Difference between revisions of "Life in the Big City"

 
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:'''''A Tale of Two Cities''' redirects here.''
 
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'''''Life in the Big City''''' is a short story by [[Tara Gallagher]] that was first published in the 1986 ''[[CityTech]]'' rulebook. On 28 August 2006 it was made available for download as an individual [[w:PDF|PDF]] product via [[BattleCorps]].
+
'''''Life in the Big City''''' is a piece of short fiction by [[Tara Gallagher]] that was first published in the 1986 ''[[CityTech]]'' rulebook. While it was printed on the rulebook's last pages, there is also a brief introductory scene on p. 3 of the rulebook titled '''''A Tale of Two Cities''''' that is connected to it.
 +
 
 +
On 28 August 2006 ''Life in the Big City'', minus the ''A Tale of Two Cities'' scene, was made available for download as an individual [[w:PDF|PDF]] puplication via [[BattleCorps]].
  
 
==Teaser text (BattleCorps re-release)==
 
==Teaser text (BattleCorps re-release)==
 
{{quote|''Generally, only [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] are welcome in Maloof's. Technicians or infantry or support personnel spend their time elsewhere, so when a MechWarrior invites one to drink at Maloof's it is a mark of high respect. At the same time, they're somewhat conspicuous; so when they start telling a tale of life in the big city, others will listen...''}}
 
{{quote|''Generally, only [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] are welcome in Maloof's. Technicians or infantry or support personnel spend their time elsewhere, so when a MechWarrior invites one to drink at Maloof's it is a mark of high respect. At the same time, they're somewhat conspicuous; so when they start telling a tale of life in the big city, others will listen...''}}
  
==Plot summary==
+
==Plot Summary==
At Maloof's Tavern on [[Rahway II]], a [[House Davion]] world reserved almost exclusively for MechWarrior R&R, Frank Krieger and Abbey Farber, known as "possibly the best technicians around" and called "two of the best Techs in the [[Inner Sphere]]", join the MechWarriors of the [[Burrow's Crashing Thunder]] [[mercenary]] regiment in celebration of their victory over [[House Kurita]] forces at Weehawken on [[Travis V]]. They draw glaring stares from fellow MechWarrior Williams, prompting another MechWarrior to narrate how they scrounged up spare parts for improvised repairs to his 'Mech (and others) on Torwind, resulting in 'Mechs with product advertisements on them from the truck trailers that were used to patch up the improvised armor. Williams' 'Mech had the line "Processed Chicken" running along both legs and the right torso.<br />Later they talk about ''[[Locust]]'' pilots and how all MechWarriors - including ''Locust'' pilots - consider them to be the weirdest.
+
There is no proper plot or storyline; the fiction consists of loosely connected scenes of patrons celebrating and talking at Maloof's Tavern on [[Rahway II]], a [[Federated Suns]] world reserved almost exclusively for [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] R&R.
 +
 
 +
===A Tale of Two Cities===
 +
Commander [[Stephen Burrows]] proposes a toast in Maloof's Tavern to the recent conquest of [[Pike IV]] and the soon-to-be-historic Battle for Weehawken.
 +
 
 +
===Life in the Big City===
 +
[[Frank Krieger]] and [[Abbey Farber]], known as "possibly the best technicians around" and called "two of the best Techs in the [[Inner Sphere]]", join the MechWarriors of the [[Burrow's Crashing Thunder]] [[mercenary]] regiment in celebration of their victory over [[House Kurita]] forces at Weehawken on [[Travis V]]. They draw glaring stares from fellow MechWarrior Williams, prompting another MechWarrior to narrate how they scrounged up spare parts for improvised repairs to his 'Mech (and others) on Torwind, resulting in 'Mechs with product advertisements on them from the truck trailers that were used to patch up the improvised armor. Williams' 'Mech had the line "Processed Chicken" running along both legs and the right torso.<br />Later they talk about ''[[Locust]]'' pilots and how all MechWarriors including ''Locust'' pilots themselves — consider them to be the weirdest.
  
At another table, MechWarriors from Kushnir's Battalion of the [[42nd Armored Lightning Regiment]] mourn for John Judd, whose ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]'' was destroyed by an enemy ''[[BattleMaster]]'' who cornered it in a city on [[Pike IV]] with its [[jump jet]]s out.
+
At another table nearby, MechWarriors from Kushnir's Battalion of the [[42nd Armored Lightning Regiment]] mourn for [[John Judd]], whose ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]'' was destroyed by an enemy ''[[BattleMaster]]'' that cornered it in a city on Pike IV with its [[jump jet]]s out.
  
At yet another table, an aging battalion commander is turning his 'Mech over to his niece, and cautions her against fighting reckless or underestimating infantry, lest she end up [[dispossessed]].
+
At yet another table, an aging battalion commander is turning his 'Mech over to his niece, and cautions her against fighting recklessly or underestimating infantry, lest she end up [[dispossessed]].
  
 
==Featured Places==
 
==Featured Places==
Line 43: Line 52:
  
 
==Featured Units==
 
==Featured Units==
*[[42nd Armored Lightning]] Regiment
+
*[[42nd Armored Lightning Regiment]]
*[[List_of_minor_mercenary_units#Burrow.27s_Crashing_Thunder_Regiment|Burrow's Crashing Thunder Regiment]]
+
*[[Burrow's Crashing Thunder Regiment]]
  
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
==Featured BattleTech==
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==Notes==
 
==Notes==
*No timestamp is provided for the story. However, given that ''CityTech'', published in 1986, is a very early [[BattleTech]] product and that the concept of [[lostech]] plays a prominent role, the story can be assumed to be set during the [[Succession Wars era]], in or around the "classic" year [[3025]]. The victory on Travis V that is celebrated by the MechWarriors took place in [[3024]] according to ''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]'' (''[[Stalker]]'' entry).
+
*No timestamp is provided for the story. However, given that ''CityTech'', published in 1986, is a very early [[BattleTech]] product and that the concept of [[lostech]] plays a prominent role, the story can be assumed to be set during the [[Succession Wars era]], in or around the "classic" year [[3025]]. The victory on Travis V that is celebrated by the MechWarriors took place in the summer of [[3024]] according to ''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]'' (''[[Stalker]]'' entry).
*In the German edition of ''CityTech'', this story was replaced by a translation of the story ''[[Black Cats Cross Your Path]]'' by Tara Gallagher and [[James Lanigan]].
+
*In the German edition of ''CityTech'', this story was replaced by the story ''[[Black Cats Cross Your Path]]'' by Tara Gallagher and [[James Lanigan]].
  
==References==
+
==Bibliography==
*''[[CityTech]]'' rulebook, pp. 40-42
+
*''[[CityTech]]'' rulebook, pp. 40-42, with additional scene titled "A Tale of Two Cities" on p. 3
  
 
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]
 
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
 
[[Category:Works by Tara Gallagher]]
 
[[Category:Works by Tara Gallagher]]

Latest revision as of 02:06, 21 March 2023

A Tale of Two Cities redirects here.
Life in the Big City
Product information
Type Short story
Rulebook fiction
Author Tara Gallagher
Pages 3 (print)
8 (PDF)
Publication information
Publisher FASA
First published 1986
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline undated (3024 or later)

Life in the Big City is a piece of short fiction by Tara Gallagher that was first published in the 1986 CityTech rulebook. While it was printed on the rulebook's last pages, there is also a brief introductory scene on p. 3 of the rulebook titled A Tale of Two Cities that is connected to it.

On 28 August 2006 Life in the Big City, minus the A Tale of Two Cities scene, was made available for download as an individual PDF puplication via BattleCorps.

Teaser text (BattleCorps re-release)[edit]

Generally, only MechWarriors are welcome in Maloof's. Technicians or infantry or support personnel spend their time elsewhere, so when a MechWarrior invites one to drink at Maloof's it is a mark of high respect. At the same time, they're somewhat conspicuous; so when they start telling a tale of life in the big city, others will listen...

Plot Summary[edit]

There is no proper plot or storyline; the fiction consists of loosely connected scenes of patrons celebrating and talking at Maloof's Tavern on Rahway II, a Federated Suns world reserved almost exclusively for MechWarrior R&R.

A Tale of Two Cities[edit]

Commander Stephen Burrows proposes a toast in Maloof's Tavern to the recent conquest of Pike IV and the soon-to-be-historic Battle for Weehawken.

Life in the Big City[edit]

Frank Krieger and Abbey Farber, known as "possibly the best technicians around" and called "two of the best Techs in the Inner Sphere", join the MechWarriors of the Burrow's Crashing Thunder mercenary regiment in celebration of their victory over House Kurita forces at Weehawken on Travis V. They draw glaring stares from fellow MechWarrior Williams, prompting another MechWarrior to narrate how they scrounged up spare parts for improvised repairs to his 'Mech (and others) on Torwind, resulting in 'Mechs with product advertisements on them from the truck trailers that were used to patch up the improvised armor. Williams' 'Mech had the line "Processed Chicken" running along both legs and the right torso.
Later they talk about Locust pilots and how all MechWarriors — including Locust pilots themselves — consider them to be the weirdest.

At another table nearby, MechWarriors from Kushnir's Battalion of the 42nd Armored Lightning Regiment mourn for John Judd, whose Phoenix Hawk was destroyed by an enemy BattleMaster that cornered it in a city on Pike IV with its jump jets out.

At yet another table, an aging battalion commander is turning his 'Mech over to his niece, and cautions her against fighting recklessly or underestimating infantry, lest she end up dispossessed.

Featured Places[edit]

Featured Units[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • No timestamp is provided for the story. However, given that CityTech, published in 1986, is a very early BattleTech product and that the concept of lostech plays a prominent role, the story can be assumed to be set during the Succession Wars era, in or around the "classic" year 3025. The victory on Travis V that is celebrated by the MechWarriors took place in the summer of 3024 according to Technical Readout: 3025 (Stalker entry).
  • In the German edition of CityTech, this story was replaced by the story Black Cats Cross Your Path by Tara Gallagher and James Lanigan.

Bibliography[edit]

  • CityTech rulebook, pp. 40-42, with additional scene titled "A Tale of Two Cities" on p. 3