Freebirth (novel)

This article is about the novel. For the children by natural childbirth in Clan society, see Freeborn.
Freebirth
Novel by Robert Thurston
Freebirth.jpg
First Publication
Published01 February 1998
PublisherRoc Books
Illustrator(s)Bruce Jensen(cover)
Pages304
ISBN0451456653, 978-0451456656
Chronology
EraClan Invasion era
Timeline18 June 3058 — 9 May 3059
Series
Twilight of the Clans
Arrleft.svg 
The Hunters 		  Arrright.svg
Sword and Fire

Freebirth, by Robert Thurston, is the fourth book in the Twilight of the Clans series.

From the back cover[edit]

“ "Dispatch Horse to the planet Huntress!" The orders to investigate the secret experiment being done by the Falcons on the Smoke Jaguar homeworld came down from the Jade Falcon Khan herself. But does the covert mission require the natural bravery of a freeborn warrior—or do Horse's genetically engineered comrades consider him expendable?

The perilous trek is dead-ended by a crash landing—right into a Smoke Jaguar trap. His 'Mech confiscated, his DropShip down, his Trinary imprisoned, Horse is duty bound to the enemy Jaguars—and closer to the core of the strange secrets of the Falcon stronghold than he ever imagined. For the Clan, the consequences could be explosive. For Horse, they could be fatal...

”

Summary[edit]

This novel picks up after the events of Malicious Intent, and Exodus Road. It focuses on the ongoing saga of MechWarrior Horse, with some early set up for MechWarrior Joanna, and MechWarrior Diana.

After MechWarrior Joanna picks another fight with young Jade Falcons, where she gets one killed accidentally, she and Horse are called before Khan Marthe Pryde. Joanna is punished by having to take Diana to the home worlds and train her for a Bloodname competition.

Horse is separated from them both, and sent to check on the Falcon research station "Falcon Eyrie" on Huntress, due to ongoing suspicions of scientist schemes. He is given command of a Trinary, and told to meet up with the Khan on Huntress, but that all his work is to be kept a secret.

Meanwhile on Huntress Galaxy Commander Russou Howell is taking over the planetary garrison. This is the same Howell who in Exodus Road had been friends with MechWarrior Trent and the same Howell who was tricked into believing he had killed his friend Trent as part of Trent's escape to the Inner Sphere with the Exodus Road information. Howell throughout the novel is having problems dealing with the guilt of his actions, and his perceived failures of his Clan to act honorably towards its members. He has taken to wild swings of mood between anger and melancholy and begins to drink heavily.

The Smoke Jaguars shoot down the DropShip carrying Horse to the Falcon Eyrie, after which Howell claims the DropShips ‘Mechs and the MechWarriors. He decrees Horse's all freebirth Trinary to be prisoners unworthy of clan membership, but takes a special interest in Horse.

Over the course of the novel, Howell attempts to brainwash Horse with torture and constant tales of Jaguar superiority. This eventually leads to Horse killing a variety of Smoke Jaguar warriors in Trials, and eventually being made a warrior again.

During his imprisonment Horse meets a solahma MechWarrior from the Eyrie who regularly spies on the Jaguars. She convinces him that if he plays along with the Jaguars, she will find a way to free him and his Trinary. Their combined adventures during the remainder of the novel include discovery of illicit genetic research at both the Eyrie and in the Jaguar Genetics compound, discovering that Jade Falcon DNA being in the Jaguar genetics labs.

Eventually, the Eyrie Solahma mount a raid against Howell during one of his inspections of planetary facilities, challenging for MechWarrior Horse. Howell responds by bidding the use of MechWarrior Horse in the trial, essentially forcing Horse to contest his own freedom. Making it even more difficult for the Falcons is that the only 'Mechs available to the Falcon solahma unit are experimental Land Air Mechs (LAMs), a Stinger and a Phoenix Hawk. The Jade Falcons prevail, although the LAMs are destroyed.

The novel closes Horse's story with a summary of the follow up raid to free the rest of the Trinary and recapture some 'Mechs. The ending sets up the following novel where the invasion of Huntress begins, with Howell considering the work he has done to prepare the planet to defend itself against any threats from other Clans.

Featured characters[edit]

Featured places[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

Foreign-Language Editions[edit]

German[edit]

A German edition, translated by Reinhold H. Mai, was published by Heyne in 1999 as Freigeburt (ISBN 9783453140042).[1] This was republished as an EPUB by Ulisses Spiele in 2021 as BattleTech Legenden 41 : Freigeburt (ISBN 9783963318078).[2]

Hungarian[edit]

A Hungarian edition, translated by Novák Gábor, was published by Beholder in 2003 as Szabadszülött.[3]

Spanish[edit]

A Spanish edition, translated by Jaime de Marcos Andreu, was published by Timun Mas in 1999 as El orgullo del halcón.

Covers[edit]

  • Original 1998 cover. Art by Bruce Jensen.
    Original 1998 cover. Art by Bruce Jensen.
  • 1999 German edition.
    1999 German edition.
  • 2021 German edition (reprint).
    2021 German edition (reprint).
  • 2003 Hungarian edition.
    2003 Hungarian edition.
  • Spanish edition.
    Spanish edition.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for Freigeburt
  2. ↑ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for BattleTech Legenden 41 : Freigeburt
  3. ↑ Beholder product page for Szabadszülött

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