Difference between revisions of "Vanish"
Sarna News
(new Story infobox) |
(Plot summary, courtesy of Mendrugo (with his kind permission)) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{InfoBoxStory | {{InfoBoxStory | ||
| − | | image = | + | | image = VanishPreview.jpg |
| name = | | name = | ||
| author = [[Michael A. Stackpole]] | | author = [[Michael A. Stackpole]] | ||
| pages = | | pages = | ||
| type = Short story | | type = Short story | ||
| − | | product = A Time of War ( | + | | product = A Time of War (Limited Edition) |
| − | | illustrations = | + | | illustrations = (unknown) |
| era = [[Succession Wars era]] | | era = [[Succession Wars era]] | ||
| agency = | | agency = | ||
| − | | universedate = | + | | universedate = |
| − | | timeline = | + | | timeline = 6-7 February [[3004]] |
| scrollable timeline = [[Start date::]][[End date::]] | | scrollable timeline = [[Start date::]][[End date::]] | ||
| series = | | series = | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| followedby = | | followedby = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Vanish''''', by [[Michael A. Stackpole]], is a [[BattleTech]] short story (or novella, in the author's words) about [[Katrina Steiner]]'s stint as the [[Red Corsair (3004)|Red Corsair]], told from the perspective of [[Morgan Kell]] in first-person narrative. The story does not properly conclude, | + | '''''Vanish''''', by [[Michael A. Stackpole]], is a [[BattleTech]] short story (or novella, in the author's words) about [[Katrina Steiner]]'s stint as the [[Red Corsair (3004)|Red Corsair]], told from the perspective of [[Morgan Kell]] in first-person narrative. The story does not properly conclude, and ends with a "To be continued" note although no sequel has been forthcoming. |
| − | + | Published so far only as a special feature in the limited special edition of the ''[[A Time of War]]'' RPG rulebook, a preview (pre-final) of the first two pages was made available through the download section of the then-official BattleTech website; following a forum hack in late 2010 the site had to be rebuilt and the download is not available anymore. | |
==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| − | + | Eighteen-year-old Morgan Kell, freshly graduated from the [[Nagelring]] academy, arrives on [[Poulsbo]] with his cousin, [[Duke]] [[Arthur Luvon]] of [[Donegal]], as part of a post-graduation Grand Tour of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. (The prodigal Kell entered the Nagelring at 15 and graduated in three years.) As they exit the terminal, the pair are greeted by a stunningly attractive blonde, who passionately embraces Arthur, much to Morgan's embarrassment. Morgan recognizes her as [[Leutenant-General]] [[Katrina Steiner]], the guest speaker at his Nagelring graduation eight months previously (and designated heir to her uncle, [[Archon]] [[Alessandro Steiner]]). It turns out that the true purpose of the trip to Poulsbo was to surreptitiously allow Arthur and Katrina some time together, while appearing to be just one more stop on the Grand Tour. The two had been corresponding for years, and realized their true feelings when Arthur's [[JumpShip]] blew a coolant seal and could not make it to [[Tharkad]] for Morgan's commencement. They exchanged pledges of love via [[ComStar]] couriers and set up the Grand Tour hoping to meet in secret. | |
| + | |||
| + | As they proceed to The King House hotel, Morgan notes that Poulsbo looks about a century out of step with the Lyran core, both in terms of style and level of technology, which degraded noticeably during the [[Succession Wars]]. Wanting to give the lovebirds some time alone, he sets off to explore the city of Bangor Heights. Morgan notes the city's low-rise urban sprawl and the use of non-standard time units, due to the local rotational periods, and gets a local pocket watch to keep on schedule. He stops for dinner at a bar ("The Lost Locust") where the locals peg him for an outsider and won't give him the time of day. He notices a dartboard with Alessandro Steiner's silhouette on it—a tribute to the carnage engendered by the Archon's "[[Concentrated Weakness]]" strategy. He notices a rainbow-themed mobile hanging over the dartboards, and makes a special drink order ("bifrost yellow") at the bar—actually a recognition code for the local [[Heimdall (organization)|Heimdall]] cell. Shortly, he is approached by a man calling himself Grison, while Morgan introduces himself as Hound. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Grison asks Morgan why he is on-world, worrying that it might be connected to a recent upswing in [[Lyran Intelligence Corps|Loki]] activity. He says he heard that Loki is worried about a potential attack on a high profile governmental official connected to the dedication of a memorial to the [[Stealths]]' defense of the world in [[2812]]. The two suspect that Katrina Steiner is the target, since Poulsbo's remoteness would allow Alessandro Steiner to control the flow of information onto and off-world. Heimdall believes that an Archon who is willing to leave key systems defenseless would be more than capable of marginalizing and assassinating any potential threat to his power base. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Morgan wants to alert his friends, but Grison warns him off, fearing that if Katrina ever learned that Morgan was Heimdall-affiliated, she could use that knowledge as Archon to unravel the entire Heimdall network. Grison tells Morgan to meet him at another bar, the Lone Pine, if he needs to. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Morgan returns to The King House and briefs Arthur, who acts as though he expected something like this. He notes that Loki has not bugged his rooms yet (according to his surveillance-detecting chronometer), but expects that they soon will. He is not specifically worried about Alessandro, but his position as Duke of Donegal has made him a lot of enemies across the spectrum. He pulls two needler pistols out of a hidden compartment and gives one to Morgan. | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the next day, Morgan accompanies Katrina Steiner on an inspection of Bangor Military Base, during which the Archon-designate attempts to shift attention to Morgan by hinting that he is a candidate to assume control of the planetary militia. The two take some 'Mechs out on the training course and end the day with a reception. On the way to The King House for dinner with Arthur, Morgan and Katrina discuss whether or not [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] become one with their machines, as well as the backwards-looking attitudes of most inhabitants of the Successor States. Katrina states her intention to create a better future for herself and her children, and Morgan infers that it is this quality that makes Alessandro see her as a threat to his power. He suggests that [[House Davion]] has a similarly ambitious vision for the future. | ||
| + | |||
| + | At the hotel, Morgan changes for dinner and finds a concealable knife hidden in his drawer to go with his needler pistol, apparently from Arthur. Appropriately attired (and armed), he awaits Arthur and Katrina in the lobby, where he is surprised to learn from the hotel manager that their departure offworld has been moved up to later that night (to throw off any potential Loki attack). During a fabulous private dinner, Morgan stops to ask the time of one of the waiters. The man answers according to Terran Standard Time, rather than Poulsbo local, tipping Morgan off that he is an offworlder (likely a Loki agent). Katrina knocks him out and, searching him, they find confirmation that he was equipped for an abduction. They suspect that Katrina's security detail is either compromised or dead. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The group resolves to flee, and Morgan pulls the fire alarm to cover their escape. They disguise themselves as kitchen staff on the way out. Loki agents are covering the door, but Morgan and Arthur easily dispatch them. The group heads for the Lone Pine, where Grison had told Morgan to contact him if he needed help. Grison joins them and says that Heimdall is committed to keeping Loki from carrying out their plans. As they get ready to go, feeling safe, the night sky lights up as The King House explodes. | ||
==Featured Characters== | ==Featured Characters== | ||
| Line 29: | Line 43: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| − | The story picks up a BattleTech mystery that was introduced to the universe 22 years earlier as a background item in Stackpole's 1988 novel ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]''. Here, it was mentioned that Katrina Steiner once went into the Periphery as the "Red Corsair" with Morgan Kell and her later husband Arthur Luvon. The details of their adventure were never elaborated upon in any subsequent publication | + | The story picks up a BattleTech mystery that was introduced to the universe 22 years earlier as a background item in Stackpole's 1988 novel ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]'' (and also mentioned in the sourcebook ''[[The Kell Hounds]]''). Here, it was mentioned that Katrina Steiner once went into the Periphery as the "Red Corsair" with Morgan Kell and her later husband Arthur Luvon. The details of their adventure were never elaborated upon in any subsequent publication beyond the fact that they brought back the "[[Black Box]]" superluminal fax machines. |
In [http://www.michaelastackpole.com/?p=1736 a blog entry on his homepage] dated 19 October 2010, Michael Stackpole explains that he meant to tell this story back when [[ROC]] took over the BattleTech line of novels; ''[[Natural Selection]]'' (1992) should have been this story but ROC wanted no flashback stories so he made something up on the fly and only retained some "Red Corsair" elements in the otherwise unrelated story. This also led to the creation of another, distinct [[Red Corsair]] operating 51 years later in the BattleTech timeline. | In [http://www.michaelastackpole.com/?p=1736 a blog entry on his homepage] dated 19 October 2010, Michael Stackpole explains that he meant to tell this story back when [[ROC]] took over the BattleTech line of novels; ''[[Natural Selection]]'' (1992) should have been this story but ROC wanted no flashback stories so he made something up on the fly and only retained some "Red Corsair" elements in the otherwise unrelated story. This also led to the creation of another, distinct [[Red Corsair]] operating 51 years later in the BattleTech timeline. | ||
| Line 35: | Line 49: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
*''[[A Time of War]]'' (Limited Edition) | *''[[A Time of War]]'' (Limited Edition) | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Short Stories]] | [[Category:Short Stories]] | ||
Revision as of 07:41, 26 March 2015
| |
| Vanish | |
|---|---|
| Story information | |
| Author | Michael A. Stackpole |
| Type | Short story |
| Product | A Time of War (Limited Edition) |
| Illustrations | (unknown) |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 6-7 February 3004 |
Vanish, by Michael A. Stackpole, is a BattleTech short story (or novella, in the author's words) about Katrina Steiner's stint as the Red Corsair, told from the perspective of Morgan Kell in first-person narrative. The story does not properly conclude, and ends with a "To be continued" note although no sequel has been forthcoming.
Published so far only as a special feature in the limited special edition of the A Time of War RPG rulebook, a preview (pre-final) of the first two pages was made available through the download section of the then-official BattleTech website; following a forum hack in late 2010 the site had to be rebuilt and the download is not available anymore.
Plot summary
Eighteen-year-old Morgan Kell, freshly graduated from the Nagelring academy, arrives on Poulsbo with his cousin, Duke Arthur Luvon of Donegal, as part of a post-graduation Grand Tour of the Lyran Commonwealth. (The prodigal Kell entered the Nagelring at 15 and graduated in three years.) As they exit the terminal, the pair are greeted by a stunningly attractive blonde, who passionately embraces Arthur, much to Morgan's embarrassment. Morgan recognizes her as Leutenant-General Katrina Steiner, the guest speaker at his Nagelring graduation eight months previously (and designated heir to her uncle, Archon Alessandro Steiner). It turns out that the true purpose of the trip to Poulsbo was to surreptitiously allow Arthur and Katrina some time together, while appearing to be just one more stop on the Grand Tour. The two had been corresponding for years, and realized their true feelings when Arthur's JumpShip blew a coolant seal and could not make it to Tharkad for Morgan's commencement. They exchanged pledges of love via ComStar couriers and set up the Grand Tour hoping to meet in secret.
As they proceed to The King House hotel, Morgan notes that Poulsbo looks about a century out of step with the Lyran core, both in terms of style and level of technology, which degraded noticeably during the Succession Wars. Wanting to give the lovebirds some time alone, he sets off to explore the city of Bangor Heights. Morgan notes the city's low-rise urban sprawl and the use of non-standard time units, due to the local rotational periods, and gets a local pocket watch to keep on schedule. He stops for dinner at a bar ("The Lost Locust") where the locals peg him for an outsider and won't give him the time of day. He notices a dartboard with Alessandro Steiner's silhouette on it—a tribute to the carnage engendered by the Archon's "Concentrated Weakness" strategy. He notices a rainbow-themed mobile hanging over the dartboards, and makes a special drink order ("bifrost yellow") at the bar—actually a recognition code for the local Heimdall cell. Shortly, he is approached by a man calling himself Grison, while Morgan introduces himself as Hound.
Grison asks Morgan why he is on-world, worrying that it might be connected to a recent upswing in Loki activity. He says he heard that Loki is worried about a potential attack on a high profile governmental official connected to the dedication of a memorial to the Stealths' defense of the world in 2812. The two suspect that Katrina Steiner is the target, since Poulsbo's remoteness would allow Alessandro Steiner to control the flow of information onto and off-world. Heimdall believes that an Archon who is willing to leave key systems defenseless would be more than capable of marginalizing and assassinating any potential threat to his power base.
Morgan wants to alert his friends, but Grison warns him off, fearing that if Katrina ever learned that Morgan was Heimdall-affiliated, she could use that knowledge as Archon to unravel the entire Heimdall network. Grison tells Morgan to meet him at another bar, the Lone Pine, if he needs to.
Morgan returns to The King House and briefs Arthur, who acts as though he expected something like this. He notes that Loki has not bugged his rooms yet (according to his surveillance-detecting chronometer), but expects that they soon will. He is not specifically worried about Alessandro, but his position as Duke of Donegal has made him a lot of enemies across the spectrum. He pulls two needler pistols out of a hidden compartment and gives one to Morgan.
On the next day, Morgan accompanies Katrina Steiner on an inspection of Bangor Military Base, during which the Archon-designate attempts to shift attention to Morgan by hinting that he is a candidate to assume control of the planetary militia. The two take some 'Mechs out on the training course and end the day with a reception. On the way to The King House for dinner with Arthur, Morgan and Katrina discuss whether or not MechWarriors become one with their machines, as well as the backwards-looking attitudes of most inhabitants of the Successor States. Katrina states her intention to create a better future for herself and her children, and Morgan infers that it is this quality that makes Alessandro see her as a threat to his power. He suggests that House Davion has a similarly ambitious vision for the future.
At the hotel, Morgan changes for dinner and finds a concealable knife hidden in his drawer to go with his needler pistol, apparently from Arthur. Appropriately attired (and armed), he awaits Arthur and Katrina in the lobby, where he is surprised to learn from the hotel manager that their departure offworld has been moved up to later that night (to throw off any potential Loki attack). During a fabulous private dinner, Morgan stops to ask the time of one of the waiters. The man answers according to Terran Standard Time, rather than Poulsbo local, tipping Morgan off that he is an offworlder (likely a Loki agent). Katrina knocks him out and, searching him, they find confirmation that he was equipped for an abduction. They suspect that Katrina's security detail is either compromised or dead.
The group resolves to flee, and Morgan pulls the fire alarm to cover their escape. They disguise themselves as kitchen staff on the way out. Loki agents are covering the door, but Morgan and Arthur easily dispatch them. The group heads for the Lone Pine, where Grison had told Morgan to contact him if he needed help. Grison joins them and says that Heimdall is committed to keeping Loki from carrying out their plans. As they get ready to go, feeling safe, the night sky lights up as The King House explodes.
Featured Characters
Notes
The story picks up a BattleTech mystery that was introduced to the universe 22 years earlier as a background item in Stackpole's 1988 novel Warrior: Riposte (and also mentioned in the sourcebook The Kell Hounds). Here, it was mentioned that Katrina Steiner once went into the Periphery as the "Red Corsair" with Morgan Kell and her later husband Arthur Luvon. The details of their adventure were never elaborated upon in any subsequent publication beyond the fact that they brought back the "Black Box" superluminal fax machines.
In a blog entry on his homepage dated 19 October 2010, Michael Stackpole explains that he meant to tell this story back when ROC took over the BattleTech line of novels; Natural Selection (1992) should have been this story but ROC wanted no flashback stories so he made something up on the fly and only retained some "Red Corsair" elements in the otherwise unrelated story. This also led to the creation of another, distinct Red Corsair operating 51 years later in the BattleTech timeline.
References
- A Time of War (Limited Edition)