By Any Means

By Any Means
By Any Means
Short story by Chris Hartford
Publication
Published	2003
Published in	Combat Operations
Publisher	FanPro
Illustrator(s)	Matt Plog
Pages	3
Chronology
Era	Civil War era
Timeline	ca. 3063

By Any Means is a short story by Chris Hartford that was published as introductory fiction for Combat Operations.

Plot Summary[edit]

Tai-i Martin Sweeney is on leave on Luthien when the Alshain Avengers attack Alshain, thus triggering the First Combine-Dominion War. He returned to his unit, the Seventh Sword of Light, on Idlewind where first was asked to run escort duty to a medical convoy. Now on Courchevel, he is asked to engage a Hagetaka C piloted by Star Captain Vivaro of the Bekker bloodline with his Avatar. He is beaten, and the Star Captain concedes him hegira as the terms of the trial do not allow for bondsman to be taken, but Sweeney instead of accepting, uses the last energies of his 'Mech to kill the clan warrior.