Angry Voices in the Dark
Sarna News
Angry Voices in the Dark | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Loren L. Coleman | |||
 | |||
| Publication | |||
| Published | 2003 | ||
| Publisher | WizKids | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Dark Age era | ||
| Timeline | 13 December 3132 (see notes) | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
Angry Voices in the Dark is a short story written by Loren L. Coleman, as a prequel story to promote his novel A Call to Arms which had been released on 03 February 2003.
Angry Voices in the Dark was first published in in three parts (released on 06, 11, and 13 February 2003, respectively) through the now defunct initial homepage that WizKids maintained in support of their fledgling MechWarrior: Dark Age game line. It was republished in 2011 by Catalyst Game Labs ("Catalyst Press") as an EPUB for sale.
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WizKids homepage[edit]
| “ | Angry Voices in the Dark By Loren Coleman Mara is a small world on the edge of the Republic of the Sphere. With communications down across The Republic and the government scrambling for control, every world, no matter how small, is in play. In the high-stakes game of planetary possession, Erik Sandoval-Groell sees his opportunity for advancement. His only obstacle is that he faces local opposition–from inside his own family! In this prequel to A Call to Arms by Loren Coleman, one man reaches for the prize that could raise him up–or bring him crashing down. |
” |
Epub[edit]
| “ | The HPG network has been down for two years, and the Inner Sphere's long-held peace is beginning to crumble. Dame Christine Sandoval, on Mara to negotiate a labor dispute, finds herself caught in between family and duty as she fights to preserve a fragile satus quo against her cousin, Erik Sandoval-Groell (soon to be a major player in the BattleTech: Dark Age era). | ” |
Plot summary[edit]
Christine Sandoval, Stone loyalist and Sandoval family economic facilitator in the Republic, has only been on Mara a few months when her ride with the local militia is interrupted by a raid. Mara is under attack - by House Sandoval. The family's expansionist faction, the 'Marcher Lords' (as Christine calls them) who seek to bring worlds given up to the Republic back under family control, sent a detachment of Robinson Rangers under the command of Christine's cousin Erik Sandoval-Groell.
Erik brings Christine to a nearby office in Mountlake to negotiate. Their positions are irreconcilable. Christine refuses to back the invasion, attempts (to little avail) to sabotage Erik's Centurion, and, with Erik declaring that she will be taken back to Robinson for judgment, accepts family arrest. While she agrees to go to Robinson after the invasion, Erik lacks the authority to detain her.
Out of Erik's grasp, Christine takes a detour on the way to his next target, Terrace. She visits a family-backed forestry project to take a ForestryMech and radios the local militia commander, Kuritan-leaning Midora Jiro, offering her help. They reach an agreement quickly. Two militia Kamisoris escort her into battle. Not wanting to kill Robinson Rangers, she slips between Erik's forces and strikes him personally, grabbing the head of his 'Mech and threatening to crush it. He surrenders.
In the end, Erik leaves Mara alive, but defeated. Christine stays on Mara, saying she will only leave with a warrant from the Duchess of Robinson or a Republic Knight, and only if Mara is not abandoned in her wake. She keeps a portion of Erik's equipment, including his personal Centurion, with an agreement that she will work together with the Draconis-leaning militia to protect the planet.
Featured characters[edit]
- Midora Jiro
- Dame Christine Sandoval
- Erik Sandoval-Groell
- Devlin Stone (mentioned)
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
IndustrialMechs[edit]
Vehicles[edit]
Battle armor[edit]
DropShip[edit]
Featured planets[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Angry Voices itself is dated merely December 3132. Era Digest: Dark Age places the Mara raid on 13 December.
External Links[edit]
- Original WizKids MWDA website announcement & link (via Wayback Machine)