"Blaine Lee Pardoe - Battletech - Battlecorps - Betrayal Of Ideals Part 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pardoe Blaine Lee)

his torso and fired his large laser. The green beam stabbed back at
the Thug, this time hitting the right arm of the Wolf BattleMech just
below the shoulder. It gouged a long black ugly scar that smoked as
he continued to plow forward and deeper into the swamp.
Ward’s Thug splashed into the water as well off to the left of
where he entered. Hallis ignored him and struggled to keep up the
pace and distance. Another wave of missiles came at him, man-
gling the armor on his side and torso. The rumble of their hits was
distracting, but he knew the terrain. I have to get deeper. He came
BattleCorps



to shallower water and some clumps of ground poking up around
tree roots, exposed by the shallower swamp water. He trudged
forward.
“Trish, sit rep.”
“I’m off on your flank. The Guillotine is following, but slowly. A
mangled leg will do that to you.”
“Stick to the plan. We will converge on your general coordi-
nates.”
The Thug was slowed in the swamp, not just by the muck and
water, but by the fact that Star Colonel Ward was no fool. Franklin
could tell that he was deliberately slowing down. He suspected
a trick or a trap. Good. Be cautious, let me get some distance be-
tween us. The Pulverizer lumbered drunkenly forward, the muck
clinging to his legs. Each step was labored, but he pushed for-
ward. Activating his sensors, he checked the atmosphere. It is
somewhere around here–if I remember right.
A rumble on his flank caught his attention. “Splash one Wolf!”
Trish yelled. His tactical display showed that the Guillotine was no
longer showing on the threat board.
“Good work.” Maybe it won’t come to this after all. “Star Colonel
Ward, you are all that is left. You have fought with honor. I suggest
that we bring this Trial to an end and avoid unnecessary waste.”
There was a pause. “Star Colonel Hallis. I am letting you know
formally that I cannot simply withdraw. I have orders. I am adding
in my Star Captain’s previous bid. This brings two more ’Mechs
on the field.” What he was doing was allowed by Clan tradition. It
was an all-or-nothing move, though. Almost immediately Franklin
picked up the long range sensor readings of approaching ’Mechs,
a Mercury and a Phoenix Hawk. The Wolf ’Mechs were fresh. Star
BattleCorps Foundations of Fate • Page 1


Colonel Ward had sacrificed some of his honor in bringing in the
lower bid. Why are the Wolves pressing so hard for such a point-
less victory?
“Trish, head my way. You know what to scan for, query affirma-
tive?”