Every Twelve Seconds...
Sarna News
| Every Twelve Seconds... | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Jeff Kautz | |
| Publication | |
| Published | 23 February 2005 |
| Publisher | BattleCorps |
| Illustrator(s) | Chris Lewis |
| Pages | 14 |
| Chronology | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | Late May 3037 |
Every Twelve Seconds... is a short story by Jeff Kautz that was first published online on BattleCorps in February 2005. It was later republished in print in the second BattleCorps print anthology First Strike in 2010.
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| “ | A historical piece, new author Jeff Kautz follows an officer from the Duchy of Andurien as he wrestles with a losing situation in a terrible, harsh war. And every step along the way, he is reminded of his men's, and his countrymen's, ultimate price. Paid every twelve seconds... | ” |
Plot Summary[edit]
Their rebellion crumbling as the Free Worlds League is reconquering its wayward province, troops from the Defenders of Andurien brigade are retreating from Xanthe III and have left some tanks and infantry behind in the city of New Barstow to buy time for their evacuating comrades. Disillusioned soldier Danny Spriggs, a Brevet-Major at only twenty-six after Major Mitchell's death, is in command of a tank unit and commands the hopelessly outmatched defense forces when the Fifth Marik Militia launches another assault in the city. To undermine the defenders' morale, the attacking Marik troops have been calling out a message via loudspeakers for the past four weeks proclaiming that every twelve seconds a defending trooper dies (suggesting that the defenders should surrender before it is their turn to die), and Spriggs cannot help it from influencing his spirit. However, he stubbornly fights on. His unit destroys two League Galleon tanks, but then comes under attack from two enemy BattleMechs. The unit's other Von Luckner tank is destroyed. Danny's Von Lucker, named "Lucy B", was crippled and on fire, with most of the crew killed. Spriggs tries to evacuate the only other survivor, but falls, implying that he dies in battle.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Brevet-Major Danny Spriggs
- Duncan Marik (mentioned)
- Colonel Samuel Garibaldi (mentioned)