Broken Promises
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| Broken Promises | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Jason Schmetzer |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs |
| First published | 18 December 2020 |
| Content | |
| Era | Clan Invasion era |
| Timeline | 14 May 3052 to 20 May 3052 |
| Series | Battle of Tukayyid (anthology) |
| Preceded by | We Do the Impossible |
Broken Promises is a short story by Jason Schmetzer, the ninth and final entry in the Battle of Tukayyid series written as a companion of the BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid
Contents
[edit]
| “ | In the fight for Brzo, the battered survivors of ComStar's 50th Division must guard the 222nd Division against the vicious assaults of Clan Wolf. | ” |
Plot summary[edit]
Eating reconstituted rations in the mess hall of the 222nd Division, an exhausted Adept Minka Woloczak hears word that Skupo has fallen. Gathering her forces, she meets with Enrique Miranda to discuss what this portends as she prepares for the approach of Clan Wolf. With the defeat of Clan Smoke Jaguar, the remains of the Fiftieth Division were ordered to stand down if unable to fight on, as the highest-ranking uninjured officer left and full of determination and devotion to Blake's will Woloczak led other survivors to continue fighting, begging suborbital flights and gathering orphan survivors of other divisions. But her determination has begun to waver as both weeks of heavy fighting and mounting losses weigh on her, amplified with the thought that Wolves are more persistent than the other Clans.
Woloczak's mixed and mismatched force of 'Mechs, artillery, Combat Vehicles and infantry are assigned to defend an ad hoc field depot behind the front lines. Nobody expects they will face any resistance but the Wolves are unpredictable, with a mixed recon Star advancing on their position with no possibility of Com Guard reinforcements. As a tired and overwhelmed Woloczak orders her forces into action, her focus on the Clan 'Mechs means she is badly out of position as Miranda's artillery battery comes under attack by Wolf Elementals. Facing a far larger volume than at the Dinju Mountains, Miranda's desperate and ineffectual efforts to protect his rookie crews does not slow them down, suffering heavy losses before a distraught Woloczak can finally drive the Wolves Toads off. With the faith of rookies like Rashid ibn Ibrami now shattered in the face of losses of friends like Tranh Phuc, Miranda struggles to console him.
Returning to the Tamo Bunker to give her final report, an emotionally exhausted Minka Woloczak sees the horrendous losses of the Com Guards took in their victory, becoming increasingly angry when accused of hiding following the destruction of the Fiftieth Division. Any further discussion is ended when the Precentor Martial emerges from his Interactive Construct Reality chamber now that battle has been concluded, looking even more haggard and tired than her, the bunker drawing to attention. As Focht orders them at ease, his eye catches on Woloczak, an Adept in a room of Precentors and asks her for her boots on the ground experiences. Despite their efforts to rein her in, the bitter Woloczak is brutally honest, despite all their devotion and promises of victory if their faith held, it was all bullshit. When no one moves to claim her, Focht beckons Minka to follow him and assures her they will talk about such promises.
Featured characters[edit]
- Minka Woloczak
- Janus Schmitz
- Enrique Miranda
- Ncuthu (mentioned)
- Keynes (mentioned)
- Tranh Phuc
- Rashid ibn Ibrami
- Gomez
- Hikami
- Anastasius Focht