Author Topic: BattleTech FanFiction Tribble Emporium (Read 380412 times)

VhenRa · « **Reply #1290 on:** 29 December 2019, 02:13:27 »

Tribble 604 -
Kell Hounds don't manipulate Pacifica's time server and the 2SOL attack 24 hours later as per their proper schedule. Assume their attack goes about as well as per OTL.
Main effect is, they arrive at Styx a day later and not in time to save Melissa.

What next?

consequences · « **Reply #1291 on:** 29 December 2019, 19:21:24 »

Severe vengeance because the Kuritans are still at least 79 hours away from a safe recharge? Presuming they actually track down Melissa in the first place, instead of it being a Newt in the airducts scenario?

VhenRa · « **Reply #1292 on:** 30 December 2019, 00:35:11 »

Quote from: consequences on 29 December 2019, 19:21:24

Severe vengeance because the Kuritans are still at least 79 hours away from a safe recharge? Presuming they actually track down Melissa in the first place, instead of it being a Newt in the airducts scenario?

One of their Panther pilots had her in his sights. With Andrew, Melissa and Clovis having raised their hands in surrender... and at that moment the Kell Hounds drop in and kill the Panther. I just reread book one today.

consequences · « **Reply #1293 on:** 30 December 2019, 08:25:29 »

Severe Vengeance it is then! Maybe not just then, though there's a distinct chance that the Kuritan Overlord develops a sudden case of spontaneously opening airlocks and non functional emergency doors if they are taken alive.

Yorinaga's driving motivation is achieving his revenge, because he's a petty poohead. There's a distinct possibility that he parades around Melissa or her corpse to provoke Patrick into making an attack so he can kill him to drag Morgan out, because apparently sending a Singing Duelagram to a monastery is yet another lost technology.

So presuming the Genyosha decide to leave, and don't get chased down and wiped out in space, the Combine has just taken another fiance from Hanse, a year before he was going to be launching a grand offensive. There might be a slight reordering of target priorities as a result.

mighty midget · « **Reply #1294 on:** 30 December 2019, 15:29:14 »

Tribble 605

During the Dragoon's re-supply run of 3019 the outline of a plan is developed for the defense of the Inner Sphere. The basis of this plan is to close the gap between technology bases to allow the superior numbers of the Houses work in their favor. To this end Khan Ward and Jamie Wolf make plans for a follow-on supply run to be sent. As far as the Clan Grand Council will be informed this convoy will be occupying a forward staging area to establish shorter supply lines. In reality the personnel selected for this mission would be providing the seeds for a technological renaissance for the Inner Sphere.

Equipment being transferred would include machinery for the production of weaponry, ammunition and medical supplies. As part of this shipment would include a complete copy of the Clan's accumulated knowledge base, surpassing even the Helm core, for the use of scientists and technicians in building factories and hospitals. Some major items sent to aid in the future invasion is a re-activated Newgrange YardShip and a pair of Potemkin troop cruiser from the Clan's shared boneyards above Strana Mechty to allow repair of other ships and rapid movement of large forces. Commanding this mission would be an officer handpicked by Khan Ward, Star Colonel Ulric.

Upon the arrival of the convoy in the deep periphery they are met by a Dragoon Task Force and led to one of the known SLDF deep-space bases, Camelot Command. It was decided by Jamie Wolf and Star Colonel Ulric that this would allow them to give the illusion of setting up a base for the Clans while being close enough to aid the Dragoons materially. During their discussions they decided to send multiple forces on salvaging expeditions to all known SLDF storage locations to collect all equipment they could. The primary outcome of the meetings was a plan to overcome ComStar's Operation Holy Shroud that WolfNet had uncovered. Data for the development of base technologies would be shot gunned through the entire Inner Sphere by operatives uploading data to the servers of universities and public 'net forums. A special focus would be the spreading the information needed to build, maintain and operate Hyper Pulse Generators, as this would rob ComStar of their primary income stream. Military specific weapon data would be slowly spread through the use of Blackwell Heavy Industries, by this time essentially a Dragoon-specific support organization, and by contracting out Dragoon personnel to aid research & development institutes.

drakensis · « **Reply #1295 on:** 31 December 2019, 02:03:10 »

Tribble 606

After the wedding on Terra, Primus Tiepolo throws Tojo Jarlath under the bus for the repeated security problems encountered. At least three weapons smuggled into Hilton Head? Myndo Waterly screamed at him every time and she was so shrill!

The new Precentor ROM reports two interesting things to the Primus. Firstly, Jarlath was organising Mechwarriors for some sort of commando raid Waterly was after. Not telling the Primus this would be bad enough, but the idiot was doing it on Hilton Head, during the wedding. Cretin.

Secondly, the hunt for the Helm Data Core is going much worse than reported. Basically, the horse is bolted and if the Great Houses don't have copies it's just a matter of time.

After prayer (and pre-alerting his allies), the Primus makes an announcement to all of ComStar, one sent by HPG to every station: this is the great day. The technological renaissance that Blake had created ComStar to await was upon the Inner Sphere and it was time for them to take the lead. ComStar had obtained a copy of the Helm Data Core and every Precentor was to present it to the planetary government served by their HPG station and offer ComStar's assistance in making use of the contents. As a matter of neutrality they wouldn't help with military uses, but loans, technical advice and even direct investment into civilian industries to raise the standard of living on worlds would be made available.

It's a brand new day for the Inner Sphere and ComStar will take the lead - not in usurping government power, perish the thought, but by getting out in front of the trends. Tiepolo even pledges small garrisons of ComGuards on worlds that accept Comstar help - not enough to challenge the local militia in number, but enough to give them a little extra help against bandits trying to destroy progress made.

After all, officially the Star League is gone. But if you have a single organisation providing interstellar communications (like the Ministry of Communications), military forces policing the entire Inner Sphere (like the SLDF did) and economic influence on every world (like the BSLA did)... then in all but politics, the Star League is back... and ComStar is going to be in the driving seat.

(And any recidivist opposing this glorious vision clearly doesn't believe in Blake's great mission of peace and prosperity for everyone, and is clearly a filthy heretic. Isn't that right, Precentor Dieron?)

Daryk · « **Reply #1296 on:** 31 December 2019, 05:04:47 »

I like that one! More, please! :thumbsup:

Takiro · « **Reply #1297 on:** 31 December 2019, 11:43:06 »

I think reactionaries would take a shot or five at any Primus who lets the Great Houses get so much tech.

drakensis · « **Reply #1298 on:** 31 December 2019, 15:45:22 »

Tiepolo only has a couple of years to live anyway.

Tribble 607
As Ardan and Hanse infiltrate Royal Court to try to remove the doppelganger they encounter another two men with the same goal, except they're trying to rescue their friend who has been abducted and brainwashed to think he's the First Prince.

Daryk · « **Reply #1299 on:** 31 December 2019, 17:55:01 »

Now THAT's hilarious! ;D

Takiro · « **Reply #1300 on:** 31 December 2019, 21:50:04 »

;D :D

SulliMike23 · « **Reply #1301 on:** 02 January 2020, 14:54:47 »

I find this tribble to be quite...illogically amusing.

nerd · « **Reply #1302 on:** 02 January 2020, 15:54:51 »

Considering the image of Hanse from Era Report 3052, yes, it is.

Although is this Commander Spock or Ambassador Spock we're talking about. :D

DoctorMonkey · « **Reply #1303 on:** 12 January 2020, 10:30:49 »

Tribble 608

Inspired by something mentioned in, I think, Cannonshops's Teaser for a... story associated chat

A variant on the Davion & Davion (Deceased) concept - Kerensky & Kerensky (Deceased) & Kerensky (Deceased)!

Alexander Kerensky is advised about events by the (recently deceased at the end of 3057) Ulric Kerensky and Natasha Kerensky, perhaps a better name would be "A Wolf On Each Shoulder"?

The point of diversion feels like it might be nice to make it the moment Kerensky first came to widespread prominence in OPERATION SMOTHER when his unit, the 564th Hussar Regiment lost every commander above the rank of Captain in a DropShip collision leaving the 29 year old Captain A Kerensky (Gunslinger) in command of the regiment while battling outnumbered against DCMS forces as too many of the 160th BattleMech Division's forces are stuck up in orbit.

I was looking at *how* a regiment could lose so many senior officers and, apart from criminally negligent over confidence, the reason looks like it might be the presence of a Dictator Command DropShip which was designed to carry a Regimental Command Company, the three Battalion Command Lances and some 16 heavy AFVs of the logistics and command "tail"

No idea if I will get a chance to write it up but I am enjoying the idea :-)

Edit - my thanks to the person pointing out I forgot to include the Tribble number, thank you Daryk!

Daryk · « **Reply #1304 on:** 12 January 2020, 10:40:28 »

I'd read it! And I think that deserves to be #608, if you could edit that in...

Greatclub · « **Reply #1305 on:** 12 January 2020, 13:12:09 »

Quote from: DoctorMonkey on 12 January 2020, 10:30:49

Tribble 608

Alexander Kerensky is advised about events by the (recently deceased at the end of 3057) Ulric Kerensky and Natasha Kerensky, perhaps a better name would be "A Wolf On Each Shoulder"?

Nasty K as a shoulder devil? Sure, that works.

Daryk · « **Reply #1306 on:** 12 January 2020, 13:25:48 »

You're very welcome, Doc! :thumbsup:

Lone-Wolf · « **Reply #1307 on:** 13 January 2020, 06:09:15 »

Tribble 609

Just like in canon the GDL dicovers the Helm depository. But Grayson is killed by a rock and Lori is shattered. Knowing that the Marik forces are out to kill them Lori enters the cave system with a squad and after consulting the maps she orders the rest of the GDL to head for another hidden entrance. Then she closes the main gate and the GDL breaks camp. The Marik and Comstar forces never understand the significance of the place where the GDL made camp (the pyramid) and continue hunting the GDL. And then the GDL disappear. No trace is found.

Marik and Comstar squabble and their fragile alliance breaks.

Meanwhile nobody notices that a small village more than quintuples in population. And this village is close to one of the hidden entrances.

While the captured members of the GDL are executed, Lori swears revenge.

While the mystery of Helm reaches nearly the same as the Bermuda triangle of Earth the survivors of the GDL learn from the Helm core and use the space inside the depositoy to build industrial factories. They have children and in 3130 they emerge with all reactivated Mechs from the depository and a few new ones build. They even found the hidden spaceport and build new dropships (It is mentioned that every SLDF facility had a spaceport therefore I concluded that Helm should also have one. I don`t think that Major Keeler wouldn`t build one or make some preparations for the establishment of one).

smdvogrin · « **Reply #1308 on:** 13 January 2020, 09:54:47 »

Quote from: Lone-Wolf on 13 January 2020, 06:09:15

Tribble 609

Just like in canon the GDL dicovers the Helm depository. But Grayson is killed by a rock and Lori is shattered. Knowing that the Marik forces are out to kill them Lori enters the cave system with a squad and after consulting the maps she orders the rest of the GDL to head for another hidden entrance. Then she closes the main gate and the GDL breaks camp. The Marik and Comstar forces never understand the significance of the place where the GDL made camp (the pyramid) and continue hunting the GDL. And then the GDL disappear. No trace is found.

Marik and Comstar squabble and their fragile alliance breaks.

Meanwhile nobody notices that a small village more than quintuples in population. And this village is close to one of the hidden entrances.

While the captured members of the GDL are executed, Lori swears revenge.

While the mystery of Helm reaches nearly the same as the Bermuda triangle of Earth the survivors of the GDL learn from the Helm core and use the space inside the depositoy to build industrial factories. They have children and in 3130 they emerge with all reactivated Mechs from the depository and a few new ones build. They even found the hidden spaceport and build new dropships (It is mentioned that every SLDF facility had a spaceport therefore I concluded that Helm should also have one. I don`t think that Major Keeler wouldn`t build one or make some preparations for the establishment of one).

I like the concept, but have some quibbles with your plan. First off, a spaceport is just landing/cargo handling - it doesn't build new dropships (lots of cities have airports, but you can't use one to build 747s). Similarly, I don't see them being able to build new factories for mechs - or need to, given the existing stocks! Aren't there something like 400-500 mechs in the total Helm Cache? The GDL isn't going to breed fast enough to need more!

I think you'd be better off with them as a horror/ghost story - mysterious Mechs emerge from the various well-hidden entrances, f*** up Comstar or someone else they blame, then disappear into the night (ECM and Active probes help). Before long, the new landholder is convinced the place is cursed, and Comstar has gone through 6 preceptors either dead or gibbering in fear.

Lone-Wolf · « **Reply #1309 on:** 13 January 2020, 10:11:54 »

Quote from: smdvogrin on 13 January 2020, 09:54:47

I like the concept, but have some quibbles with your plan. First off, a spaceport is just landing/cargo handling - it doesn't build new dropships (lots of cities have airports, but you can't use one to build 747s). Similarly, I don't see them being able to build new factories for mechs - or need to, given the existing stocks! Aren't there something like 400-500 mechs in the total Helm Cache? The GDL isn't going to breed fast enough to need more!

I think you'd be better off with them as a horror/ghost story - mysterious Mechs emerge from the various well-hidden entrances, f*** up Comstar or someone else they blame, then disappear into the night (ECM and Active probes help). Before long, the new landholder is convinced the place is cursed, and Comstar has gone through 6 preceptors either dead or gibbering in fear.

On the one Hand you are right. There are no factories, but the Helm core has all the necessary knowledge. In "It was easier on the Tabletop" Chris OFarrell put it rather clear: " from first principles, build the tools to build the factories to build the tools to build late Star League era technology. ". So, yes, they would have the knowledge. But of course the big question then would be basic stuffs like ore and chemicals you Need.

And to the number of children? Doesn´t it depend on the number of children a Family has? You know a family with 2 children needs longer to grow to a certain number then a family that has 4 or more children per generation.

Your idea of a Horror Story I toyed with it shortly, but now that you put it so nicely. Yes, that would be a great story.

Can we put it as Tribble 609h (for Horror)?

The beginning is the same as Tribble 609 but then:
And at various times the disappeared mechs of the GDL would reappear out of the fog to strike at Marik and Comstar facilities. No Radio transmissions, just attacks and then they would disappear into the fog. Now Helm is haunted and used by both House Marik and Comstar as punishment posting.

drakensis · « **Reply #1310 on:** 21 January 2020, 06:52:57 »

Tribble 610
Melissa survives the bomb (maybe loses an eye and now has a noticeable resemblance to Focht) and holds the FedCom together.

After the Refusal War she gives Phelan and the Wolves-in-Exile a choice:

1. Join the Federated Commonwealth, subjecting themselves to all laws and requirements. Their warriors join AFFC, citizenship, etc. The FedCom gains all their tech and whatever navigational data they can provide on the location of the Clan Homeworlds. Up to and including voluntary interrogation. (She points out this is a better deal than they'd get as bondsmen).

2. She grants them several abandoned colony worlds to settle on and will allow immigrants from the Clans, the FedCom or elsewhere to migrate to join them if they want. They'll have to accept the basic laws of the Star League and will be treated as a fellow Star League member-state, so far as she is concerned, including sponsoring them for a full seat on the SL Council if it ever reconvenes. A certain amount of funding will be loaned, not given, to help them get started. (Worlds in question are: Bayis II, Conley's Patch, Warrumbungle, Eschenberg, Lintz - all in the general vicinity of Arc-Royal or Tharkad)

3. ****** off back to the Clans and good luck.

The first option is simply not acceptable. The third is given real consideration, but ultimately there's no real choice.

And then the Wolves read the SL's basic laws and realise they're going to have to give up a number of their customs. Bondsmen? Nope. Sibkos? Significantly moderated. All those little controls the Clans generally impose on their civilians... they actually can't be more oppressed than the Capellans and Draconians were under the Star League - which is less than they are today.

And Melissa points out that while she's not stopping any of her citizens from joining them, if any of the Wolves decide to defect then she is free to welcome them...

gladius · « **Reply #1311 on:** 21 January 2020, 10:32:54 »

I just like that there was a world in the Commonwealth named ‘ Warrumbungle’. It makes my inner Aussie smile.

Atarlost · « **Reply #1312 on:** 21 January 2020, 19:38:32 »

Tribble 611 (crack warning)

At one of Richard Cameron's wild parties, an Elemental with a flux capacitor in place of one of his SRMs appears, crushes Amaris's head like a grape while laughing maniacally, and fades away like Marty Mcfly.

Richard Cameron descends into paranoia and shows that he can destroy the Star League all on his own without any help from anyone else.

Takiro · « **Reply #1313 on:** 22 January 2020, 06:18:39 »

Quote from: drakensis on 21 January 2020, 06:52:57

Tribble 610
Melissa survives the bomb (maybe loses an eye and now has a noticeable resemblance to Focht) and holds the FedCom together.

After the Refusal War she gives Phelan and the Wolves-in-Exile a choice:

4. Wolf Reunification. Following Operation Bulldog she puts together a follow up campaigns to 'liberate' the InnerSphere. Step three in this process would be this where the Wolf Dragoons, Wolf-in-Exile, and the Crusader Wolves duke it out for supremacy. Winner gets the Tamar March as their home.

Cannonshop · « **Reply #1314 on:** 22 January 2020, 10:13:44 »

Quote from: Atarlost on 21 January 2020, 19:38:32

Tribble 611 (crack warning)

At one of Richard Cameron's wild parties, an Elemental with a flux capacitor in place of one of his SRMs appears, crushes Amaris's head like a grape while laughing maniacally, and fades away like Marty Mcfly.

Richard Cameron descends into paranoia and shows that he can destroy the Star League all on his own without any help from anyone else.

ahahahahahhha I love it.

Takiro · « **Reply #1315 on:** 22 January 2020, 12:27:29 »

611 is a good one with many possibilities. Cameron Civil War? Houses vs. Hegemony?

Lone-Wolf · « **Reply #1316 on:** 22 January 2020, 13:40:36 »

Quote from: drakensis on 21 January 2020, 06:52:57

Tribble 610
Melissa survives the bomb (maybe loses an eye and now has a noticeable resemblance to Focht) and holds the FedCom together.

I have only one question: What does she do after she is informed that her own daughter and Ryan Steiner were the ones who tried to kill her?
OK, Ryan is toast, but Kat?
Will she
a) not wake up one morning?
b) be put into a room with a ticking bomb and yes, she may beg for her life, but Mel will tell her flat out that she cannot trust her ever?
c) the Triad gets a few subbasements and there on the lowest level a prisoner with an iron mask lives out her life, while the entire IS thinks Kat died in a dropship accident / jumpship misjump? (Imagine that Ryan is put in the cell next to her and is not killed)
d) transported to a planet in the very deep periphery to play Adam and Eve with Ryan?

On the other Hand, there are things men is not meant to know...

Dave Talley · « **Reply #1317 on:** 22 January 2020, 14:09:27 »

No
Keep them in cells near each other, no other interaction with any people or animals, they only have each other for company, but they can't physically touch each other because of the bars
For those two egomaniacs to be unable to validate themselves and put up with each other's whining would be a deserving sentence

wolfcannon · « **Reply #1318 on:** 22 January 2020, 14:11:50 »

hmm i’d switch their minds around, kat into ryan and ryan into a dog lol.

Dave Talley · « **Reply #1319 on:** 22 January 2020, 14:22:33 »

Or stream the Kardashians 24/7