine sweet voice.

"Oh! For crying out loud," exclaimed Argamemnon as he walked over to the wall adjacent to the door to his living quarters and flicked several light switches manually. And the room brightened.

"You still have not fixed your PC?" asked Bar.

"Neg," replied Argamemnon. "Looks like I am going to have to pay a visit to the Clan Quartermaster personally and demand that she give me a replacement that works or I will challenge her to a trial of refusal," said Argamenon further.

Everyone else responded with nervous laughter.
Chapter 4: Death comes on swift wings

Chapter 5: Lull Before the Storm

Chapter 6: The Crossover

Chapter 7: Rebirth

Chapter 8: The Gladiators

Chapter 9: Here be Pirates

Chapter 10: The Good Fight

Chapter 11: Price of Freedom

Chapter 12: Heart and Soul

Chapter 13: End Game