Convergence at Khon Kaen
Sarna News
| Convergence at Khon Kaen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Kevin Killiany | |||
| First Publication | |||
| Published | 28 December 2007 | ||
| Publisher | BattleCorps | ||
| Pages | 41 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Jihad era | ||
| Timeline | 16 January 3068 — 12 February 3068 | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
Convergence at Khon Kaen is a short story by Kevin Killiany that was first published online on BattleCorps in December 2007 as the ninth part of the Chaos Irregulars series. It was republished in EPUB format in the BattleCorps anthology Chaos Formed in 2013.
This was the first story about the Chaos Irregulars after the conclusion of the "choose the story path series" in Endgame at Engadine.
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| “ | That's right back again, with the fires of the Jihad lapping at their heels, the Chaos Irregulars have a simple mission, stop the pirate raiders. But when has it ever been simple for the Irregulars? | ” |
Plot Summary[edit]
The Chaos Irregulars are hired by Count Sohndaliegh of Khon Kaen to protect the planet from a potential raid by the mercenaries turned pirate band known as Gray's Ghosts. Intelligence suggests the Ghosts may be using the nearby world of Madiun as a staging ground. Captains Jake Chowla, who has recently married, and Ariel Peregrine lead elements of their unit in a reconnaissance mission, splitting their forces between Khon Kaen and Madiun.
While scouting Madiun, Jacoam and his recon lance investigate strange traffic patterns and ship movements. On the surface, they discover signs of a concealed enemy presence near old mining tunnels. During the operation, they are ambushed by superior Word of Blake Militia forces, confirming suspicions that Madiun is being used as a forward base by the Blakists. Outnumbered and outgunned, Jacoam's team tries to retreat to the DropShip under heavy fire.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Reema Chowla, temporarily grounded due to her pregnancy, is being visited by Hauptmann Giovanni Simson, who has allegedly returned to warn the Chaos Irregulars of a trap on Madiun. Together, Reema and Simson travel to the planet in a separate DropShip. Upon their arrival and a crash landing, Reema has to pilot Simson's assault BattleMech, a Hauptmann, in order to rescue the recon lance which is still under heavy fire.
Back on Khon Kaen, political developments unfold. Count Sohndaliegh cancels the Irregulars' contract unexpectedly, distancing his government from the unit's actions and so revealing potential hidden interests. The Irregulars realize they are no longer officially supported and prepare for an immediate withdrawal of the unit and their dependants off planet.
After the successful retrieval of their scout elements and escape from Madiun aboard the Seeker-class DropShip Nolan, Peregrine receives further evidence that Word of Blake controls the region. Jacoam Chowla gives orders to return to Khon Kaen to retrieve the rest of their personnel and dependants, request support from the Eighth Lyran Regulars, stationed on nearby Son Hoa, and expose the Blakist presence in the region to the wider Lyran Alliance.
The story closes with Ariel and Jacoam meeting Simson aboard the JumpShip Bern. Simson insists he has a business proposal, though he refuses to share details without a signed contract. Jacoam pushes back, threatening to take Simson's DropShip and aerospace fighters as compensation, while Ariel steps in to de-escalate the exchange and presses Simson to explain his offer. While Simson is not willing to tell who his employers are, he reveals their objective: to neutralize Word of Blake. An objective Ariel and Jacoam support wholeheartedly.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Captain Obadiah "Jake" Chowla, co-commander of the Chaos Irregulars, piloting a Spector
- Captain Ariel Peregrine, co-commander of the Chaos Irregulars, piloting a HUR-WO-R4O Huron Warrior
- Lieutenant Reema Chowla, commander of the Chaos Irregulars' First Company Alpha lance, piloting a Mongoose
- Lieutenant Jarmae "Jars" Heather, commander of the Chaos Irregulars' First Company Beta lance, piloting a QKD-4G Quickdraw
- Lieutenant Tony Davis of the Chaos Irregulars, piloting a PXH-4L Phoenix Hawk
- Marcus Green of the Chaos Irregulars, piloting a Raijin
- Marva Talbot of the Chaos Irregulars' Second Company, piloting a GRF-6S Griffin
- Sergeant Major Pauls, NCO of the Chaos Irregulars' Footmen
- Technician Darryl Silverlake, chief engineer of the Chaos Irregulars
- Hauptmann Giovanni Simson, a rogue scion of the Simson family and former employer, piloting a Hauptmann
- Darien Montague, a member of Giovanni Simson's unit, piloting a Tarantula
- Captain Pilum of the DropShip Nolan
- Count of Khon Kaen Sohndaliegh
- Viscount of Madiun Andreas
- Lieutenant Troy Truman of the Chaos Irregulars (mentioned)
- Lieutenant Theodora "Teddi" Yannis of the Chaos Irregulars (mentioned)
- Doctor Cruthers of the Chaos Irregulars (mentioned)
- Anton Kaiman, current employer who provides the Chaos Irregulars with transport assets (mentioned)
Featured Units[edit]
- Chaos Irregulars
- Word of Blake Militia
- Eighth Lyran Regulars (mentioned)
- Black Warriors (mentioned)
- Gray's Ghosts (mentioned)
Featured Places[edit]
Featured Fauna[edit]
- Nolan of Engadine (mentioned)
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
AeroSpace Fighters[edit]
DropShips[edit]
JumpShips[edit]
Notes[edit]
- The mission objective, considerable financial resources, and provision of aerospace fighters produced in the Draconis Combine, suggest that Simson's unnamed employer is Chandrasekhar Kurita, making it the third installment about Kurita's formation of a multinational coalition force to fight Word of Blake, following Demon Star (The Fox's Teeth), and Hunter of the Yellow Bird (Sorenson's Sabres) by Steven Mohan, Jr., who also penned the following story Blue Waters (Periphery Star Guard).
- The planet Madiun is incorrectly spelled Maduin throughout the story.
- The Mule-class DropShip Clermont is incorrectly spelled "Cleremont" throughout the story.