Author Topic: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars  (Read 480668 times)

Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #510 on: 08 October 2013, 11:45:42 »
----- 1 Day Later -----

Date: March 24, 3015 [See Notes]

Location: New Delos

Title: The Spider and the Wolf

Author: Gideon

Type: Graphic Novel (The Spider and the Wolf)

Synopsis:  In orbit above New Delos, Natasha’s company prepares to execute an orbital insertion into the blazing forests behind Anton’s fortress.  Natasha asks Jaime who’s in charge of the rescue party, and Wolf informs her that all the hostages are dead.   

On the way down, Ducal fighters cripple Natasha’s Leopard, forcing her lance to bail out and descend using rocket packs.  It’s not shown, but implied that the same thing happened to all three Leopards, since Lt. Williams of Recon Lance is shown as having died in the drop, taking his Locust out of action. 

As Natasha’s troops push through the blazing forest, their systems start to shut down from the heat.  Koniev’s Wasp loses its leg and foot actuators to the heat at the halfway point, and then shuts down, forcing Harlowe to drag him.

Meanwhile, on the fortified walls of Cienfuegos, Vesar Kristofur reports to Marik that the Ducal Guard is holding the Dragoons back with moderate, but sustainable losses.  Anton worries that this hesitancy by the Dragoons is masking the true final assault.  His fears are soon borne out by an aide’s report that Dragoon ‘Mechs (Natasha’s company) have breached the rear wall. 

As the enraged Dragoons cut a swath of destruction through Cienfuegos, Anton berates Kristofur, blaming him for the situation.  Kristofur swats him away, trying to come up with an escape plan.  An explosion separates the two.  When Anton comes to, lying in the rubble, he sees the shadow of a Warhammer looming over him.  Natasha’s thumb hovers over the trigger, but before she can fire, a wall collapses onto Anton, killing him.

Notes:  Here we have a few major breaks with the overlapping storyline of “The Memory of Pain,” which establishes that Natasha knew that all the hostages were dead six hours after making planetfall.  TMoP also has Natasha’s company making the jump-insertion intentionally, rather than being forced to bail from a crippled Leopard.

Anton’s death also happens differently.  Natasha sees Anton through a window in his palace, rather than in a pile of rubble at the base of the perimeter wall.  She kicks the palace into rubble, burying Anton in it intentionally, instead of the accidental crushing death he gets in the graphic novel.

The panel showing the main Dragoon assault on Cienfuegos includes a Wolverine, Griffin, and BattleMaster, as well as two oddly shaped ‘Mechs – one of which corresponds to a Dougram design, but the other one doesn’t ring a bell. 
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #511 on: 08 October 2013, 18:35:24 »
Mystery Mech #1 appears to be a H102 Bushman from Dougram.

Mystery Mech #2.....i think its mish-mash of a Bushman and Roundfacer (aka Griffin) but its not drawn well enough to be able to tell the difference.
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Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #512 on: 09 October 2013, 14:08:23 »
----- Same Day, Same Scene...Take Two -----

Date: March 24, 3015
 
Location: New Delos

Title: The Memory of Pain

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  In a grounded DropShip, Natasha prepares to launch a daring raid against Anton’s fortified HQ in Cienfuegos.  Jaime expresses reservations about the mission, saying that having lost his brother, wife and daughters, Natasha’s all he has left.  Natasha reminds him about Mackenzie, and Jaime says he doesn’t know how to be a single father.

Shortly, Natasha briefs her troops – Kerensky’s Independent Company will make a low-altitude drop from their DropShips into the forest fire, then breach the rear wall (where the turrets will be unmanned and the sensors burned out) and take out the power supply for the main turrets. 

The DropShips’ flight is relatively uneventful – Dragoon fighters beat back the Ducal Guard aerospace interceptors, and all three lances launch towards the inferno below.  Koniev’s Wasp takes leg damage, and Williams dies in his Locust, but the rest of the Dragoons are ready for action. 

Proceeding through the forest fire, Natasha’s troops reach the fifteen-meter-high Cienfuegos wall and smash through.  Natasha then signals Jaime to begin his assault.

Inside the city, Natasha’s forces split up, with some engaging the Ducal Guards between them and the palace, and others vectoring towards the complex’s main generator.  As the company reaches the palace, a massive explosion signals that Ikeda’s lance successfully destroyed the generator.

Dialing up the magnification on her sensors, Natasha spies Anton Marik through a palace window.  She decides not to shoot him, but instead kicks the palace wall to rubble, collapsing it on him.  Natasha continues kicking at the rubble until Jaime arrives, bringing her back to her senses.

Natasha notices that her company’s paint job is a rich, full dead black from the fire’s heat and a layer of ferrocrete dust.  She remembers Joshua’s teasing that her company needs a name, and decides that, since she would have been his wife, she now considers herself his widow.  Natasha tells Jaime that the Black Widows are ready for his command.

Notes: When asked, Jason Schmetzer said he couldn’t recall using “The Spider and the Wolf” as a reference when he wrote “The Memory of Pain.”  This scene fairly definitively indicates that he did, in fact, use it as a reference, since there are so many details that pop straight from the graphic novel pages.  Essentially, this scene represents an updating of the graphic novel scene, to bring it more in line with the more developed BattleTech universe’s themes. 

Natasha notes that Andrews is “only days-old in the unit,” making it clear that this is Willard Andrews, rather than Michael Andrews who was with the company on Calloway VI.

The commentary reiterates that 27 hostages (Dragoon families and children) died, making the earlier figure of 19 dependents + Dragoon personnel just a math error.

Differences between this scene and its counterpart in “The Spider and the Wolf” include:
  DropShips launching from the ground rather than orbit
  Natasha knows that Joshua is dead already.
  Koniev’s Wasp’s leg is damaged in the drop, not the fire.
  The company features Willard Andrews, rather than Michael Andrews.
  The DropShips defeat the Ducal Guards’ aerospace forces, rather than being shot down.
  Anton dies from Natasha collapsing his palace on him, rather than from a weakened wall collapsing on its own.
  Nobody shot at Anton, compared to his having been knocked out by an explosion before being chased by Natasha’s Warhammer.
  Natasha’s company gets its name, rather than already having it.
 
The origins of the “Black Widow” moniker  (soot + marital issues) here show a very literal-minded approach, rather than the symbolism implied by earlier attribution of the name to Natasha’s rebellious streak – shown by adopting the long-disused Clan Widowmaker emblem as her personal symbol. 
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #513 on: 09 October 2013, 18:42:38 »
Random thought.  Andrews question.  Couldn't these MechWarriors instead of being brothers be having alloted Honor names?   Graphic novel pre-dates this of course, but later stories don't necessary need worry about that.
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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #514 on: 09 October 2013, 18:56:07 »
Couldn't these MechWarriors instead of being brothers be having alloted Honor names?

The Dragoons didn't institute Honornames until at least after the 4SW. Maybe even after the initial Clan invasion, but I'm away from my books and can't easily check.

Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #515 on: 10 October 2013, 12:39:12 »
----- The Same Day -----

Date: March 24, 3015 [See Notes]

Location: New Delos

Title: The Bigger They Are…

Author: Scott Oehler

Type: Scenario (The Spider and the Wolf)

Synopsis:  The Black Widow Company blasts into Cienfuegos and goes Anton hunting.  Defensive emplacements, infantry, an armor lance and a ‘Mech lance stand between the Dragoons and their vengeance against Anton.  The Dragoons’ goal is to destroy Anton’s HQ building (with Anton inside), while the Ducal Guards’ goal is to wipe out Natasha’s force while keeping the HQ intact.   

Historically, Natasha’s force managed to kill Anton and drive off the defenders without taking any casualties.  (Excepting Williams, who died before the first shot was fired.)

Notes:  The scenario recommends using the same roster as for “Natasha’s Surprise.”  In actuality, the roster isn’t totally accurate for either scenario.  Koniev and his Wasp only joined the company after Calloway VI.  I’d recommend adding an 11th member for “The Bigger They Are…” – Willard Andrews in a Shadow Hawk, since it appears that both Michael and Willard Andrews were present for this assault run (Willard just seems to have missed the roll call).  To balance this, you should remove Lt. Williams and his Locust, since canonically he died during the drop and never made it to Cienfuegos.  Koniev's Wasp should also start the engagement with multiple leg actuator criticals.

The scenario gives the date as October 22, 3014.  However, like most dates in “The Spider and the Wolf,” it can be safely disregarded.  Per “The Memory of Pain,” the date should be March 24, 3015.

As set up, the scenario should be a cakewalk for the Dragoons.  Since they can enter from any side of the board, they can just enter off the south side and charge the wall.  The scenario doesn’t give any rules for dealing with the walls, so it would seem that Natasha’s troops can just use the Height 1 southern turret as a stair to climb up and over the Hardened Height 2 bunker and stand on the buildings behind the turrets, pouring fire onto the Heavy building at the center.  One round of fire should weaken it enough for one of the ‘Mechs to jump down onto the damaged building and collapse it.

Under the scenario rules, the defending ‘Mechs won’t even activate until at least turn three, by which time Anton will be spam.  Perhaps making a wall of infantry on the roof of the building, with tanks at the side, might block the Dragoons from reaching the roof.  However, even if the Dragoons don’t climb the buildings, they can just crash through the walls of the bunker and enter Anton’s building from ground level, Kool-Aid Man style.  Oh Yeaaaah!

Cienfuegos looks ludicrously tiny to be Anton Marik’s capital city.  It measures 360 meters per side, and fits comfortably on one map-sheet.  One could argue that this just represents Marik’s inner citadel, but the scenario calls the external walls the “city perimeter.”  To avoid feeling like you’re fighting in a broom closet, however, I’d recommend declaring the walled area Anton’s HQ compound, and then adding three more dense urban maps to represent downtown Cienfuegos.  Task Ikeda’s lance with taking out the power plant (designate a building compex as the power plant), which would then neutralize the defense turrets.  The tanks and some infantry should be defending the power plant, while the ‘Mechs should defend Anton’s HQ.  I'd also recommend making the walls into Level 3 barriers with a CF of 120.  (These are the walls that held off Jaime and company for two days, after all).  That would prevent the "stairway" shortcut and make the battle interesting for both sides.  Otherwise, it's just an execution, not an engagement.
« Last Edit: 11 October 2013, 19:44:16 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #516 on: 11 October 2013, 11:42:33 »
----- 3 Days Later -----

Date: March 27, 3015 [See Notes]

Location: New Delos

Title: The Spider and the Wolf

Author: Gideon

Type: Graphic Novel (The Spider and the Wolf)

Synopsis:  Following Anton’s death, the Dragoons spent two days rampaging across New Delos, making good on their threat to burn it to a cinder.  On the third, day, Natasha returns to the ruins of Cienfuegos.  She walks through the wreckage of Anton’s palace, where Joshua died, and tells Joshua’s spirit that vengeance has been taken, and that nobody will ever dare to move against the Dragoons again.

She walks away.  As Dragoon DropShips and fighters roar overhead, the focus shifts to a fresh gravestone.  Upon it is written:

JOSHUA WOLF

Warrior – Friend – Brother

Died - 3015

Notes:  It seems evident by now that Gideon and Scott Oehler weren’t exactly on the same page in their collaboration on “The Spider and the Wolf,” since Scott placed the final battle of Cienfuegos in October 3014, and Gideon now places Joshua’s death in 3015. 

Regarding Natasha’s vow to Joshua, clearly she’d not yet met Takashi Kurita, Grieg Samsonov, or the Word of Blake, who were more than happy to lay hands on any Dragoon they could reach and relatively heedless of the consequences. 

I wonder if the Dragoons had a sample of Joshua’s giftake on hand, or maintained a Clan-style genetic repository at this point.  They certainly did once they set up shop on Outreach.  I seem to recall something about the Clans using the ashes of dead Warriors as part of the nutrient bath for Trueborn fetuses.  If they found Joshua’s body, wouldn’t that be the Clan tradition, rather than burying it Spheroid style?
« Last Edit: 07 January 2015, 04:53:20 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #517 on: 11 October 2013, 20:12:43 »
I wonder if the Dragoons had a sample of Joshua’s giftake on hand, or maintained a Clan-style genetic repository at this point.  They certainly did once they set up shop on Outreach.  I seem to recall something about the Clans using the ashes of dead Warriors as part of the nutrient bath for Trueborn fetuses.  If they found Joshua’s body, wouldn’t that be the Clan tradition, rather than burying it Spheroid style?

Well, you run into the old problem is that the Graphic Novel/Scenario book older than the concept of the Clans in general.  There was something going on, but FASA hadn't yet intergrated that in earliest products.    IF there was gifttake, someone else would have written about it. 

I would actually be surprised that they would not have had backlash over doing gifttakes and such.  Since its against Clan customs, which they were still freshly out of Clans, still had some of the mentality by that early time period.  IF the Clans society and customs were known by the Graphic Novel / Scenario book's authors, we would have seen something different at the end of this. 

Retroactively, the grave could be considered a marker than grave with body taken with them for proper safe disposal.  We do know that Jamie Wolf was Cloned and Maevne was result of it.  If not sure if there were others, we certainly don't know of them.  Cameron, Maevne's lover, was raised clan style wasn't he?  He resembles his predecessor/former honorname holder from what i remember of the novel he first appeared on it.   Who is to say, Joshua's didn't have children that way too.  It be ironic if Natasha's blood was used to creat them.

We know that Clans seperately while she was Dragoon mission had gone ahead produced her children.   
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Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #518 on: 12 October 2013, 08:06:36 »
----- 3 Months Later -----

Date: June 6, 3015 [See Notes]

Location: Terra

Title: The Spider and the Wolf

Author: Gideon

Type: Graphic Novel (The Spider and the Wolf)

Synopsis:  In this epilogue to “The Spider and the Wolf,” Precentor ROM Vesar Kristofur is brought before Primus Julian Tiepolo at ComStar HQ on Terra, under guard.  Tiepolo castigates Kristofur for having “jeopardized the security of the brotherhood” and failed to force the Dragoons to make a supply run.  He sentences Kristofur to exile on the Periphery world of Alpha Hydri, five parsecs from any inhabited region. 

Notes:  Unlike the previous scene, everybody’s in full hood/robe at ComSTar HQ.  The guards have some odd-looking symbols on their hoods.  Perhaps it’s how they represent time in grade and branch (IX Omega, III Epsilon, etc.), since they use robe color to denote rank.

The ComStar sourcebook reports that “Precentor Kristofur managed to escape the base just as the Dragoons were beginning their attack.  Upon Kristofur’s return to Terra, Primus Tiepolo placed him under house arrest for his actions.  Kristofur claimed he had acted to fulfill the will of Blake and had been ‘following the orders of my superiors,’ but the Primus needed him as a scapegoat for the failure of the operation.  He called for a full excommunication of the Precentor ROM.  [Kristofur] was sentenced to Alpha Hydri, a desolate wasteland rediscovered a year before by the Explorer Corps.  He was never seen again.”

The Word of Blake adds “Rumors have persisted for years that Vesar Kristofur survived the ordeal on Alpha Hydri.  According to the most substantiated theory, he was rescued by a pirate band, eventually becoming the leader of the marauders known as Kelly’s Kommandos.  Using the identity of Kristopher Kelly, Vesar is said to have died while plotting his return to ComStar.”

While the ComStar sourcebook wording can be taken to mean that he returned to Terra willingly, Historical: Brush Wars (aka Justin DeMarco’s 3071 report for Nashan Publishing’s Historical Archives Division) suggests that “Kristofur was apprehended by ROM operatives as he fled into Capellan space.  Brought before the First Circuit, he was excommunicated and exiled to the desolate Periphery world of Alpha Hydri.”

Even more interestingly, the Blake Documents provides the rumor that Vesar Kristofur was a member of “The Blood” (Wolverine descendants living as a secret society within ComStar).  It alleges that his hatred of all things Clan led him to have Anton kill Joshua and the Dragoon dependents.  It notes that “Kristofur fled, ultimately to face justice from the Order.”  (A number of things suggest that the Blake Documents “Blood Journal” is fake, including the fact that they continued to misspell his name with an extra ‘f’ as “Kristoffur.”)

No date is given for this scene, but since June 6th seems to have special significance for ComStar, and it fits the timeline, there you go.
« Last Edit: 12 October 2013, 20:51:37 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #519 on: 12 October 2013, 20:13:49 »
Has Alpha Hydri appeared in any of the Maps?  I noticed its not shown in the ISP3, if it was a Periphery world, its not listed in the lastest maps.
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Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #520 on: 12 October 2013, 22:07:44 »
Has Alpha Hydri appeared in any of the Maps?  I noticed its not shown in the ISP3, if it was a Periphery world, its not listed in the lastest maps.

From the description, it's probably uninhabited.  (Sort of akin to Jack Sparrow being marooned on an uninhabited island, then being found and taken off by other pirates later on.)  Without resources to speak of and no permanent population, there'd be no reason to map it. 

Looking at the actual parsec to light-year conversion factor, 5 parsecs translates to 16.3 light years.  Heck, by that metric a large number of Inner Sphere worlds are "five parsecs from the nearest inhabited sector" since it's roughly half the distance a ship could cover in one jump.
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

Frabby

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #521 on: 13 October 2013, 02:39:12 »
According to the Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook, p. 17, Kristofur was specifically sent to "penal servitude at [the] Alpha Hydri B" station. Whatever that is.
Alpha Hydri was revealed as one of a number of ComStar worlds in the Periphery "eight to ten jumps from the DC/LC border" in a throwaway line in ISP2, p. 19, but apparently postdates the Jolly Roger affair as it was only discovered the year before (i. e. 3014).

My money is on a remote Explorer Corps supply base.

Edit: Small corrections after re-reading sources
« Last Edit: 13 October 2013, 16:03:34 by Frabby »
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Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #522 on: 13 October 2013, 04:26:09 »
Cool!  Thanks for the info, Frabby.

If the Explorer Corps only found Alpha Hydri in 3014, 3015 seems a bit soon for a space station to be constructed out there.  That means there's a good chance that Hydri B Station is an abandoned Star League facility. 
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

BrokenMnemonic

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #523 on: 13 October 2013, 04:48:01 »
Cool!  Thanks for the info, Frabby.

If the Explorer Corps only found Alpha Hydri in 3014, 3015 seems a bit soon for a space station to be constructed out there.  That means there's a good chance that Hydri B Station is an abandoned Star League facility.
Or possibly a former RWR facility that's been repurposed.

It's more interesting than optimal, and therefore better. O0 - Weirdo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #524 on: 13 October 2013, 12:15:35 »
----- Early the Following Year -----

Date: January 31, 3016

Location: Mallory’s World

Title: The More Things Change…

Author: Geoff Swift

Type: Track (Historical Turning Points: Mallory’s World)

Synopsis: After more than two years of heavy fighting between the AFFS and DCMS, the Mallory’s World campaign approaches its final phase, as Tai-sa Yorinaga Kurita launches a major push.  The 24th Dieron Regulars execute an assault drop on Colterville, where the 17th Avalon Hussars are based, along with the Mallorian Militia.  Much of the city lies in ruins following the intense artillery bombardment it suffered in 3013, and the Regulars are hoping to raze the city once and for all, denying it to the AFFS as a strategic base. 

The Regulars are a pure ‘Mech force, while the Hussars and Militia are combined arms.  Both sides deploy artillery, and are trying to inflict 50%+ casualties and eliminate the enemy commander (either Tai-sho Timlin Toshirov or General Eugene Drivers).  The Attacker gains bonus points for destroying buildings, while the defender loses points for each building destroyed.

Historically, the Regulars were making good progress blasting through ambushes from infantry and tanks, when they were unexpectedly recalled to their landing zone and pulled off-world.  They did enough damage to Colterville that the planetary capital was relocated to Mallory City, on the New Helen continent.

Notes:  The attacker and defender are equally balanced in this scenario (using whatever metric you want – tonnage, c-bills, BV, etc.)  However, since ‘Mechs are harder to kill than tanks, ton for ton, this places the advantage squarely with the Combine.  The conventional forces hidden placement serves to counterbalance this somewhat, but only if the AFFS forces can capitalize on their ambushes.  Plus, since the attacker gets points and the defender loses points for each destroyed building, urban remodeling is the way to go.  Ten buildings destroyed will have a comparable point value to capturing the enemy commander. 

For the DCMS, you’re coming in on a combat drop, so you’ll be scattered all over the map to begin with.   I’d advocate rallying as quickly as possible in good defensive terrain near the Combine home edge and going nuts with their support artillery company.  Just smash the target zone flat with artillery.  You’ll hit buildings and expose hidden units without exposing your troops to ambush.  The DCMS artillery is significantly more powerful than the AFFS batteries, so you’ll win handily if it turns into an artillery duel, and you’ll force the AFFS forces to come out of their hidey holes and charge your positions. 

For the AFFS, I’d advocate forgetting about keeping your units hidden.  (By all means, pounce on any lone ‘Mechs heading for the Combine rally point, but don’t keep hidden units out of the fight after the first few turns.)  The artillery advantage of the DCMS will make your hidden units irrelevant, especially once the city starts falling apart around you.  Unless you’re balanced by number of units, you’ll have a significant numbers advantage (at least until your guys start dropping dead).  Swarm the DCMS positions – if you’re at knife-fighting range, you’ll at least be able to keep the artillery off your combat units.  You want this battle over as quickly as possible, since the longer it goes on, the more the artillery can shatter the city’s remaining infrastructure, so go gunning for the DCMS commander.

One advantage is that the DCMS forces enter the city with a combat drop, so there’s a good chance they’ll be scattered.  If you can use your numbers to prevent them from linking up, you can overwhelm individual units before they can provide supporting fire.  Park expendable infantry in the streets whenever possible to keep the ‘Mechs from moving freely.
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #525 on: 14 October 2013, 07:48:25 »
----- Later That Same Day -----

Date: January 31, 3016

Location: Mallory’s World

Title: …The More They Stay the Same

Author: Geoff Swift

Type: Track (Historical Turning Points: Mallory’s World)

Synopsis:  A re-constituted Legion of Vega executes a combat drop onto the Fourth Davion Guards, seeking vengeance for the unit’s near total destruction two years earlier.  The Legion brings only ‘Mechs, while the Guards has the standard RCT mix, with 75% vehicles.  For balancing purposes, both forces should be of equal strength, but the Legion is far less skilled.  Historically, despite being taken by surprise and surrounded, the Fourth Guards held firm and scattered the Legion troops with a strong counterattack, putting them to flight.  At this point, Yorinaga Kurita’s grand final offensive is 0 for 2.

Notes:  Since the Davion forces will contain a substantial number of vehicles, the Legion player would be well advised to stock up on Inferno rounds for the SRM launchers.  That’s about the only advantage you have, since you’re taking Green troops up against Elite forces, you’ll be scattered around the board at the outset following the combat drop, and you’ll almost always lose initiative.  Rally as quickly as you can and attempt to mass your forces.  If you can create a large huddle, move as little as possible and mass your somewhat inaccurate fire.  Whenever possible, set woods on fire to keep enemy vehicles from moving through, and then with the flaming woods protecting your flank, kill anything that approaches from the front or sides.  Most of the Guards are light, so a high enough volume of fire, however inaccurate, will start punching through thin armor and causing casualties.

The Fourth Guards get bonus MP as their special ability when fighting DCMS troops, so their strength lies in maneuver.  Since the Guards are a light unit, most balancing mechanisms will leave them with a substantial numbers advantage over the Combine.  Coordinated maneuvering should allow the unit to swarm the scattered Combine troops (since Legion unit cohesion will have suffered during the combat drop) and reduce the ‘Mech advantage fairly quickly.  Primary targets should be any Legion ‘Mech packing SRMs (Inferno or not), because of that weapon system’s particular efficacy against conventional vehicles.  (Curse you, motive hits table!!!)  The Fourth is an elite force, so keep moving at top speed, relying on your excellent gunnery to offset the modifiers while keeping enemy fire from hitting.
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #526 on: 15 October 2013, 08:51:39 »
----- Later That Same Day -----

Date: January 31, 3016

Location: Mallory’s World

Title: Let’s Do This

Author: Geoff Swift

Type: Track (Historical Turning Points: Mallory’s World)

Synopsis:  The Veteran Ninth Benjamin Regulars engages the Veteran First Robinson Rangers on the plains outside the city of Harrison’s Ferry.  The Rangers are under the command of Field Marshal Aaron Sandoval, while the Regulars are commanded by Tai-sho Shiro Weyhu.  The rules call for more or less a straight up fight, though optionally the fighting can be set in the city of Harrison’s Ferry.  If the Regulars retreat, the Rangers are honor-bound to pursue them.  Historically, the Regulars were sent a recall order mid-battle, but ended up being chased all the way back to their DropShips, loading and boosting for orbit while under fire.

Yorinaga Kurita’s grand offensive now scores 0 for 3.

Notes:  The odds for this battle change depending on where it takes place.  The Robinson Rangers will always get a +1 bonus on their initiative rolls, but if it happens in the city, the Benjamin Regulars will get a +2 bonus to their initiative rolls, and automatically win the first round. 

Despite the equality of skills and numbers, the Rangers have a slight advantage to begin with, since the poorly maintained Benjamin Regulars start with pre-existing damage to their armor.

Field Marshal Aaron Sandoval is 54 years old at this point.  Interestingly, he was a tank commander in his early military career, and lost both legs at the age of 20 during a 2982 offensive on Rio.  Since it says only BattleMech units are used in this Track, and one of the units is Aaron’s, pre-NAIS FedSuns cyber-legs must be pretty sweet to have not only enabled Aaron to regain mobility, but to learn how to be a MechWarrior at the Battle Academy of Robinson after having initially trained as a tanker with the 159th Galax Heavy Tank Regiment.  (The New Avalon Institute of Science, which provided Justin Allard’s cyber arm, didn’t open until late 3016.)  I guess when your father is a Duke and March Lord, 300,000 C-Bills for a pair of Type V myomer legs won’t break the bank.
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #527 on: 15 October 2013, 13:52:14 »
Sounds like something got retroconned by accident. It was interesting how Aaron was in command of a Partisan.  Its how he meet his wife as well.  Its how he ended being legged to begin with.   I can't imagine him somehow becoming MechWarrior... 
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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #528 on: 15 October 2013, 19:59:00 »
Type V prostheses are listed as "fully functional," just prohibitively expensive for most denizens of the Inner Sphere.  Aaron's bio notes that he attended the Robinson Battle Academy after his rehabilitation, so he probably took the full Mechwarrior MoS there.

One wonders, though, why Hanse didn't spring for a Type V arm for Justin Allard, if the tech was available?  (I suppose the myomer arm wouldn't have accommodated the three-shot laser, for one thing.)
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #529 on: 15 October 2013, 20:43:27 »
One wonders, though, why Hanse didn't spring for a Type V arm for Justin Allard, if the tech was available?  (I suppose the myomer arm wouldn't have accommodated the three-shot laser, for one thing.)

Probably because it would mark him as someone backed by a House Lord, which would have blown his cover.


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Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #530 on: 15 October 2013, 21:38:59 »
Probably because it would mark him as someone backed by a House Lord, which would have blown his cover.

But wasn't that the point of the ruse?  He'd been backed by Hanse and had close ties to the regime through his father, but then had a highly publicized falling out over the (rigged) treason trial, went into exile on Solaris, and then got recruited by the Maskirovka.  Max wanted him precisely because he had earlier been backed by a rival House Lord. 

When Justin's recovering in the hospital, Hanse tells him that he'll get the very best treatment, and then the NAIS techies present a tricked out Type IV prosthesis as the latest and greatest prosthesis ever, which could even allow him (with proper software) to pilot a 'Mech again.  Yet, per the Prosthesis rules in TRO:3026, a Type V myomer arm could have been fully functional without needing any special software.

Thus, my guess is that he was given the Type IV primarily to conceal the laser array during his undercover work.
« Last Edit: 15 October 2013, 22:42:21 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #531 on: 15 October 2013, 21:44:30 »
One additional point of interest about Sandoval's history:  The Robinson Battle Academy was leveled in the First Succession War.  The Davion housebook notes that it was refurbished and reopened in 3020.  But, if Aaron graduated from there in the late 2900s, was it damaged/taken out of commission again between his attendance and the 3020 remodeling?
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #532 on: 15 October 2013, 21:58:52 »
One additional point of interest about Sandoval's history:  The Robinson Battle Academy was leveled in the First Succession War.  The Davion housebook notes that it was refurbished and reopened in 3020.  But, if Aaron graduated from there in the late 2900s, was it damaged/taken out of commission again between his attendance and the 3020 remodeling?
Well, the school could had temporary location while the newly rebuilt school ground were rebuilt/built.  It doesn't take long irl rent building, while military school is built unless resources are hard to come by.   More important thing I'd would imagine is keeping the education and instructions going to keep cranking out more soldiers for the March.
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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #533 on: 16 October 2013, 00:21:22 »
But wasn't that the point of the ruse?  He'd been backed by Hanse and had close ties to the regime through his father, but then had a highly publicized falling out over the (rigged) treason trial, went into exile on Solaris, and then got recruited by the Maskirovka.  Max wanted him precisely because he had earlier been backed by a rival House Lord. 

When Justin's recovering in the hospital, Hanse tells him that he'll get the very best treatment, and then the NAIS techies present a tricked out Type IV prosthesis as the latest and greatest prosthesis ever, which could even allow him (with proper software) to pilot a 'Mech again.  Yet, per the Prosthesis rules in TRO:3026, a Type V myomer arm could have been fully functional without needing any special software.

Thus, my guess is that he was given the Type IV primarily to conceal the laser array during his undercover work.

Good point, and I didn't remember the story to nearly that level of detail, as it's been well over a decade since I read the Warrior Trilogy. You're right, then, that that seems rather incongruous. Certainly isn't the first time for BT, and I doubt it will be anywhere close to the last.


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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #534 on: 16 October 2013, 10:57:08 »
----- Later That Same Day -----

Date: January 31, 3016

Location: Mallory’s World

Title: Outnumbered

Author: Geoff Swift

Type: Track (Historical Turning Points: Mallory’s World)

Synopsis:  Not to be left out of Yorinaga’s grand offensive, the Kell Hounds are attacked by the 36th Dieron Regulars on the desert flatlands of Cactus Flats.  The 2nd Kell Hound battalion moved to engage the incoming Combine force while the 3rd Battalion (infantry) protected Hound dependents and support staff as they scrambled for the DropShips.  The Combine forces have twice the Hounds’ strength, but 2/3 of the Combine units are vehicles.

Historically, the Hounds fell back to the umbrella of the DropShips’ weapons, hoping to load and lift off to a safer location.  However, before they were forced to do so, the Dieron Regulars received recall orders and withdrew.

Notes:  Due to scorching desert temperatures, every unit that tracks heat generates 1-2 extra heat points per turn, while vehicles cut cruising speed by 1-2 MP.  This renders the Kell Hounds’ infantry battalion irrelevant, since the TO rules say that conventional infantry cannot be deployed in temperatures above 50 C.  (The temp will range from 53 to 68 C, so the infantry has to be holed up in the DropShips, only used if the Combine tries a boarding action.)  If you want to include the Kell Hounds’ infantry battalion in the scenario, you need to use the rules for XTC troops, putting them in environmental suits, which counter the heat and don’t have any movement restrictions.

The Veteran 36th Dieron Regulars get +2 to initiative and +1 to all to-hit rolls on the desert flats.  The ‘Mechs also get +1 Running MP if they outnumber the Hounds.  The Hounds get just +2 on rolls to determine pilot skill levels.  The Combine ‘Mechs will be the stars of the engagement, looking for payback after getting trounced by the Kell Hounds on Murchison in 3014.  If you have good LRM batteries, keep hitting the DropShips with them, hoping for critical hits that would prevent them from launching.  For maximum bragging rights, you might be able to reclaim the DCS Fukushu for the Coordinator.  (Nuada Argetlan, indeed!  >:( )  Focus on taking out the weaker Hound ‘Mechs to keep your numbers advantage, and then use your superior mobility and accuracy to swarm the Hounds and get local numbers advantages.  Inferno rounds would also be great at accentuating the heat effects – having broiling sun and inferno rounds hitting will severely degrade the Hounds’ efficacy.  However, watch your own heat, since the infernos will be highly volatile in such conditions.  Your vehicles will be slowed by the heat.  If you can get lots of LRM packing tanks, trundle them up within range of the DropShips and then just pound them from range (the -4 for hitting immobile targets will make your fire effective, while the DropShips’ counterbattery fire won’t get that advantage).

The Kell Hounds should have fairly good gunnery, so minimize the numbers disparity by taking long-range pot-shots at the Combine tanks, which will be barely mobile.  If you pull back to make a stand under the guns of the DropShips, you get some extra firepower on your side, which will either be decisive (if both sides are only putting down a few lances in a BattleTech scenario) or puny (if you’re using Alpha Strike or BattleForce to do the engagement at full scale – battalion vs. regiment).  If it’s a small scenario, put the DropShips on and use them as firebases.  If it’s large scale, don’t have them on the board, since then you won’t be able to retreat off your home edge.  If you’re playing a campaign, the Hounds’ best option would be just to withdraw, since then neither side gets the points (of course, then why bother playing the scenario at all?) and you get a guaranteed draw.  Since the previous scenarios are slanted in favor of the AFFS, the AFFS player will be able to maintain their point lead.
« Last Edit: 16 October 2013, 10:59:19 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #535 on: 17 October 2013, 10:45:03 »
----- Later That Same Day -----

Date: January 31, 3016

Location: Mallory’s World

Title: The Duel

Author: Geoff Swift

Type: Track (Historical Turning Points: Mallory’s World)

Synopsis:  THe Kell Hounds’ First Battalion is surrounded by the entire Second Sword of Light regiment.  Morgan Kell challenges Yorinaga Kurita to an honor duel, and the DCMS commander accepts.  The Kuritan Warhammer (the same one that killed Prince Ian) faces off against Morgan’s Archer.  And then very odd things begin to happen.

Historically, Kell managed to dodge Yorinaga’s particle beams until the Sword of Light commander overheated, and then shamed the samurai by executing a perfect bow.  Yorinaga ordered a full retreat (the reason why the Drac regiments in the other Tracks suddenly got recall orders) and obliterated the ‘Mech of a subordinate who questioned his orders.  Both Morgan and Yorinaga would spend years in monasteries contemplating the circumstances which made it impossible for Yorinaga to connect – the so-called “Phantom ‘Mech Skill.”

Notes:  In this Track, “Phantom ‘Mech Skill” is represented by giving Morgan the following AToW traits:  5 Points of Edge (to force re-rolls on anything he wants), Natural Grace (+1 bonuses to many PSRs, 180 degree torso twists, and arm flipping), and Combat Intuition (effectively always wins initiative), but only after he suffers a critical hit.  While Kell has Gunnery/Piloting of 2/2, Yorinaga has Gunnery/Piloting of 1/2, and also gets the Marksman ability (he can make aimed shots as if he had a targeting computer). 

For comparison, the Kell Hounds sourcebook gives the following Phantom ‘Mech Skill game effects:  Morgan should always be treated as though he were at double the actual range and had moved ten or more hexes.  (So if Yorinaga were at range 8 - Medium Range - it would treat his targeting numbers as if he were at range 16, giving him a +4 for Long Range, and a +4 for Morgan’s movement, regardless of how far Morgan had actually moved.)  Morgan additionally has the option of either adding 2 to his To-Hit roll, or modifying results on the hit-location table to hit arms or legs. 

Clearly, the original Phantom ‘Mech Skill was much more powerful than what’s presented in this Track, which is also why it came with a recommendation to semi-permanently retire any character that developed such an ability due to the deep psychological repercussions.  By contrast, this is pretty close to what Ian Davion demonstrated while holding the Sword of Light forces off in the canyon.  So, perhaps Ian also had the Phantom ‘Mech Skill.

Strategy, wise, Morgan will want to close to his optimal range (7) and start dumping LRMs onto the Warhammer.  Sure, he wants a critical hit so his Phantom ‘Mech skill activates, but he sure doesn’t want that critical to be a full bin of LRM-20 ammo.  Once the special powers kick in, do what you can to put terrain between your Archer and Yorinaga’s Warhammer.  He can only use his Marksman ability if he stands still and uses just one weapon.  Once you reach Turn 11, attempt to end the battle by executing a bow.

Yorinaga, on the other hand, will want to end this quickly.  It’s tempting to use both PPCs every round, since you’ve got a Gunnery of 1 and 20 heat sinks.  However, assuming an average distribution of hits, even if everything connects, you’d be unlikely to penetrate anywhere before turn eight.  Use your Marksman ability to keep landing PPC hits on Morgan’s Right Torso.  Four hits there will remove half Morgan’s firepower, and grant a chance for a fatal ammo critical.  Another four to the Left Torso, and Morgan’s just got his rear lasers left to shoot with, and you’ve still got three more turns before he can bow.
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #536 on: 18 October 2013, 12:47:01 »
----- Ten Months Later -----

Date: November 12, 3016

Location: Dixie

Title: Good Fighters

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  Sergeant Isabel Ghent and Lieutenant Vera Holmes of Wolf’s Dragoons’ Beta Regiment take part in the looting of an LCAF supply depot on Dixie, while Zeta Battalion keeps the Dixie Militia bottled up 150 km away, at the city of Posh. 

However, suspicious sensor readings soon resolve into an assault by a battalion of the 17th Arcturan Guards, led by Hauptmann-Kommandant Timothy Elgar and Leutenant Sabrina Cole.  Backed by two combined arms regiments of the Dixie Militia, the LCAF battalion isn’t quite prepared to give the Dragoons a fight, having come out for field exercises without combat munitions.  The overall commander of the 17th, Colonel Ronald Hugo, fails to impress his officers.  Underestimating the Dragoons, he orders Elgar’s battalion into a direct assault backed by the militia tanks.

With the Dixie Militia deployed out near the supply depot, Zeta Battalion is finding its hands full with the 17th Arcturan Guards at Posh.  Captain Simpson Pollock and Colonel Mary Terrell, Zeta’s current commander, bemoan the intelligence failures of SAFE, which had told the Dragoons to expect only militia.  The Dragoons had recently faced the 17th on Wyatt, and respected their abilities.

Back at the depot, Elgar tells Hugo that assaulting the entrenched Dragoon positions would be a mistake.  He notes that his ‘Mechs are still packing paint rounds, and won’t have live ammo for another six hours.  However, when he advocates drawing the Dragoons out into open terrain, Hugo says they can’t risk letting them escape.

As the Lyrans approach the depot, Isabel asks Vera why Beta doesn’t simply lift off.  Vera replies that the supply ships might not survive lifting off under fire.  As the Lyran militia armor storms forward, the Dragoons tear them apart with artillery while the depot’s captured turrets trade fire with the tanks.

At the outskirts of Posh, Colonel Terrell discusses the situation with her commanders, telling them that they’re going to rescue Beta’s battalion at the depot.  Major J. Elliot Jamison complains that Zeta will face flank attacks on the march, and that Beta should just have lifted off, rather than trying to hold on the ground at the depot.  He wants to finish the job at Posh, then use DropShips to redeploy right on top of the Lyrans besieging the depot.  Terrell listens to his concerns, then orders him to move out anyways.

Back at the depot, Colonel Ganz (the militia armor commander) rages at Colonel Hugo for having sent his tanks in without proper support, resulting in a battalion’s worth of casualties.  Hugo responds that Ganz is on record as supporting the assault, and suggests that they work together to find some way to salvage the situation.  Hauptmann-Kommandant Elgar receives news from a runner – Depot Z34 will have to wait.  Zeta Battalion is on its way.

Close to midnight, Zeta approaches depot Z34 without facing any opposition.  Ahead of them, Hauptmann-Kommandant Elgar prepares his 17th Arcturan battalion to stop their advance.  Minefields are placed close to the Lyran lines, in the hopes of disrupting the mercenaries at a crucial juncture, just as the fire from the Lyran “long wall” peaks.  And then the Lyrans settle in to wait.

Notes:  Pollock notes that Frank Wells (last seen commanding Zeta in “Making a Name”) died in his cockpit, and had been replaced by Terrell.  J. Elliot Jamison is the commander in 3025, and the Wolf’s Dragoons sourcebook entry notes that he’s its fourth commander, the previous three having all died in combat.  Not good news for Colonel Terrell.

I greatly enjoyed this story, which shares its structure with Jason Schmetzer’s “Making a Name,” with the 17th Arcturan Guards taking over the role of OpFor from The Waco Rangers.  Telling both sides of the conflict allows players to root for their favorite faction, making the format uniquely well suited to BattleTech fiction.

Dixie is portrayed as a major border world, with multiple combined arms regiments and supply depots with “billions of kroner” worth of munitions.  The LCAF garrison regards a two-battalion attack as a pinprick raid.  Yet, by 3025 (nine years later) in “The Heart of Dixie,” a character notes that a Marik ‘Mech battalion would be more than enough force to take the world.  Did Dixie fall so far in less than a decade?
« Last Edit: 18 October 2013, 21:07:23 by Mendrugo »
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #537 on: 18 October 2013, 19:56:14 »
Dixie is portrayed as a major border world, with multiple regiments of combined arms regiments and supply depots with “billions of kroner” worth of munitions.  The LCAF garrison regards a two-battalion attack as a pinprick raid.  Yet, by 3025 (nine years later) in “The Heart of Dixie,” a character notes that a Marik ‘Mech battalion would be more than enough force to take the world.  Did Dixie fall so far in less than a decade?

Well, according to IS Atlas:
Quote
A major center for the Replacement Depot Corps and staging post for attacks against the Free Worlds League, the people of Dixie have a long tradition of martial excellence and resilience, making the planet an ideal location for a regional militia and HQ. Though no longer associated with a regional command center, the militia continues to play a major role in guarding the planet's supply depots.

So it sounds like while it's still a major logistical center, it no longer has the regional command facilities it apparently once possessed, which would seem to account for its decreased defense forces.


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Mendrugo

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #538 on: 19 October 2013, 04:26:30 »
----- 1 Day Later -----

Date: November 13, 3016

Location: Dixie

Title: Good Fighters

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  In the wee hours of the 13th, Sim Pollock of Zeta Battalion surveils the entrenched Lyran line between the Dragoon line of advance and Beta’s position at Depot Z34.  He ponders the tactical situation – just punching a hole through the Lyran lines for Beta to extract would be doable, but would force them to leave their booty-laden DropShips at the depot.

Over at the depot, Isabel Ghent and Vera Holmes oversee technicians who are using the time to maximize their haul from the depot, dumping low value goods for more expensive loads.  Ghent wants to hit the Lyrans in the flank once the Zetas engage, but Holmes cautions her to remember that the mission is the extraction of supplies, not engaging the Lyrans.

Back at Zeta, Jamison rages against Terrell, demanding an attack, while Captain Bancroft advocates trying to draw the Lyrans out of their fixed positions.  Sim Pollock lays out a plan to flank them, rather than hitting the “long wall” of Lyran Assault ‘Mechs head on.  Terrell rejects the idea as being too sneaky – more befitting the Seventh Kommando or Black Widows.  In order to preserve the Zeta’s reputation as the irresistible force, she orders her troops to hit the Lyrans where they’re strongest and demoralize them by smashing through. 

In the Lyran lines, Timothy Elgar prepares his battalion to meet the Zeta charge, already dreaming of the career advancement he’ll achieve from beating the Zetas at their own game.  The Zetas come in and try to soften the Lyran line with an intense long-range missile bombardment, while the Arcturans respond in kind.  When it becomes clear that the missile barrage won’t shift the LCAF, Zeta charges.

As Arcturan casualties mount, Elgar decides not to pull his reserves out of their prepared positions, trusting instead in the minefields – which slow the Dragoon advance, breaking up their line.  As Zeta slows, the Arcturans and Dixie Militia advance, targeting Zeta’s leading command lance.  Pollock advises pulling back, but Terrell rejects that, and urges Zeta to bull through.

In the Lyran lines, Hauptmann-Kommandant Elgar is savoring his victory when unexpected news reaches him – Colonel Hugo, judging the battle already won, has recalled several of his supporting battalions to resume the siege of Depot Z34.  As Zeta continues to charge in and the heavy tanks begin to retreat, Elgar calls forward his remaining reserves.

As the battle rages, the Lyran lines begin to show the strain.  Elgar tries to counteract the trend by taking out Colonel Terrell’s Marauder II.  The Zetas pause in their firing, and Elgar silently wills them to retreat.  At first the Zetas resume their firing with doubled intensity, but then begin to withdraw.  Elgar is relieved, but also frustrated that he can’t pursue and destroy them, since Hugo stripped off his support battalions.

Zeta, now under the Sim Pollock’s brevet command, tells his battered battalion that it’s not over.  They’re going back in.

At Depot Z34, Hugo congratulates Elgar on stopping Zeta, and tells him that he and his troops will now repeat their assault on Beta, this time with full ammo loads.  Before Elgar can tell Hugo how bad this plan is, a messenger bursts in with news that Zeta has loaded onto its DropShip (the WDS Hecate) and is en-route to the depot.  The DropShip’s jets even now are making the night brighter than daylight over the Lyran field camp, as the Zetas execute a combat drop directly atop the LCAF HQ.

Beta charges out of the depot and slams into the Lyran lines, seeking to open a hole for Zeta to extract to the depot, where the Hecate has just landed next to Beta’s Overlord.  In the chaotic camp, Hugo tells Elgar to press the attack, and is flabbergasted when Elgar informs him that there’s no chance of victory without the defensive lines and preparations they enjoyed on the road to Posh, not with the LCAF forces spread across four kilometers and the tanks arrayed for an assault on the depot.  Elgar pushes his BattleMaster into a retreat towards Posh, with Sim Pollock’s Stalker in hot pursuit.

Vera and Isabel, of Beta, greet the Zetas as they arrive at the depot and begin loading aboard the DropShips.   They identify themselves as the rearguard, and ask Captain Jamison if he’s in command.  He informs them that Pollock is the senior company commander, and that he’s still in the thick of the battle.

Realizing that he can’t catch the faster BattleMaster, Pollock opens a channel to Elgar and tells him to be proud of what he’s accomplished, but that despite his efforts, Zeta has accomplished its mission.  Elgar taunts Pollock, noting that no matter what the “mission” was, the fact remains that Zeta withdrew from the field of battle.

In the rumble seat of the BattleMaster, Hugo tells Elgar to rally his troops to assault the depot, hoping to catch the Dragoons loading onto their DropShips.  Elgar refuses, noting that he’s taken more than 30% casualties while two regiments of Dixie militia are in tatters.  When Hugo threatens to sink Elgar’s career with the help of friends at court, Elgar responds that the BattleROMs will vindicate him and ruin Hugo.  (Since Elgar is the 17th’s commander circa 3025, it looks like Hugo’s friends weren’t able to save him.)

Notes:  This section clarifies that Frank Wells was the first commander of Zeta, dying on Shiro III, making Terrell the second, dying on Dixie.  Pollock is the third – dying on Hesperus II, leaving Jamison as the fourth. 

A brief reminiscence by Pollock notes that “Roderick had bought his farm in 3012.”  This was almost certainly Austen Roderick, one of the viewpoint characters in “Making a Name.”  It looks like he survived four years in Zeta back when it was the Dragoons’ high-turnover penal unit, making it to company commander in that time.

There’s an anachronism in the Dixie Militia TO&E – a pair of Rommel tanks is noted as taking the field against Colonel Terrell.  The Rommel didn’t even appear as a prototype until 3020, and was first fielded by Hansen’s Roughriders on Solaris VII sometime after that.  It didn’t enter mass production until 3027, so its appearance here is at least 11 years too early.

The Zeta frenzy resembles the “Condition Feral” fighting style seen decades later on Outreach.  It’s not standard operating procedure for the Dragoons to flip out when a colonel dies – as one did on New Aragon.

This was one of the most effective portrayals of Lyran “social generals” in the fiction.  Rather than just telling us Hugo is incompetent, Jason shows us clearly what’s lacking in the Lyran command structure, and how much a desire for personal glory and career advancement makes tactical decisions suffer.  One wonders if Colonel Hugo’s friends at court include members of House Hogarth.  (Thomas Hogarth doesn’t enter the Nagelring until 3023, but his father is apparently influential at this juncture, due to mining interests.)

Many authors have “pet units” that they cover in depth.  Stackpole focused on the Kell Hounds.  Victor Milan had the 17th Recon.  William Keith had the Gray Death Legion.  And Robert Charrette had Wolf’s Dragoons.  However, Jason Schmetzer has done a great job of adopting the Dragoons as his own.  Whereas Charrette focused primarily on Jaime and his immediate circle in “Wolves on the Border” and “Wolf Pack,” Jason has done justice to Zeta (“Making a Name,” “Good Fighters,” and “The Last Day of Zeta”) and the Black Widows (“The Memory of Pain”).  He also covers the Dragoons in “Feral,” “Hector,” “Night Terrors,” “The Day After,” and “A Thing to be Done.”  To my mind, this makes the Dragoons as much Jason’s as Charrette’s at this point.
"We have made of New Avalon a towering funeral pyre and wiped the Davion scourge from the universe.  Tikonov, Chesterton and Andurien are ours once more, and the cheers of the Capellan people nearly drown out the gnashing of our foes' teeth as they throw down their weapons in despair.  Now I am made First Lord of the Star League, and all shall bow down to me and pay homa...oooooo! Shiny thing!" - Maximillian Liao, "My Triumph", audio dictation, 3030.  Unpublished.

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Re: Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars
« Reply #539 on: 19 October 2013, 13:44:31 »
I'm very glad that Jason Schmetzer had indeed taken in telling stories of the Wolf's Dragoons.  Specially now he protrayed them during the Dark Age.  Its really something to read.  If he reading this, thank you, Jason!!  Again thanks for going over these storys for use, Mendrugo.
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