Chapter 6

Tharkad City, Tharkad

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

July 29th 3047

Hanse felt at home in the 'Mech simulator, second only to piloting a real 'Mech. His entire direct family was gathered on Tharkad today, marking a rare moment of togetherness. The first year at the military academy for his two eldest had concluded, and he was immensely proud of both. Victor had achieved the top rank in his class at the Nagelring, while Katherine, though starting at just thirteen, was among the top ten percent of her class and had earned high marks at the NAIS College of Engineering. It was an unprecedented achievement, yet her decline in 'Mech combat performance gnawed at him.

His Intelligence Secretary, Justin Allard, had studied the training footage, as had Hanse. Justin concluded that she was sandbagging—deliberately underperforming for some purpose. To a competitive warrior like Hanse, the idea seemed absurd, but he had listened to Justin's reasoning. Justin suggested that perhaps Katherine wanted to ensure Victor retained the spotlight as heir and Archon-Prince designate.

Hanse thought that curious, as Victor typically won more than he lost to Katherine in their duels before attending the two academies. It also represented a reversal of Justin's fears that she might try competing with him for rulership. To which Justin had simply informed him it was his job to share potential risks, not just what was likely. Katherine had the potential to be a threat, and an opaque psych profile, the combination of which had made Justin's suspicious nature grow more concerned.

He still thought Justin was wrong. It was more likely Katherine had grown increasingly obsessed with her engineering courses and the idea of designing future weapons of war. She had successfully created a brand-new weapon, negotiating its development with AFFC Marshals and industry leaders. This heady triumph had shifted her focus away from 'Mech piloting. The stakes in simulator combat were low, offering her little motivation to excel, and she likely saw the challenges posed by her peers as pale in comparison to those offered by her elder, more competent brother. That would explain her strong start, followed by eventual boredom and decline.

His clever friend and advisor had proposed a test to settle the matter – offer Katherine something she desired, but make it contingent on her performing well beyond what she was currently demonstrating at the NAMA.

Hanse had told his son and daughter that not only could they choose the 'Mech they wanted for graduation, but they could also collaborate with the design team to customize it—provided they proved competent enough to win the simulator battle. Allowing them to choose their 'Mech upon graduation was always the plan, but this approach would satisfy Katherine's passion for design while ensuring Victor's 'Mech would be upgraded with the latest innovations from NAIS. With their graduation two years away, there would be plenty of time to implement the necessary modifications.

Deciding to make it both a challenging and more inclusive event, Hanse outlined a scenario in which Victor and Katherine would pilot assault 'Mechs against a lance of medium 'Mechs, all piloted by volunteers from the 1st Royal Guards RCT on Tharkad.

That was a bit of a white lie, as Hanse would be participating in the simulation, alongside Justin Allard, his wife Candace Allard, and their son Kai-Allard Liao. While Kai wasn't at the top of his class due to a lack of demonstrated leadership, he had now risen to the undisputed top of the NAMA rankings in 'Mech combat, ever since Katherine's decline.

He would be piloting a Griffin, the latest remodeled GRF-1DS. Equipped with an LRM-20, Large Pulse Laser, and Double Heat Sinks, he could strip away large chunks of armor from his son's likely choice with superior range of its LRMs. His son would almost certainly be piloting a Victor, which made him dangerous at close range but ineffective at long range.

Justin and Kai would both be piloting Centurions, a brand-new design that existed only as a blueprint for now. It would be interesting to see how it performed today. The most fascinating feature was the advanced technology that allowed for more weight to upgrade the weaponry. An autocannon/20, replacing the autocannon/10, would give both 'Mechs a ridiculous short-range punch.

Candace Liao opted for her familiar Vindicator, though it too was a theoretical model. The lighter engine allowed the medium laser and small laser to be replaced with medium pulse lasers, giving her better punch at range, and some additional armor.

Hanse was excited for the bout, knowing that in either outcome, he would win. Either he would prove his disturbingly accurate advisor wrong, or he would learn that his daughter was truly among the great MechWarriors of her generation!

***

Tharkad City, Tharkad

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

July 29th 3047

I found myself caught on the horns of a dilemma – give it my all to win the match and secure the absolute best protection I could wish for in a 'Mech, or continue playing the role of a merely good MechWarrior. There were pros and cons to consider, but I felt this was a place where I could safely cut loose.

While the 1st Royal Guards were elite, they would be piloting medium 'Mechs, and the Lyran elite unit was almost exclusively accustomed to heavy and assault 'Mechs. This likely meant they would be out of their element. Added to that was the general rule in BattleMech conflicts: assault 'Mechs concentrated more power and were therefore stronger than an equal amount of tonnage in lighter 'Mechs. The infamous – and frankly nonsensical – claim that a single 100-ton Atlas could defeat a battalion of Stingers illustrated this perception. In reality, a battalion of Stingers, so long as they did not break, would absolutely prevail, albeit with casualties. The point, however, lies in perception: 36 20-ton 'Mechs total 720 tons, but the focus often remains on the sheer power of the larger 'Mech.

I wasn't fully convinced of the merits of assault 'Mechs against a more numerous opposition of lighter foes, but this would be a good test either way. When I was informed I could choose any 'Mech, even those not yet assembled or produced, I couldn't hide my excitement. As I reviewed the latest assault-class designs, I lingered over the modified Atlas but ultimately settled on the Devastator—a 100-ton BattleMech with incredible power at range. My brother stuck with his usual Victor, but with the newly unlocked NAIS technology at our disposal, he made a surprising adjustment.

He dropped one of the medium lasers in favor of an Anti-Missile System with plenty of ammo.

We wished each other luck before loading into the simulation, where we found ourselves in hilly, near-mountainous terrain. The computer system highlighted the boundaries of the combat zone, and we moved in to begin the hunt. Lacking jump jets wasn't ideal for my preferred fighting style, but the massive range advantage of my 'Mech made it a worthwhile compromise. What I needed most was a clear line of fire, so we headed for a hilltop.

Our sensors pinged an enemy 'Mech formation, and I pushed my 'Mech to its maximum speed. As I crested the hill, I caught sight of the enemy: a Griffin, two Centurions, and a Vindicator.

The Centurions used the dips in the hills to keep their 'Mechs partially concealed, but I quickly noticed that their autocannons were the heavier variant.

"Those Centurions are going to pack the same punch with their autocannons as you are, don't let them get behind you," I warned Victor.

"Roger, same goes for you."

I smiled, and as soon as the enemy came into maximum range, I fired. No longer holding back, I unleashed my PPCs and Gauss Rifles with precise intent. Displaying impressive situational awareness, the Centurion surged forward just as I thumbed the fire buttons. The man-made lightning of my Particle Projector Cannons tore through the air, slashing into the left arm and torso of the opposing 'Mech, but the slightly slower Gauss Rifle projectiles narrowly missed their mark.

That pilot is good.

At the same moment, the Griffin unleashed a barrage of 20 LRMs, while the Vindicator added its own LRMs and a PPC shot that lanced toward me. The PPC struck my 'Mech's leg, and the LRMs thundered through the air. In a split-second assessment, I saw most of the missiles were coming in high, so I forced my 'Mech into a crouch, causing several to explode harmlessly behind me. The remaining missiles stripped away chunks of armor from the front of my 'Mech.

Victor used his jump jets to crest the hill, land on the slope, and use the downhill momentum to build speed, expertly keeping his 'Mech from tumbling. As my weapons cycled, I shifted focus from the wily Centurion to the Vindicator, which was far less maneuverable. My weapons fired in unison, and the azure beams of my PPCs smashed into the simulated 'Mech alongside both Gauss Rifle rounds. The lightest medium 'Mech on the field nearly toppled from the impact, but its pilot skillfully recovered despite the carnage. One more strike like that could core the 'Mech or, at the very least, shear off a torso section, drastically reducing its firepower.

Seeing the Griffin still facing me, I began backing down from the crest of the hill, causing several of its missiles to explode harmlessly against the hillside. As dust and debris from the LRM misses filled the air, I shifted my 'Mech onto a perpendicular path around the hill. The enemy 'Mechs' sensors would still pick me up, but the terrain would make it difficult for them to target me accurately.

Victor was closing in on range, with the two Centurions accelerating to the right and left of him. My weapons cycled to ready, and I saw the Griffin pivot to send another salvo of missiles toward my brother's 'Mech. Victor's AMS roared to life, knocking out about half of the missiles, though the rest struck him. Meanwhile, the Vindicator had retreated behind a rock formation, leaving me a moment to consider my next target.

I could target the Griffin, but with Victor's AMS system, it wouldn't be that effective. The Centurions, however, were moving fast and erratically enough to potentially avoid taking damage before getting in range of their big guns.

I made my decision and sent another lethal barrage at the Centurion I had previously scorched. This time, I tagged it cleanly, ripping an arm off and doing serious damage to its torso as the torn arm pulled off sheets of internal Myomer and internal substances from the torso. Unfortunately, the arm I severed wasn't the one with the powerful AC/20. Most pilots would have faltered or hesitated, but this one continued to move with the same fluid grace, even after losing nearly a quarter of its 'Mech.

Who are these guys?

The Centurions struck simultaneously, coming from either side. My brother could only turn to face one at a time. Three autocannon/20s roared to life, unleashing a torrent of damage. Victor missed with his autocannon as he activated his jump jets, lifting into the air and spinning his 'Mech away from the direction he was facing. He hoped to throw off the timing of the Centurion that had a backshot lined up – but in doing so, he also disrupted his own aim.

He was partially successful in shielding his backside, but the lack of damage output was painful to watch. Fortunately, he managed to strike with his SRMs and ER medium laser. The return fire, however, stripped the armor from one leg and took a massive chunk out of his left torso. The Vindicator came around the rock, adding more damage with its weapon systems just as Victor was coming down from the jump. The combination of those attacks in mid-air made his landing nearly impossible.

YES!

Somehow, despite all the damage, my brother managed to land without falling over. He immediately sent his 'Mech into motion as the autocannon began reloading. I advanced, launching another volley of four long-range, deadly accurate shots at the Vindicator. I needed to limit the damage output from the enemy 'Mechs, and with the Vindicator already suffering from my earlier strike, it became the logical target. The computer simulation registered the Vindicator's explosion as the shielding on its XL Engine collapsed.

That was the problem with the new engines. While they were lighter, allowing the 'Mech to run faster or carry additional equipment, they were bulkier and more prone to these types of explosions.

The enemy Griffin sent its pulse laser into the Victor's Victor while the LRMs raced toward me. It took skill to hit two different targets at once, and both attacks landed cleanly. My armor was still holding –thankfully, being in a 100-ton 'Mech paid off – but parts of my torso were taking a beating.

The two Centurions were relentless, hounding Victor with lasers and powerful autocannon fire. A second blow to his leg snapped it, but not before he managed to unleash his own AC/20 into one of the Centurions. Victor must have struggled mightily with the controls to ensure the 'Mech fell on its back rather than its front.

I lined up my aim and fired just as the autocannon roared. With the pilot focused on their target, their ability to evade was limited. One PPC shot went wide, but the other three strikes struck true, pouring damage into the leg, side torso, and center torso, stripping away armor with each hit.

One more volley and that one is done.

The Griffin was circling wide, still launching LRMs at me. If it continued its path, it would position me between it and the deadly Centurions. As Victor tried to rise, the more heavily damaged Centurion swooped in, dropping its autocannon just above the cockpit and blasting it apart. The move gave me enough time to finish that Centurion off, but now Victor was out of the fight.

More LRMs hounded me, jolting my 'Mech, but despite the chaos, my aim remained steady. My PPC and Gauss rounds slammed into the charging Centurion, ripping apart its primary weapon. I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though it was still coming at me, the loss of its arm – without throwing off its balance – somehow, made it far less of a threat. The LRMs continued to slam around me, one finding a critical opening in my left arm and knocking out the Gauss Rifle ammunition feed system housed there. I turned my back to the Centurion as it closed in and fired my three-remaining long-ranged weapons at the Griffin, landing all three shots. Lasers scored my rear center torso, but at 100 tons, even my back had considerable armor.

I turned and rotated my torso in a swift motion, bringing my four medium lasers to bear on the charging Centurion. Two beams sliced through its armor, sending rivulets of metal burning away from the center of the 'Mech. Even as it charged, the pilot made a slight adjustment, narrowly dodging the other two shots with a last-minute change in its rush.

As it neared, I swung my damaged arm at its head, but it ducked, and I missed. Its shoulder slammed into mine with force, and though it hurt the Centurion as much as it did me, the squeal of simulated metal threatened to capsize my 'Mech. Sirens blared loudly in my ears.

The simulator threw me against the restraints of my cockpit, but I kept my 'Mech on its feet, shoving the nearly destroyed Centurion away. Ignoring the rising heat, I triggered everything but my PPCs at point-blank range, coring the Centurion. As I spun quickly, I used my left arm to block the incoming missiles and lasers as best I could, but one of those missiles struck the Gauss Rifle weapon itself, creating an explosion that ripped clean the armor and destroyed the PPC in my left torso. With my left torso dangerously exposed, I fired back with the remaining PPC and Gauss Rifle, targeting what I could.

Despite the rattling cockpit, my aim remained steady. Damage flared on the enemy's arm and center torso. I advanced, decelerating my 'Mech to dodge some of the missiles that kept shredding the last of my armor. With a quick pull of the trigger, the PPC and Gauss Rifle fired again, ripping into its center torso.

Its heat spiked, engine hit!

The Griffin continued to backpedal, fading me while sending more deadly LRMs my way. I had to protect my left side at all costs, so I twisted my torso, exposing my right. Even with my torso twisting some of the LRMs hit the exposed side and took out a Heat Sink and caused a damaging hit to my engine.

Damn it!

I was determined to design my 'Mech, so I focused and fired again. Just then, the enemy pilot ignited their jump jets and reversed course, coming straight for me. Both of my shots landed, but they struck the legs instead of the target I'd aimed for. I'd get another shot as my medium lasers came into range, and I lashed out with ruby beams of destruction. More armor was scoured away from the enemy as it charged forward.

Why is it coming closer? Oh…

As I fired another desperate salvo, I realized what the Griffin was about to do.

Death from Above.

A 'Mech equipped with jump jets can perform a dangerous move, leaping into the air and aiming its legs to land directly on the enemy, usually targeting the cockpit. I saw it coming and grinned as it defied gravity. I made my own 'Mech lose the battle with gravity, toppling it onto its right side. The Griffin came down on my now-prone 'Mech—not on my cockpit or center torso, but on my leg.

Awkwardly lining up my lasers, I chose the rent from an earlier Gauss Rifle hit and they melted through what little protection remained, striking deep into the engine and fully disabling the last enemy 'Mech on the field.

Phew, I severely underestimated how good our elite regiments are!

In a real battle, my brother would be dead, and my 'Mech would be almost completely ruined. Not exactly the kind of victory I'd want to claim, but still, a victory nonetheless!

***

Tharkad City, Tharkad

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

July 29th 3047

Hanse looked at the grinning Justin Allard.

It is beyond spooky how often he is right.

Justin's son, Kai, came over to Hanse.

"I'm sorry, Highness. I failed you, and I will understand if you wish to revoke my admission to the New Avalon Military Academy next year."

Hanse processed what he was hearing. He understood the words, but the thought behind them was absurd.

"Kai, that was damn fine piloting out there. You and your father were an absolute terror for my poor son to deal with. The way you tore apart that assault 'Mech in less than a minute was impressive." He clapped the young man on the shoulder. "You should be proud of your performance."

Kai shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness. It is more than I deserve, but I thank you all the same."

Hanse saw Justin arrive from his own simulator pod and narrowed his eyes. "Justin, you don't get to brag about being right. Your son is under some delusion that his performance was less than phenomenal, so you talk to him first."

Hanse watched as Justin took Kai back over to Candace and began talking.

Victor and Katherine came around the corner and Katherine froze.

"You were piloting the enemy 'Mech?" Katherine asked, a note of concern sparking in her voice.

Hanse gave her a toothy smile. "I was. Justin and his family were piloting the others."

Victor had a grin that threatened to split his face.

"We beat you!? You! Woohoo! What a day, isn't that amazing Katherine?"

Katherine forced a brittle smile. "Yes, it's wonderful. Thank you for taking the heat while I got to play the role of sniper."

Victor nodded. "I'd say anytime, but I never want to mess with those Centurions again! It felt like I was dropped into a lake full of piranhas the way they ripped through me."

"To the victor go the spoils," Hanse announced. "Both of you are welcome to work with the NAIS design team for custom modifications to your graduation 'Mechs." He smiled. "Oh, and Victor – go cheer up Kai over there. You'll both be at the same academy next semester, and as happy as you are with your victory, he seems a bit down after his loss."

Victor smoothed his features, masking his celebration, and jogged over to the Allard-Liao family.

"Katherine, that was incredible. Far, far better than your record at NAMA suggests. Why?"

"Well, I did have more motivation to–"

Hanse shook his head. "Stop, don't lie to me. I want to know."

He watched her face closely as she considered her answer. "Father, I don't particularly care about breaking a record or having a grand desire to be first in class. Sticking my neck out and crushing the rest of my class would only demotivate them. They don't have access to world-class simulators whenever they want. Wealthy noble scions might have simulators, but even theirs are of lesser quality than what we have in the bowels of Tharkad and New Avalon." She paused, meeting Hanse's gaze. "It isn't fair, and since others care about it and I don't, why should I steal the spotlight from them?"

Logical and well-reasoned, but I can't help but feel I am still missing something.

"And that's all?" Hanse asked watching her body language carefully.

She raised an eyebrow. "As I said earlier, motivation does impact performance. I am eager to get my custom 'Mech when I graduate. I assume that's still on the table?"

"Of course, you won it fair and square," Hanse replied, letting his words linger to see if Katherine would say anything more. He then continued, "I'm not going to tell you how to behave at the Nagelring or when you return to New Avalon, but if you give it your all, the instructors can critique and refine your already phenomenal abilities. These are elite institutions – don't waste that opportunity."

Katherine looked conflicted but finally gave him a shrug. "I'll give your advice due consideration, Father."

Hanse laughed, "What a great non-answer, the press is going to hate dealing with you."

He gave her a side hug and walked her back to the rest of the family. She never mentioned anything about not wanting to outshine Victor, only others. Hanse had always been adept at picking up on deception, and he still felt the real reason was just out of his line of sight. He didn't want to badger her, though, and ruin the day, especially given her accomplishment.

"I'll let the matter go. It's enough to know that she's a born MechWarrior."