Fates and Fortunes
Sarna News
| Fates and Fortunes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Darrell Myers | |||
 | |||
| First Publication | |||
| Published | 17 August 2017 | ||
| Published in | Legacy (Anthology) | ||
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs | ||
| Pages | 19 (POD) | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Succession Wars era | ||
| Timeline | 11 October 2840 — 23 April 2843 | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
Fates and Fortunes is a short story by Darrell Myers and the third part of the Legacy anthology, which was published in August 2017.
Plot Summary[edit]
Carl Lipetsk is a tech with the Capellan Cuirassiers currently stationed on Phact. He is painfully aware of the elevated status of MechWarriors, whereas the supporting armor and infantry units are largely forgotten and the technical staff completely ignored.
Having noted the unique workmanship of a GHR-5H Grasshopper (Legacy Grasshopper) in the unit, Carl had reached out to the manufacturer, Lantren Corporation. On 11 October 2840 he receives a verigraph message in response confirming that the 'Mech is apparently one of the very first GHR units ever produced. They offer a full factory overhaul at no cost in return for the chance to inspect and analyze the 'Mech to see how it weathered the war until now. A first attempt to ship the 'Mech out to Lantren Corporation (on Bryant) is made on 27 October, but shortly after takeoff from Phact the DropShip Silent Sword is shot down by Marik raiders and crashlands.
Two days later, Carl and his subordinate Andrea arrive at the crash site and begin salvage operations. They discover the Grasshopper largely intact aboard the wreckage. Although not trained as MechWarriors, the two techs attempt to evade approaching Marik 'Mechs by piloting the Grasshopper, and manage to hold them off long enough for friendly reinforcements to arrive. Andrea is heavily wounded in the process, though.
Carl makes restoring the Grasshopper a prestige project for the technical staff, to give them focus and a goal. However, owing to frequent damage when the patched-together 'Mech has to be sent into combat time and again, the work is still unfinished when the Lantren Corporation facility on Bryant is destroyed by raiders on 18 March 2843. (Ironically, it is a GHR-5H Grasshopper that delivers the crippling blow to the facility.) Back on Phact, where Andrea has since died of her injuries, Carl is saddened by the news that the factory was destroyed and that there will thus be no factory overhaul for the Grasshopper after all. But he resolves to fix the shot-up machine by himself instead, part for part, "for the Chancellor" and to honor Andrea's memory.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Carl Lipetsk
- Andrea
Featured Units[edit]
Featured Places[edit]
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
DropShips[edit]
- Union-class 'Mech carrier DropShip, Silent Sword