Father's day short: Like Family

[Dubble_g]

Written in honor of Father's Day, about some of the dark ways fatherhood takes shape in the BattleTech universe. Forms a kind of direct prequel to the first BattleTech novel I ever read, "The Sword and the Dagger", as a little tip of the hat to the book that started it all.

As Capellan forces descend on the Federated Suns world of Redfield, one of the commanders in the invasion reflects on the lessons his fathers--real and symbolic--have taught him.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qn64txr8oh20v2p/Family.pdf?dl=0

I like writing stand-alone stories rather than long-running sagas, so here are the links to the other stories I've shared through Dropbox:

Of Marble and Mud (Seems to be the most popular of the bunch so far: A Periphery pirate and FedSuns MechWarrior are stranded on a desert island in the middle of a civil war.)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c2yr8qgyauo800l/Of%20Marble%20and%20Mud.pdf?dl=0

Any Man's Death (Maybe people's second-favorite: In the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, a Capellan soldier travels to Solaris to rebuild his life, but discovers old loyalties die hard.)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/238tb3w48h1zrbp/Any%20Man%27s%20Death.pdf?dl=0

Smoke and Errors (12 dispossessed MechWarriors are brought together on a desert world for the ultimate heist. But can they trust each other?)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tstpu0qayjuk1j3/Smoke%20and%20Errors.pdf?dl=0

Falling on Dead Ears (Cultures clash when the Smoke Jaguars occupy the Draconis Combine world of Bjarred. Told in flashback via interviews)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/35qlm7wegf7id03/Falling_on_Dead_Ears.pdf?dl=0