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New Avalon Institute of Science
New Avalon
Federated Suns
22nd February, 3052

Doctor Suresh had worked for the NAIS for nearly six years. In that time he had seen the First Prince from a distance perhaps three times. In the past three months he had personally spoken to Hanse Davion five times. He wasn’t sure if he liked his new-found popularity or not.

Hanse was, at that moment, standing with Suresh reading over a technical document that had apparently arrived in a transmission from Terra. It had come through using high priority codes that only Justin could have known and used some form of unknown encryption that amazingly decrypted itself once Doctor Suresh had verified receipt of the transmission.

“Are you sure we can do this, Doctor?” asked Hanse with a mystified look on his face.

“I believe so, your Highness. I’ve been working closely with the team in X-Tech and they think that, given another week, they may be able to have Project: Highway at the prototype stage.”

X-Tech was a new division at the NAIS created solely to deal with the information that had been received and dubbed Project: Highway.

“Incredible.” muttered Hanse. “I didn’t think it would be possible.”

“No one did, Sire, but then no one has even considered the possibility before.”

Hanse took a deep breath to try and calm his mind. “Well, I want you to continue to monitor the physical effects, Doctor. I want you on-hand at every test. If this is going to work we need to make sure that the test subjects don’t suffer any ill effects.”

Suresh smile reassuringly and nodded sharply. “Of course, your Highness. I won’t let you down.”

Hanse clapped Suresh on the shoulder approvingly. “I won’t forget all you have done for me and for the Federated Suns. All that’s left is to see if we can actually pull this off.”

ComStar Temporary Headquarters
Beuller City
Robinson
Federated Suns
2nd March, 3052

Anastasius Focht read the report that Precentor ROM Charles Seneca had handed him. “Has this information been verified?”

Charles bowed his head in affirmation before replying. “It has, Precentor Martial. We’re not sure how but Davion’s NAIS has managed to modify an HPG carrier wave and de-structure a person into a digital signature. Carried by the wave, this signature is then restructured at the receiving end. He now holds the means to transmit anything via HPG, though mass still seems to be a factor. The system only seems to work with objects roughly to the size of a full grown person.”

Precentor Martial Focht rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “When I agreed to help with this project I certainly didn’t expect any success, it was simply a good chance to get inside the NAIS. It seems that I’ve grossly underestimated our host. Prepare a JumpShip to take me to New Avalon and send a message to Prince Davion informing him of my impending arrival. It’s seems we may be fortunate with our choice of allies, Charles.”

The Precentor smiled. “Yes, it certainly does, though I wonder how the NAIS came up with the theory, let alone a working prototype. Our agents on New Avalon insist that nothing like this has ever been considered.”

Anastasius’ frown also showed his unspoken concern on this subject. “I’m sure all will be revealed in time, Charles. If not, we will have to make a point of finding out.”

Office of the First Lord
Unity City
North America
Terra
19th March, 3052

Elias Crichell glared at Ulric Kerensky who stood before the First Lord’s desk with a slight smile on his face. Khan Crichell couldn’t quite tell if it was amused or mocking but either way he did not like the Wolf Khan’s expression.

“So good of you to grace us with your presence, Khan Kerensky.” Elias’ voice dripped with sarcasm. “I trust your voyage to New Avalon was uneventful?”

Ulric’s stare never left Leo Showers face. “On the contrary. First Lord, I return to you with news of a most alarming nature. It appears that First Prince Hanse Davion personally authorised the attack on the Great Terran Repository. Sadly I learned this only after I had left New Avalon. I would have returned to bring Davion to justice but felt it only right that the appropriate bidding process take place for the honor of dealing with the traitor.”

The First Lord of the Star League looked concerned. “This is alarming, as you say, though we would be naïve to think the House Lords would simply bend their knee without any attempt on our authority.”

Elias erupted in outrage. “Naïve?! We must act quickly and decisively upon this. I insist that an invasion of the Federated Suns be sanctioned by the Grand Council immediately! The Jade Falcons will spearhead the assault and we will not stop until we hold New Avalon in our talons!”

Leo shook his head. “Calm yourself, Khan Crichell. This is not the time…”

“Actually, ilKhan, Khan Crichell is absolutely right.” Ulric interrupted.

That caught both of them off guard. “Explain yourself, Khan Kerensky.” Demanded the ilKhan.

“The longer we let this crime go unpunished the more the House Lords will believe that we are unable to respond. They will believe we are weak and they will grow bolder, perhaps to the point where they will threaten Terra.”

Elias snorted derisively. “While I appreciate your words of support, Khan Kerensky, we have proven our strength to the Inner Sphere. We brushed their armies aside during the Invasion. No force they can bring to bear will pose any threat to our holdings here.”

“You are correct, Khan Crichell, we did sweep through their ranks, my Wolves know this better than any other Clan. However, we were moving targets then facing their forces piecemeal. We have limited numbers here until our production facilities are completed and if the Inner Sphere decide to launch a mass, co-operative strike on Terra we do not have the forces to repel them.”

“You speak like you are afraid of the Inner Sphere surats. My Falcons would sooner die than relinquish our rightful place here on Terra!”

Ulric nodded. “And that is what your Falcons are likely to do if we sit here on Terra and allow the Inner Sphere the chance to take the initiative. This is why I believe we should strike at the Federated Suns. IlKhan, let the Falcons avenge this disgrace by invading the Davion worlds. They fought honorably during the invasion and have earned this right. My Wolves will not bid.”

Leo Showers eyes squinted as he tried to deduce Ulric’s intention. “The Smoke Jaguars also fought bravely and honorably during the invasion, as did the Ghost Bears. To deny them the right to bid is not the Clan way. Would you truly deny the Wolves this opportunity, Khan Kerensky?”

Ulric made the pretense of pondering the ilKhan’s question for a moment. “I would, ilKhan Showers. Clan Wolf has reaped enough glory; we are the ilClan. The prestige we hold cannot be matched by any other Clan.”

“What you have said is true, Ulric, though I find myself glad that I am not a Wolf warrior. To miss any chance of bringing honor to my Clan would be more than I could bear.”

Ulric’s visage darkened for a second at the ilKhan’s words. “There is more to honor than just combat and more to combat than simply wading into battle. Clan Wolf has proven its prowess on the battlefield. We continue to show our prowess off it.”

What are you up to, Ulric? Leo thought to himself. “Very well, I shall open the Trial to the Jade Falcons, Smoke Jaguars and Ghost Bears only. Bargain well, Elias. You are both dismissed.”

Detention Centre JF-P45
Jade Falcon Sector
Unity City
North America
Terra
21st March, 3052

Gabrielle slipped from the shadows and swiftly but quietly approached the lone guard from behind. She grabbed him around the head and, before he even had a chance to react, snapped his neck.

She’d made it across the compound undetected and now stood outside the door to the cell block. She was reasonably certain that there would be at least one more guard beyond the door so would not be able to use stealth to disable them. She drew the small sidearm she carried and took a few seconds to attach the silencer then Gabrielle took a deep breath and burst through the door.

There were two men reclining in chairs in the small office beyond the door and they both leapt to their feet as the door flew open. Gabrielle immediately went into a roll bringing up her pistol and squeezing the first shot off. Her aim was true and the bullet ripped through Jade Falcon emblem on the guards cap and exploded out the back of his head in a spray of blood and gore.

His companion quickly recovered from his surprise and dived to his left, his hand simultaneously going for the gun holstered at his side. Gabrielle came out of her roll into a crouch, her body rigid, and swung her aim across following the trajectory of the second guard. Her follow-up shot tore into his right arm, flaying muscle, shattering bone and eliciting a cry of pain from her victim. She swiftly rose to her feet and ran to where he had fallen. The guard looked up at the dark muzzle of the silenced pistol.

“Which cell is Justin Allard in?” Gabrielle demanded.

“Go to hell you freebirth scum.” The Jade Falcon replied.

Gabrielle moved her left boot and slowly pressed down on the mans right arm. He cried out again with the pain.

“Last chance or I’ll kill you. Where is he?”

“You will kill me anyway.”

I don’t have time for this, Gabrielle told herself. “Yeah, you’re right.” She responded before pulling the trigger for a third time. The bullet took the man just above the left eye and blood started to pool from beneath his head.

After a quick search Gabrielle found the keys to the cells and proceeded through the internal door and down the corridor beyond. It didn’t take her long to find Justin’s cell though it took a little longer to find the right key to open his door.

* * * *

Justin stood at the sound of his door unlocking and stared suspiciously at the woman through the bars. As the door swung open the woman looked at him.

“Mike Indigo Indigo Oscar. Codename Starburst.” The woman said cryptically.

Justin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Damn, it’s good to see you. How the hell did you get here?”

Gabrielle smiled. “A little present from the Doctor. We used an HPG to transport me here. I think the term he used was TransMat.”

“You travelled here via HPG?” Justin asked, incredulous at the thought.

Gabrielle smiled. “Well, it’s had a few tweaks to be fair. Come on, we can talk later. We need to get out of here.”

Olympia
Thurston County
Washington
North America
23rd March, 3052

Obtaining a vehicle in Unity City had been easy, getting out of Unity City had been more of a challenge. With Jade Falcon patrols on nearly every street the sector was in lock down. Security points were set up at all the exits from the Jade Falcon sector so, under cover of darkness, Justin and Gabrielle used alleys and rooftops to make their way into the Wolf sector undetected.

From there moving around the streets was considerably easier though the Clan imposed curfew meant that they still had to stay under cover when the occasional patrol was encountered.

The fugitives found a safe place to wait out the remainder of the night and, just after dawn, were able to obtain a motorcycle which carried them into the suburban area and beyond through the countryside outside of Unity City.

Just before they hit the outskirts of Olympia they abandoned the road and travelled cross country. Olympia was a Wolf controlled city which contained several military and administrative offices. Getting into the city via the road would be difficult considering their lack of identification. The easier way would be by smaller, less used access roads to the unimportant residential areas of the city.

By three in the afternoon they had found a motel and were trying to get a room for the night. The man at the reception desk who claimed to be the manager had a shock of unkempt, mousey brown hair that was thinning rather dramatically. His stained t-shirt and worn jeans indicated that Justin and Gabrielle were not checking into a five star establishment but being on the seedier side was actually what they were after.

“What the hell am I going do with a motorbike?” the manager, whose name was Barney according to the plastic sign on the wall, stated in a derisive tone.

Justin was trying to barter for accommodation. “Sell it. I’m sure a man of your influence has contacts and it’s far more than one nights lodging.”

Barney eyed Justin suspiciously. “What do you mean, a man of my influence?”

“I mean,” Justin clarified, “that you are a businessman therefore you’d have contacts. I’m sure you’d know someone who would buy the bike. If not there’s a good black market business since the Clans invaded.”

“Don’t you mention that word in my motel!” Barney responded aggressively. “The Clans! Bah!” He spat out the word as if it left a sour taste in his mouth. “Those freaks should have stayed out where they were. Things were fine here under ComStar before they came along. So what is it then, you two on the run from them?”

“Let’s just say we’d like to avoid bringing any attention to ourselves.”

Barney thought for a moment. “So what makes you think I wouldn’t just drop you into the Clanners hands in return for a nice fat reward?”

Justin grinned back at Barney. “Because we know that the Clans don’t offer rewards. They expect you to do your duty but the way I see it no one on Terra feels particularly duty bound to the Clans. On the other hand we are in position to offer you substantial remuneration for your help.”

Barney smiled as he looked Gabrielle up and down appreciatively. “Is that right?”

Gabrielle scowled back. “Financial remuneration.” She stressed.

Barney shrugged. “It all amounts to a bonus for me, as long as there’s no danger involved. I don’t want any Clan attention any more than you do.”

Justin raised one hand in a reassuring gesture. “We wouldn’t expect you to put yourself into any danger but like I said, I’m sure you have contacts. All we want is a place to stay and as much information as you can comfortably get your hands on. In return you get to keep the bike and, once we can get communication off world, we can promise you a twenty thousand C-Bill inheritance from a long lost deceased relative.”

That made Barney’s eyebrows rise. “Twenty grand, eh? What information are you after exactly?”

Gabrielle spoke then. “We want to know DropShip schedules from the port and when the next transport is due out for the Federated Suns.”

“I’m also looking for someone.” Justin added. “Male, looks to be in his early thirties, last seen wearing a tweed jacket and a bowtie. He was last seen in Unity City as a guest of the Falcons. He goes by the name Doctor.”

“You got a last name?”

Justin shook his head. “That’s all I’ve got but if you find anyone with any information about him I’ll double your payment.”

“He must be a pretty important guy then?” Barney enquired.

Justin set his face in a grim expression. “If you want the Clans off Terra then I’d say he’s the one man who can probably do it.”

Barney thought about the deal for a few moments then made up his mind. “I guess I got nothing else to do, but you better be good for the reward. You cross me and you’ll wish the Clans had got you.”

When Justin nodded his understanding Barney continued as he handed over a key. “This is for room nine. It isn’t flash but there’s a bed, a kitchen and a bathroom. You can have it for as long as you need. It’s not like I’ve got customers running through the door these days.”

Justin and Gabrielle both smiled their appreciation. “Thank you and we promise you won’t regret this.”

The two visitors turned and left reception. Barney waited half a minute then picked up the phone and dialed a number. The line rang twice before a male voice picked up at the other end.

“It’s Barney. I got pair of FedRats here on the run. One of them, a man, is looking for some doctor in a tweed jacket and bowtie.”

The voice on the phone said a few words in response.

“It could be. I don’t know what the connection is but you should send a team down here straight away.”

* * * *

Twenty three minutes later a black hover-sedan floated up to the parking bay outside reception. Two men, casually dressed, exited from the front doors and two more were visible in the back seat of the hover car.

One of the two who exited the car opened the door and spoke to Barney. “Which room?”

“Nine.” Barney replied whereupon the man closed the door and rejoined his accomplice before they headed towards room nine.

They walked up to the door and the man who spoke to Barney knocked sharply three times.

The door opened and Justin stared out at the men. “Can I help you?”

“Barney said you were after some information.”

Justin eyed the men suspiciously for a moment then opened the door wide. “Ok, come inside.”

Gabrielle, who was sitting in an armchair reading a magazine, watched the two men closely as they entered. Without waiting to be invited they sat down at the table in the kitchenette. The first man spoke again.

“You can call me Mark. This,“ he indicated his companion, “is Peter.”

A smile suddenly appeared on Justin’s face. “You’re ROM.” His years of training in the Ministry of Information and Intelligence Operations enabled him to spot a member of ComStar's intelligence service anywhere.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mister Allard; ROM was shut down just before the Clans invaded Terra. It no longer exists.” Justin nodded his understanding. “What does the MIIO want here on Terra?”

“I came here with another man on a mission personally authorised by Hanse Davion. It’s a little hard to explain but, essentially, the Clans were only able to conquer Terra because of extra-terrestrial help.”

Gabrielle looked up sharply with an incredulous look on her face. “Aliens?”

Justin nodded once as Mark and Peter digested what he said. “How do you know that the technology they wield was not manufactured by humans?”

Justin snorted. “If you don’t know about the Guardian that the Clans have then ROM’s not up to its usual standards.”

“We’ve heard rumours but we haven’t been able to get close enough to see it. You’re certain it’s alien?”

“Mark, I’ve been close enough to rip it a new one. I fought it at the Repository. Unfortunately I was only able to damage it, not destroy it. If it wasn’t for the man I travelled here with I wouldn’t even have got that far.”

Mark rubbed his chin. “Yes, this man you travelled with. You called him a doctor?”

“No, I called him The Doctor. Do you know him?”

Mark looked to Peter who continued the conversation. “There is a man matching the description you provided here in Olympia.”

Justin became excited at this revelation. “What? Here? Where is he?”

Peter held up his hands to calm Justin. “Easy does it. If it’s the same man he’s being held near here at the Nisqually detention facility.”

Justin laid his hands on the table and looked first at Peter then at Mark. “It must be him. Gentlemen, if we have any hope of defeating the Clans and the Guardian, that hope lies with the Doctor. We need to get him out of there.”

Mark looked again at Peter but this time he spoke. “We have two people on the inside at Nisqually, that’s how we learned about the prisoner. Even so, Nisqually is a Clan Wolf facility getting in won’t be easy let alone getting the prisoner out.”

“Then we need to come up with a damn good plan,” Justin said determinedly, “because this may be the most important mission of our lives.”

Wolf Compound WC-217-Epsilon
Olympia
Thurston County
Washington
North America
26th March, 3052

Justin crouched behind the low stone wall beside Peter and Gabrielle, watching the two ProtoMechs as they patrolled outside the detention facility. If it wasn’t for the ComStar issue sneak suits that Mark had provided them they wouldn’t have got anywhere near this place with all the patrols around. That was one thing Justin was grateful for; the second was for the caches of Mechs, tanks and heavy weapons that the ComGuard had put into safe keeping. One such cache was even now being activated in preparation for the strike on Nisqually.

All the planning that had gone into this indicated that stealth alone would never get the trio into the facility. A diversion was required, one big enough to draw off most of the defenders and enable Justin’s team to sneak into the base.

They’d been waiting here for ten minutes so, according to their chronometers, the attack should be happening any minute now.

Right on cue bright contrails arced across the sky announcing the arrival of a score of long range missiles. Within seconds dozens more missiles flew into the facility grounds smashing buildings, equipment and shattering ferrocrete roads and walkways.

The ProtoMechs turned in the direction of the contrails and accelerated towards the attackers at top speed, leaving the way clear for Justin, Peter and Gabrielle to run across the open ground to the facility’s main door.

A quickly placed charge was set then the trio took cover. Seconds later the main doors were blown open accompanied by the screams of people behind them. The three ran forward, sidearm’s drawn, and entered the main lobby. Shrapnel had peppered the room and shredded the bodies of two personnel
Peter led Justin and Gabrielle through an inner door into a reception area. They dived behind the reception desk as they heard boot feet running towards them from a corridor to their left. A secondary door burst open and a five man security detail entered reception. Peter sprang to his feet followed quickly by Justin and Gabrielle and let off a quick shot at an officer as the guards dived for cover. The shot missed high and to the officer’s right then a hail of return gun fire forced them to drop behind the counter again.

The return fire eased but was quickly followed up with several quick shots intermingled with a lot of confused shouting and swearing. Then the room fell silent.

A couple of seconds passed then a voice startled Justin. “It’s clear, Peter, come on out.”

Peter stood up with a smile and leapt over the counter to greet the man standing on the opposite side. He wore a Wolf Clan security uniform and was holstering his automatic pistol when Peter clasped him by the other hand in greeting.

“Justin, Gabrielle! Come out and meet Roose.”

The two MIIO agents stood and walked out to also greet their savior.

Roose smiled back at them. “So you’re the two that we’re risking our lives for, huh?” Then he looked back at Peter. “I can appreciate saving her, but him?”

Both Roose and Peter laughed then, noticing Justin and Gabrielle’s expression, stopped. “Don’t worry about Roose, he’s just messing with you.” Peter then addressed his ROM contact. “We’d better move anyway.”

Roose nodded, suddenly serious. “Hunter’s got the other teams going to shore up roof and the side entrance but we don’t have long. We’ve got to get to level three and in an emergency they shut down the lifts. Hope you two are fit. Follow me.”

The trio followed Roose through to the main stairwell then upwards as they quickly ran up the flights of stairs to the third floor.

Roose held open the door at the landing, check the corridor beyond then signaled the all clear. “To the right, then take the second door on the left. He’s in cell three. I’ll wait here and keep watch. Hurry!”

Justin was first into the corridor followed closely by Gabrielle then Peter. They took the second door on the left at a run and found themselves in a short passage with three doors to either side. To the left the doors were labeled one to three moving down and, on the right, four to six coming back up.

“Peter, wait here by the door in case Roose needs help.” Justin said as he and Gabrielle moved quickly down to the door marked three. Justin peered through the barred window in the door and saw the Doctor lying on the small bed, apparently asleep.

Justin drew his sidearm, pointed the barrel at the lock and fired two shots into the door. The second shot shattered the lock and the door swung open. Justin was about to enter the small room when the Doctor burst out, startling both him and Gabrielle.

“Justin! How nice to see you alive!” He turned on Gabrielle with a smile. “Hello! I’m the Doctor. You are?”

Gabrielle was stunned. “Um….uh….Gabrielle.”

The Doctor turned back to Justin. “You’ve got yourself a livewire there, young man! Come on, we can’t stand around talking all night.” The Doctor stalked back the way they had come and met Peter at the door.

“Hello! I’m….ah, introductions later. Which way?”

Peter indicated the stairwell door. “Over there. Roose is waiting in the stairwell.”

The Doctor looked confused as he continued into the corridor. “There’s a ruse in the stairwell? How strange.”

The Doctor had just got to the door with Justin, Gabrielle and Peter behind him when a shot rang out. Peter collapsed clutching his stomach as Justin and Gabrielle drew their weapons and returned fire down the corridor. Two men in Wolf uniforms took cover around a corner of the corridor peering out to take another shot.

The Doctor scampered through the door into the stairwell as Justin laid down covering fire, yelling at Gabrielle to go through next. Gabrielle stood at the doorway and snapped off two quick shots just as Justin emptied his clip. The corridor fell eerily silent for a second then a single shot shattered the silence and catapulted Gabrielle into the stairwell with a cry of pain. Justin quickly ran through the door into cover.

He knelt down where Gabrielle had fallen. “Come on, I can carry you.”

Gabrielle cried out again as Justin tried to move her. “No! Justin get out of here! Get the Doctor to safety.”

“Gabrielle we can all make it.”

“Damn it, Justin, get the hell out now! I can hold them off!”

Roose grabbed Justin by the shoulder. “She’s right, we’ve got to leave now.”

Justin shook off Roose’s hand angrily and stood. “Thank you Gabrielle.”

“My pleasure, Sir. Now please, go.” Gabrielle’s breathing was ragged now.

Justin turned and pushed past Roose and the Doctor, leading them down the stairs to the ground floor. As they reached the bottom they heard the third floor door open. There was a second of silence then gunshots and yelling. It lasted only a moment and it served as the only indication of Gabrielle’s sacrifice.

As they made their way back to reception Justin took a small comm. unit from a pocket of his sneak suit. “Courier this is Delivery Man. Do you read? Over.”

The com unit crackled once. “This is Courier. We read you loud and clear. Over.“

“We have the package, Courier. Pick us up out front. Over.”

“Affirmative Delivery Man. Rendezvous in twenty seconds. Over and out.”

As the small group reached the front doors a hover APC pulled up at the front of the building. Justin, Roose and the Doctor ran to the vehicle and clambered into the open door which awaited them. The three men dropped into seats in the infantry bay as the hover vehicle sped away.

Justin’s face was grim.”What a mess.”

“If it wasn’t for Gabrielle that security detail would likely have pinned us down in reception.” The Doctor stated.

“I know.” Justin sighed.

“So we won’t let her sacrifice be in vain.”

Justin looked up. “Damn right we won’t. We’re getting off this rock.”

“Not yet we’re not.” The Doctor contradicted.

That surprised Justin. “What?”

“If we leave now we will never have another chance of putting things right, he will be too powerful.”

“Who, Doctor? Who will be too powerful?”

The Doctor’s expression was more serious than Justin had ever seen. “Ulric Kerensky, the Khan of Clan Wolf, though I know him as Fenric.”