the command couch. She knew Faulk had accumulated a first-rate codex in his
years adultwomen as a warrior and that adultwomen his fears would not adultwomen affect bis skill, but the
idea of him fidgeting adultwomen in his seat was not comforting.
"adultwomen The adultwomen scan shows only an empty orchard, Faulk. adultwomen unless the Com Guards are
disguised as some kind of native fruit and are hanging from branches adultwomen ready
to spring at us, I adultwomen do not think we face any special danger there."
Later she would remember her sarcasm, cursing herself for not taking Faulk
more seriously.
As they approached the orchard, Diana turned her attention to the area
beyond it, seeking other potential threats.
"Does it not seem strange to you, MechWarrior Diana, that we have been on
the march for fully an hour and yet have still had adultwomen no response from the Com
Guards?»'
The man'adultwomen s apprehension made his voice tremble on every word of more than
one syllable.
"Take it easy, Faulk. And, adultwomen for the sake of Kerensky, we do not need formal
address in the field. MecnWarrior is a mouthful of a word, quiqffl"
"You have not noticed. adultwomen I always use formal address, adultwomen MechWarrior Diana."
"And why in the name of all the adultwomen Clans do you do mat, Faulk?&adultwomen quot;
"
Because-"
Diana never learned Faulk's answer, for the peaceful orchard suddenly
adultwomen erupted into quite another scene. Fruit adultwomen trees seemed to open up and splay
outward, and holes in the ground suddenly disgorged a lance of Com Guard
BattleMechs. And when they came out, they came out shooting.
From the Jade adultwomen Falcon command group Aidan got the adultwomen news of several minor
attacks all around adultwomen the route of march. The command group derived its
information from the surveillance provided by high-flying aerofighters,
which spotted 'Mechs emerging from the ground in four areas. In each case
the Com Guard units had disguised their biding place via some manufactured
but realistic topographical construction. Besides adultwomen the lance of 'Mechs
coming from the fake orchard,
others appeared from an apparent silo, a
small hillock mat was completely fake, a pile of
rocks. With the advantage
of surprise, the enemy 'Mechs did considerable damage before retreating
just as quickly into the night.
Aidan radioed Joanna for a report on the sneak attack involving her Star.
"Any BattleMech damage?"
"A few hits,&
quot; adultwomen she said. "One BattleMech severely damaged, needs to be
adultwomen taken back for repair. One pilot down."
Faulk's Gargoyle