Ghost Hour (Book Two of the Rogue Academy Trilogy) Read online

  Also by Jennifer Brozek

  BattleTech

  BattleTech: The Nellus Academy Incident

  BattleTech: Ghost Hour (Book Two of the Rogue Academy Trilogy)

  BattleTech YA

  BattleTech: Iron Dawn (Book 1 of the Rogue Academy Trilogy)

  Shadowrun

  Shadowrun: Makeda Red

  Shadowrun Anthology

  Shadowrun: World of Shadows

  Shadowrun: Drawing Destiny

  Shadowrun: Sprawl Stories, Volume One

  Shadowrun Novella

  Shadowrun: DocWagon 19

  Shadowrun: A Kiss to Die For (A Shadowrun Novella)

  BattleTech: Ghost Hour

  Book Two of the Rogue Academy Trilogy

  Jennifer Brozek

  Dedication

  For my father: John Brozek.

  I miss you.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Sneak Peek: BattleTech: Crimson Night

  Battletech Glossary

  Battletech Eras

  The BattleTech Fiction Series

  1

  RITZA ACADEMY

  LIEGEDEN, EMPORIA

  FEDERATED SUNS

  11 APRIL 3150

  The initial chaos of the battlefield resolves into a choreographed rout at a cost. The Draconis Combine ’Mechs move in to harry the Emporia Scout element, but the enemy ’Mechs aren’t fast enough to keep up.

  The Draconis Hitotsume-Kozos turn from the Gunsmiths and focus on the Davion Commandos and Enforcer IIIs. They face two-to-one odds, but the Combine ’Mechs are clearly maneuvering to bring their terrifying hatchets to bear. The Hitotsumes hit the Commandos with lasers while using their heavy PPCs on the Enforcer III. Both salvos do damage, but none of it is bad enough to take any of the Davion ’Mechs off the field.

  Two Combine Tenshi OmniMechs and a Wolverine advance, taking heavy fire from Academy forces from afar while returning blistering waves of PPC fire against the defending ’Mechs. The MechWarriors’ skill is evident as they twist their torsos and shoulder their way into heavy barrages, never falling under the weight of the punishing onslaught and spreading as much of the damage as possible across their armor. Behind them, a Kuritan Wolverine is already down, its armor stripped by the missile strikes and ER PPCs blasts. It twitches like a broken toy, trying to get back up and join the fight.

  Two Federated Suns Gunsmiths dart in and out of range of the Draconis forces on their rear flanks, alternating their strikes. They score only superficial damage, but still harass and distract the enemy as the off-screen Academy tank support peppers the enemy with long-range missiles. The ’Mechs help maintain the target locks for the indirect weapons fire. The air is choked with drifting clouds of smoke, exhaust, and pulverized dust brought on from the waves of LRM fire; missiles arcing from multiple firing positions in the Academy, converging first on one ’Mech, then on to another. Fast, agile, and in the know, both Gunsmiths remain undamaged despite the artillery fire. With bursts of speed from their MASC systems and the supporting fire from the Gunsmiths, the light lance is able to keep the enemy Hitotsumes occupied and off-balance.

  At the same time, Davion Enforcer IIIs move in as actual flankers, using a blend of laser fire and measured rounds from their Ultra-autocannons to bait and corral the enemy ’Mechs, keeping them in range of the Academy LRMs. An Enforcer III engages the first of a pair of Rokurokubi at the cost of its ER PPC arm. The Davion ’Mech’s sacrifice allows two Commandos to intercept and assault the light ’Mech to devastating effect—stripping it of armor, destroying one arm, and depriving it of all ranged weapons. Their job done, the Commandos return to cover, backing up the Enforcers.

  The defending line of Davion ’Mechs—two Valkyries, two Griffins, and two Catapults—under heavy fire from the Tenshis, keep the enemy away from the partially collapsed ’Mech bay long enough for the BattleMaster to finally emerge from the rubble. The defending ’Mechs alternate moving in and out of cover, relying on targeting data from the Gunsmiths to maintain a constant stream of missiles while denying the Tenshi a target as its MechWarrior tries to focus its five light PPCs at them.

  The BattleMaster comes around from behind the damaged ’Mech bay, firing its lasers at maximum range. Its Gauss rifle punches a hole through the already-ravaged center torso of the lead Tenshi. The massive 95-ton ’Mech sputters to a stop and collapses as more missiles pepper the field from covered positions.

  As the enemy assault ’Mech falls, there is a distinct change on the battlefield.

  The surviving Combine Tenshi pulls away at its limited top speed while the Wolverine reverses, covering the lead ’Mech’s weaker rear armor, using itself as a shield. The damaged Rokurokubi retreats as well, while the functional Rokuorkubi falls back more tactically, providing cover fire to drive back the Commandos and Enforcer IIIs and try to keep them from following. The Hitotsume-Kozos withdraw, laying down cover fire along with the Rokuorkubi.

  Both Davion Gunsmiths break off the engagement, letting the enemy retreat. Having sustained little damage, they flank and return toward the Academy grounds. Both Commandos withdraw, obvious damage showing on their scored armor and broken limbs, but the pair still face the enemy, ready for a trick or renewed assault. The Enforcer IIIs remain on the field, trading fire with the enemy as they fall back. The Griffins and Catapults also harry the retreating Draconis Combine force with long-range missile attacks. The Valkyries hold their fire, but also hold their place on the line.

  Late to the party thanks to the heavy shelling and the ’Mech bay’s partial destruction, the BattleMaster fires its Gauss rifle twice more, striking both times, keeping the enemy’s heavy ’Mechs in retreat.

  The Gunsmiths move into a patrolling pattern, making certain the perimeter is clear. Once certain that the enemy has fully retreated, the remaining Academy forces stand down.

  “As you see, at the end of this morning’s battle, we won due to superior numbers and superior tactics. The lack of focused fire saved us from the enemy’s intended goal of crippling as many of our ’Mechs as possible.” Dame Emma Meier gestured to the now-still screen. “However, that victory did not stop the casualties or collateral damage.”

  Jasper grimaced, feeling like the Tactics professor—a MechWarrior in her own right and the pilot of the BattleMaster—was accusing him of starting the battle. Which was…partially true. He and his sister Nadine had started it. They had turned the supposed peaceful occupation of Emporia by the Draconis Combine’s Seventh Ghost Regiment into open warfare when they’d orchestrated the rescue of the captured MechWarriors and the Emporian ’Mechs.
She’d planned it. He’d agreed to the plan. He was the reason Claire Vasseur, one of the best MechWarrior cadets the academy had, was dead. She had died during the rescue operation.

  He also knew that Dame Emma blamed him for not planning any sort of defense of the academy after the rescue mission. That was his mistake. They hadn’t planned that far ahead. Neither he nor Nadine had thought they’d survive the attempt, let alone succeed.

  I’m the reason you’re even standing here, a small part of him protested.

  The tactics professor clicked off the screen. “Questions?”

  Jasper looked around as hands shot into the air. Most came from the younger classes. Every single cadet MechWarrior was in the classroom; everyone that was able to be. The early morning shelling of the academy had hurt—killed—more people than he wanted to think about.

  Dame Emma pointed at one raised hand. It was a younger cadet Jasper wasn’t that familiar with. Jonas? Was that his name?

  “The Draconis artillery barrage did the most damage to the facility and to the friendly ’Mechs. Why did they stop firing?”

  The room shifted attention from the cadet to the professor.

  “Most likely…to prevent possible friendly fire. While it’s entirely possible to sustain a barrage and just flatten everything at range, ammunition is limited, expensive, and the lack of ground forces make it too possible for our forces to escape. You never want to waste a limited resource. Artillery missiles can be in the air for minutes before they reach their target. Having their ’Mechs on the ground lets them adapt to the situation in real-time, and prevent our ’Mechs from simply running out of range of their barrage. The trade-off was that they had to limit the Arrow-IV volleys once their ’Mechs were within range, to prevent the missiles from possibly damaging a friendly ’Mech.”

  The words spilled from Dame Emma’s mouth like she was giving an after-action report. In essence, that was exactly what this was. The cadets had watched many recorded ’Mech battles before, but none of them had been so personal or immediate. The lessons learned here would last. This had happened to their home, their friends, their lives. It was more than personal. It was immediate and still painful.

  It was also the enemy’s response to the loss of the captured MechWarriors and ’Mechs.

  Jasper forced his face into neutral mode as his mind unwillingly went to the deaths at the hands of the invaders. Lord Clements, executed as an example to the rest of the captured MechWarriors. Lord and Lady Estbury, left behind to certain death. Sir Robert Corbin, the History and Manners professor, gunned down while helping Nadine rescue Baron Vogel. Even Sergeant Major Vale Auger was still missing, and they’d last seen him on an emergency broadcast, commanding Emporia to rise up like the cadets had and take the planet back from the Draconis Combine.

  Dame Emma pointed to another raised hand.

  “Why didn’t the Emporian forces stay behind cover with the academy ’Mechs? Why weren’t they trying to preserve their ’Mechs like we were ordered to?”

  It was Pascal Cole, one of the senior cadets that had been put in the academy lance when the attack had come. Jasper thought he already knew the answer—to protect Emporia’s greatest treasure: its children. At least, that was what the professors had been saying up until then.

  Dame Emma took a beat before she answered. Her eyes scanned the hundred or so cadets there. “Short answer: Experience. The MechWarriors on the frontline knew how to utilize their ’Mechs safely. Both in managing their heat and ammunition, and knowing how much damage they could absorb and still be functional. They’ve had years working in the same ’Mech. Speed is life, and they used that the same way you used buildings and walls. In this particular instance, the academy lances coordinating fire from partial cover kept you safer, and allowed you to support their mission of holding the DCMS flankers as well as feeding targeting information back to the academy.

  “While, for now, every cadet will train with every ’Mech the academy has and simulate the ones we don’t, there will come a time where, as experienced MechWarriors, you will choose the ’Mech that will make your careers. This intimate knowledge of your ’Mech can, and will, be the difference between life and death.”

  A small mutter ran through the crowd, but no one said anything loud enough for Dame Emma to react to. She pointed to a small girl. “Cadet Roget.”

  “M’Lady. Why did the Combine ’Mechs keep turning their torsos away from where they were trying to fire?” She twisted her hands in her lap, frowning.

  “A good question. One I know my upperclassmen can answer. Goodryke?”

  Ethan jerked and looked up, his eyes wide. There was a moment where he said nothing. Then he repeated the question, half to himself before raising his voice and answering, “To spread the incoming damage around. Across the armor plating. Even though the center of a ’Mech tends to have the heaviest armor, twisting left or right from the path of incoming fire lets a MechWarrior fire their arm-mounted weapons while presenting a smaller profile to be hit in return. It also forces the damage from incoming attacks to be spread across their arm and side torso armor.”

  “So you are awake. I thought I was putting some of you to sleep.” She turned back to Norah. “You’ll learn more about these defensive techniques in the simulators, but good eye.”

  Dame Emma’s compliment lightened the mood of the room, and more hands went up. She pointed to a short boy who looked too young to even be in the room with the rest of the cadets. “Cadet Patel.”

  Liam stood, “When the enemy forces were retreating, why did the Wolverine walk backward instead of just running out of range? Didn’t that put him in more danger?”

  She nodded. “Cadet Roux, got an answer?” She gave him a small, tight, knowing smile.

  Jasper was ready. The moment the professor started directing the upperclassmen to answer, he knew she was going to call on him, and that she would reference a mistake he’d made in the past. Unlike the brand-new cadet, Jasper didn’t stand, but he did sit tall.

  “Even the most experienced MechWarriors and most advanced ’Mechs need their lance’s support,” he replied. “If the Wolverine’s MechWarrior had pulled ahead, the Tenshi’s most vulnerable armor would have been exposed to missiles and the BattleMaster’s Gauss fire. By coordinating their movement, the Wolverine’s front armor took the brunt of the damage that might have otherwise crippled yet another assault ’Mech.”

  “Well, it seems you’ve remembered something of the last lesson I taught before all this.” She turned back to Cadet Patel. “A lance is a lance for a reason. You always support and back up the members of your lance.” She looked around the room. “Anyone else?”

  Gemma Caron raised her hand and spoke after the professor nodded to her. “I noticed the Valkyries stopped firing missiles before the retreat started. That didn’t make sense to me.”

  “They were almost out of ammo. If you review the full battle again—and I encourage all of you to study it—count the munitions each of the ’Mechs had left. In the case of the Valkyries, it was one missile each, held in reserve.”

  Ethan broke in. “We were almost completely out of ammo? Why didn’t the Draconis Combine forces press the attack?”

  “Be glad that they didn’t,” Dame Emma snapped. “We wouldn’t be here to have this discussion.” She shook her head. “It’s impossible to know what was going through their lance commander’s mind, but we can make some guesses from experience. Our armored support was firing from covered positions. Two extra LRM-20s firing from behind cover left them with a dangerous variable: Were they closing in on a defense turret? An armored LRM Carrier? Another 65-ton Catapult? Especially with the sudden appearance of a BattleMaster, they had some very serious questions they had to ask themselves—what else was going to come around that corner next?”

  Jasper raised his hand. She nodded to him. “Did the enemy succeed in their goal? To cripple us?”

  Her face shifted from the neutral of teaching to something more serious and som
ber. “Yes and no. They didn’t neutralize as many of the ’Mechs as I think they wanted to. That’s because of the history of the academy. The ’Mech bay was strengthened against sieges long ago when this place was a siege compound and not an academy. But they damaged us far worse than they know. We lost a lot of people—MechWarriors and support personnel alike. That’s why all upperclassmen are now being assigned to rotating ‘on-ready’ hours. At any time, any one of the upperclassmen can, and will, be called to active duty. For patrols and, heavens forbid, to repel another attack on the academy.”

  Despite the animal fear of the invaders lurking in the back of Jasper’s mind, this was the only good thing about the situation: not only was he still allowed to pilot the ’Mechs, he was expected to take his turn in patrols. The cadre was finally treating him like the MechWarrior he was.

  2

  RITZA ACADEMY

  LIEGEDEN, EMPORIA

  FEDERATED SUNS

  13 APRIL 3150

  0915 HOURS

  “—Yeah, everyone’s twitchy, but with Count Ritza on the move, making trouble over the last couple of days, spirits are high.”

  Cadet Nadine Roux jotted down notes as she listened to her contact’s report. He was a janitor in New Exeter and had a good eye for details. The shortwave radio was still the best way to get intel on the ground. “Good work, Steel. I know it can’t be easy with the enemy in the city, but we need this intel. Anything else?”