Difference between revisions of "The Valley of Death"
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[[Category:Works by William H. Keith]] | [[Category:Works by William H. Keith]] | ||
Revision as of 09:05, 25 March 2015
 | Apocryphal This article's subject is only mentioned in apocryphal sources, i.e. official BattleTech products which are not clearly Non-canon but do not meet the current Canon criteria either. For more information, check the Canonicity section. |
| The Valley of Death | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | William H. Keith |
| Pages | 7 |
| Illustrations | William H. Keith |
| Publication information | |
| First published | 1988 |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 5 April 3028 |
Plot Summary
Lieutenant John Lee, a MechWarrior serving with the MacKenzie's Marauders mercenary unit, is on the Federated Suns planet Royal in 3028 when he meets a woman named "Verna" who is being attacked by street thugs. He helps to rescue her and she agrees to join him for dinner. In conversation over the meal, the topic shifts to warfare, specifically BattleMechs and cavalry. Lee relates a "funny" case where he kicked a Skulker light tank around with his Warhammer, and is startled when Verna reacts angrily to his scornful views of light cavalry forces. She storms out on him.
Two days later, Royal is attacked by Kuritan forces that arrive at a pirate point. Planetary defense efforts are ineffective, thanks in part to the blundering of the garrison commander, who is in Lee's eyes more of a self-important political appointee than a real soldier. MacKenzie's Marauders find themselves covering a mass retreat of the garrison troops... including a light cavalry unit named the Royal Grays.[1]
Matters deteriorate when the garrison commander, General Howard Martell, directs the mercenaries to block a battalion-sized force of Kuritan 'Mechs. Lee's commander declines the order, which would effectively send the outnumbered Marauders to their doom. General Martell, outraged by these "yellow cowards", looks around for another unit to sacrifice. He fixes on the commander of the Royal Grays... who happens to be Verna.[2]
Even though Verna tries to point out that her light cavalry will stand no chance against heavy 'Mechs, Martell will have none of it. He even threatens to have her shot "for cowardice" if she refuses to follow his orders.
As the Royal Grays engage the oncoming Kuritans, all the MechWarriors of MacKenzie's Marauders can do is watch. Verna contacts John Lee over the radio, and asks him to get in touch with her younger brother, before the channel goes dead. Lee can no longer stand by. He breaks ranks and goes to the aid of the Royal Grays, "declining" his own commander's orders. The rest of the mercenaries join him, and they inflict heavy damage on the Kuritan forces, stalling their advance.[3]
In the aftermath of the battle, only two damaged hover tanks survive from the Royal Grays, neither of them Verna's machine. John Lee learns that Verna - Verna LeMann - had once been a MechWarrior herself. She had even been decorated by Hanse Davion for her heroism, yet she had given it all up to return to Royal to take care of her younger brother after their parents were killed.[4]
Lee concludes the story by mentioning that he can use his leave time to return to Royal. He wants to look for Verna, who just may have survived the destruction of her command. He wants to apologise for his behaviour.[5]
Featured Units
Featured BattleTech
References
- ↑ BattleTechnology 0202, pp. 13-14, The rout of Royal's garrison forces
- ↑ BattleTechnology 0202, pp. 15-16, General Martell panics in the face of advancing Kuritan BattleMechs
- ↑ BattleTechnology 0202, pp. 16-18, The Battle of Harmony Pass
- ↑ BattleTechnology 0202, p. 18, Verna's neighbour tells John Lee about Verna LeMann
- ↑ BattleTechnology 0202, p. 18, John Lee's reflections on the Royal action