Difference between revisions of "Forever Faithful"
(edited text for brevity, added further plot - work in progress)
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;Main story
 
;Main story
−
Trent, the former Clan Smoke Jaguar clansman who had turned his back on his wayward Clan and had provided the [[Inner Sphere]] powers with the required navigational data to reach Huntress in the first place, thus precipitating the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar, is denied the chance to fight as a warrior by Victor Steiner-Davion himself. When he accuses Steiner-Davion of being without honor, [[Clan Nova Cat]] [[Khan]] [[Severen Leroux]] knocks him down and wraps a bondcord around Trent's wrist, making him his [[bondsman]]. Trent is then immediately reinstated to warrior status, so that he can participate in a trial by combat against [[Clan Ice Hellion]] as part of Clan Nova Cat in the [[Great Refusal]]. [[Star Captain]] [[Inanna (Character)|Inanna]] takes him under her wing, making predictions about his fate and futud that re.
+
Trent, the former Clan Smoke Jaguar clansman who had turned his back on his wayward Clan and had provided the [[Inner Sphere]] powers with the required navigational data to reach Huntress in the first place, thus precipitating the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar, is denied the chance to fight as a warrior by Victor Steiner-Davion himself. When he accuses Steiner-Davion of being without honor, [[Clan Nova Cat]] [[Khan]] [[Severen Leroux]] makes Trent his [[bondsman]] and then immediately reinstates him to warrior status, so that he can participate in a trial by combat against [[Clan Ice Hellion]] as part of Clan Nova Cat in the [[Great Refusal]]. [[Star Captain]] [[Inanna (Character)|Inanna]] takes him under her wing, making prophetic predictions about his fate and future.
  
 
The Nova Cats use Trent's notoriety as traitor to provoke the Ice Hellions during the trial, thus channeling them in a predictable fashion in order to defeat them. The plan succeeds, but Khan Severen Leroux is killed over the course of the trial and Trent suffers lethal injuries. It is duly reported that he died of his injuries. What is not reported is that Trent in fact "died" three times on the operating table, only to be revived each time. Between [[Galaxy Commander]]–and Khan-to-be–[[Santin West]], Inanna, and Trent it is then decided that Trent, scarred beyond recognition and with some additional plastic surgery, should live on under a new identity, assuming the name "Baldur". The Nova Cats believe that Trent has some fateful role to play yet.
 
The Nova Cats use Trent's notoriety as traitor to provoke the Ice Hellions during the trial, thus channeling them in a predictable fashion in order to defeat them. The plan succeeds, but Khan Severen Leroux is killed over the course of the trial and Trent suffers lethal injuries. It is duly reported that he died of his injuries. What is not reported is that Trent in fact "died" three times on the operating table, only to be revived each time. Between [[Galaxy Commander]]–and Khan-to-be–[[Santin West]], Inanna, and Trent it is then decided that Trent, scarred beyond recognition and with some additional plastic surgery, should live on under a new identity, assuming the name "Baldur". The Nova Cats believe that Trent has some fateful role to play yet.
  
−
Meanwhile the last ranking Smoke Jaguar officer, [[Star Colonel]] [[Paul Moon]], awakens in a hospital and struggles to grasp the enormity of his and his Clan's defeat–in a Trial of Annihilation he himself had called and for which he had set the terms and conditions. He is taken bondsman by [[Eridani Light Horse]] Major [[Kris Blau]], in order to recruit his aid in leading the surviving Smoke Jaguars through the transition. Blau hopes that the Smoke Jaguar civilians will look up to Moon and accept him as a leader. As it turns out, many surviving warriors and even many Smoke Jaguars from other castes are unable to accept their total defeat. Civil unrest simmers, and entire regions degenerate into lawless zones where chaos and brutality reign. [[Russou Howell]], "The Jaguar", begins to recruit a guerilla army in the jungles on Huntress and leaderless warriors are attracted to his stubborn resistance even when it is unclear what he is fighting for.
+
Meanwhile the last ranking Smoke Jaguar officer (and Trent's nemesis), [[Star Colonel]] [[Paul Moon]], awakens in a hospital with a bionic replacement arm, among other injuries. He struggles to grasp the enormity of his and his Clan's defeat–in a Trial of Annihilation that he himself had called and for which he had set the terms and conditions. He is taken bondsman by [[Eridani Light Horse]] Major [[Kris Blau]]. Blau hopes that the Smoke Jaguar civilians will look up to Moon and accept him as a leader. As it turns out, many surviving warriors and even many Smoke Jaguars from other castes are unable to accept their total defeat. Moon is initially tasked with serving in a tech team affecting 'Mech repairs under Sgt. Gardenhire, where his knowledge is useful. Moon in turn is surprised about the satisfaction the menial task (which he considered beneath him) gives him.
 +
 
 +
When news of the Great Refusal and the death of the [[ilKhan]] come to Huntress on 24 April 3060, civil unrest simmers among the dejected Smoke Jaguar population, and entire regions degenerate into lawless zones where chaos and brutality reign.
 +
 
 +
On the same day, [[Rik Myers]], commander of the [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Goliath Scorpion)|Alpha Galaxy]], meets with his Khan [[Ariel Surovov]] on [[Strana Mechty]] and sets plans in motion to capture the Abyssmal continent on Huntress
 +
 
 +
[[Russou Howell]], "The Jaguar", begins to recruit a guerilla army in the jungles on Huntress and many leaderless warriors are attracted to his stubborn resistance even when it is unclear what he is fighting for. After the guerillas conduct several raids, Blau turns to Paul Moon about assessing the guerillas' motives and agenda. Moon feels that working with the Star League to contain the guerillas gives him an opportunity to put his warrior skills to use again.
  
 
{{Underconstruction}}
 
{{Underconstruction}}
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==Featured characters==
 
==Featured characters==
 
* [[Alain Beresick]]
 
* [[Alain Beresick]]
 +
* [[Kris Blau]]
 
* [[Lucian Carns]]
 
* [[Lucian Carns]]
 
* [[Judith Faber]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Judith Faber]] (mentioned)
Line 54: Line 61:
 
* [[Paul Moon]]
 
* [[Paul Moon]]
 
* [[Rik Myers]]
 
* [[Rik Myers]]
 +
* [[Rife Nagy]]
 
* [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]
 
* [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]
 
* [[Ariel Suvorov]]
 
* [[Ariel Suvorov]]

Revision as of 02:11, 12 August 2019

Forever Faithful.jpg
Forever Faithful
Product information
Type Novel
Author Blaine Lee Pardoe
Pages 306 (print)
317 (PDF)
Cover Artwork Anthony Scroggins
Publication information
Publisher Catalyst Game Labs
Product code 35824
First published 23 February 2019
ISBN-13 978-1941582770
MSRP $ 13.95 (print)
Content
Era Clan Invasion era
Timeline 19 April 3060 - 11 December 3130

Forever Faithful, by Blaine Lee Pardoe, was released digitally and as a print-on-demand book on February 23, 2019. A spiritual (if not actual) final entry in (or sequel to) the "Twilight of the Clans" saga that concluded the Clan Invasion era, its storyline bridges through the Jihad era and connects to Pardoe's Dark Age era novel, Surrender Your Dreams.

Teaser Text

“ SEMPER FIDELIS

In the year 3060, the reborn Star League has destroyed Clan Smoke Jaguar, conquered their home world Huntress, and scattered the few remaining Jaguar warriors to the winds. Now the League seeks to end the Clan invasion for good by using former Smoke Jaguars against their own people.

Meanwhile, two bitter enemies seek to salvage a future for the last Jaguars in existence: Trent, who betrayed his wayward Clan to help them regain their honor, and Paul Moon, a disgraced warrior torn between his pledged loyalty to the Star League and a duty to the Smoke Jaguar civilization he was born to protect.

But power-hungry predators lurk in Clan space, waiting for the right time to strike the vulnerable Star League forces. And to the victor will go the spoils: the priceless artifacts of a destroyed Clan and the sacred genetics of the final generation of Smoke Jaguar warriors.

Trent and Paul Moon must fight tooth and nail against would-be conquerors to save the soul of the surviving Jaguar people before they are consigned to the annals of history. But will their divergent plans tear the survivors apart, or lead them toward freedom?

”

Summary

Framework story

Working on his memoirs during the night from 10 to 11 December 3130, Paladin Victor Steiner-Davion recalls how he had misjudged and wronged Trent back on Huntress, and the unexpected ripple effects this had on history. However, he ultimately decides to delete all parts of the story that go beyond Trent's supposed death on Huntress, feeling he cannot be the instrument of those revelations for which he figures the universe is not yet ready.

Main story

Trent, the former Clan Smoke Jaguar clansman who had turned his back on his wayward Clan and had provided the Inner Sphere powers with the required navigational data to reach Huntress in the first place, thus precipitating the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar, is denied the chance to fight as a warrior by Victor Steiner-Davion himself. When he accuses Steiner-Davion of being without honor, Clan Nova Cat Khan Severen Leroux makes Trent his bondsman and then immediately reinstates him to warrior status, so that he can participate in a trial by combat against Clan Ice Hellion as part of Clan Nova Cat in the Great Refusal. Star Captain Inanna takes him under her wing, making prophetic predictions about his fate and future.

The Nova Cats use Trent's notoriety as traitor to provoke the Ice Hellions during the trial, thus channeling them in a predictable fashion in order to defeat them. The plan succeeds, but Khan Severen Leroux is killed over the course of the trial and Trent suffers lethal injuries. It is duly reported that he died of his injuries. What is not reported is that Trent in fact "died" three times on the operating table, only to be revived each time. Between Galaxy Commander–and Khan-to-be–Santin West, Inanna, and Trent it is then decided that Trent, scarred beyond recognition and with some additional plastic surgery, should live on under a new identity, assuming the name "Baldur". The Nova Cats believe that Trent has some fateful role to play yet.

Meanwhile the last ranking Smoke Jaguar officer (and Trent's nemesis), Star Colonel Paul Moon, awakens in a hospital with a bionic replacement arm, among other injuries. He struggles to grasp the enormity of his and his Clan's defeat–in a Trial of Annihilation that he himself had called and for which he had set the terms and conditions. He is taken bondsman by Eridani Light Horse Major Kris Blau. Blau hopes that the Smoke Jaguar civilians will look up to Moon and accept him as a leader. As it turns out, many surviving warriors and even many Smoke Jaguars from other castes are unable to accept their total defeat. Moon is initially tasked with serving in a tech team affecting 'Mech repairs under Sgt. Gardenhire, where his knowledge is useful. Moon in turn is surprised about the satisfaction the menial task (which he considered beneath him) gives him.

When news of the Great Refusal and the death of the ilKhan come to Huntress on 24 April 3060, civil unrest simmers among the dejected Smoke Jaguar population, and entire regions degenerate into lawless zones where chaos and brutality reign.

On the same day, Rik Myers, commander of the Clan Goliath Scorpion Alpha Galaxy, meets with his Khan Ariel Surovov on Strana Mechty and sets plans in motion to capture the Abyssmal continent on Huntress

Russou Howell, "The Jaguar", begins to recruit a guerilla army in the jungles on Huntress and many leaderless warriors are attracted to his stubborn resistance even when it is unclear what he is fighting for. After the guerillas conduct several raids, Blau turns to Paul Moon about assessing the guerillas' motives and agenda. Moon feels that working with the Star League to contain the guerillas gives him an opportunity to put his warrior skills to use again.

Featured characters

Featured Places

Featured BattleTech

BattleMechs

Vehicles

Aerospace Fighters

DropShips

WarShips

Other

Notes

  • The appearance of an Araña among the 35th Scorpion Cuirassiers, and that it would be identified as such by the defenders, in a battle in 3062 is noteworthy for two reasons: The design was reportedly only put into production in 3087 and had supposedly been specifically designed for a situation that Clan Goliath Scorpion was not yet in, nor would have expected, beforehand, namely the formation of the Escorpión Imperio; that anachronism aside, it is an IndustrialMech (MilitiaMech) design that should have no place in such an elite frontline unit. It could be assumed that the Araña appearing in this novel was an early prototype, possibly a BattleMech (or OmniMech) design from before the Araña project became finalized as a MilitiaMech.

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