Measure of a Hero

Measure of a Hero.jpg
Measure of a Hero
Product information
Type Novel
Author Blaine Lee Pardoe
Pages 262
Cover Artwork Doug Chaffee
Publication information
Publisher Roc Books
Product code LE5794
First published 10 July 2000
ISBN-10 0451457943
ISBN-13 978-0451457943
Content
Era Civil War era
Timeline 23 October 3062 – 9 February 3063
(8 April 3060 prologue)
Series Archer Christifori novels
Followed by Call of Duty

Measure of a Hero, by Blaine Lee Pardoe, is the first novel about Archer Christifori's experiences during the Federated Commonwealth Civil War.

The novel was made available on BattleCorps on 04 February 2011 as a PDF file (text only, without cover, pictures, or any other interior artwork except for the usual BattleCorps frame graphics). The PDF copy includes a disclaimer stating that it was created from a pre-final edition text that might differ from the printed version and that canon-wise, the print edition trumps the PDF edition.

From the back cover[edit]

“ Colonel Felix Blucher's orders from the Archon were simple enough: quash the Davion Loyalist uprising on Thorin. But Blucher never planned on facing the fearless Archer Christifori, local militia leader and decorated MechWarrior in the Clan Wars.

As tension rise between Blucher's Lyran Alliance and the Davion Loyalist population, Archer is torn between obedience to the Archon or allegiance to his people. But when Blucher's forces go too far, Archer takes up the Loyalist cause and becomes commander of the rebel army. The final confrontation looms and the rebels face long odds—but it takes more than 'Mech's to win Thorin's freedom. It takes a hero...

”

Summary[edit]

The novel opens with Archer Christifori fighting in one of the final battles of the battle for Huntress, with his dropping in support of the Northwind Highlanders as operation Bulldog forces make planetfall to relieve Task Force Serpent. During this battle he holds the line to protect the Highlanders retreat, takes on 6 clan mechs and is then severly injured.

The novel then provides the details of Archers life as a civilian on the planet Thorin in the Sky March of the Lyran Alliance. There he runs the family shipping buisness with his only remaining relative, his sister.

Archer's sister has been publishing anti-Katherine articles, and this catches the attention of the Lyran Garrison Commander's Aid, Fisk. The Aid is classic Lyran Aristocratic appointee, with a bloodthirsty highly pro Katrina world view. Fisk leads a team of 4 troopers to take Archer's Sister for questioning, and kills her when she reaches in a cabinet to pull out further writings.

The Garrison Commander assures Archer that Fisk will stand trial for the murder, and follows through, only to have his verdict and sentence overruled by Katherine herself. This sets of Archer's planning to overthrow the Goverment, but he waits to take action until he can ensure the planet is on his side. This comes quicker than anticipated when Victor declares war on Katherine for the murder of their brother.

Archer moves quickly to break out others held for dissenting opinions, and moves the families of the militia out of the city to set up a base of resistence. From there he engages in a series of smaller engagements to pick away at the larger battalion of Arcturan Guard Regulars. He is assisted in this by other resistance cells.

The major engagements of the resistence movement includes: 1. The initial release of prisoners from the main police station by Archer using only his Penetrator 2. The operation to ambush two lances in a water channel outside of the city 3. An operation of mechs aerospace fighters, and ground elements who break into the bank nearest the Arcturan Bases and give the payroll money to the population. 4. Has company dropships intercept incoming ammunition and provide most of it to his own forces, while sabatoging the rest that is provided to the guards. 5. An ambush of 2 mechs on patrol at a minor city, by a combined mech, engineer and infantry force. 6. The major company level operation led by the Guards to capture Archers main base. 7. The counter attack by aerospace and ground forces against the planetary satellite network. 8. Archers pre-emptive strike against the other Arcturan Guard Battalion on Merphrid, where a company sized combined arms force in three drop ships attacked three guard dropships partially loaded almost at take off. 9. The final battle for the Capital of Thorin, a roughly company vs two lance engagements in the streets, ending with the Lyran Commander surrendering.

Featured characters[edit]

Featured places[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

Vehicles[edit]

AeroSpace[edit]

Spacecraft[edit]

Other equipment[edit]

Foreign-Language Editions[edit]

German[edit]

A German edition, translated by Reinhold H. Mai, was published by Heyne in 2001 as Die erste Bürgerpflicht (ISBN 9783453187788).[1]

Hungarian[edit]

A Hungarian edition, translated by Novák Gábor, was published by Beholder in 2007 as Hősi nagyság.[2]

Covers[edit]

  • Original 2001 cover. Art by Doug Chaffee.

  • 2001 German edition.

  • 2007 Hungarian edition.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for Die erste Bürgerpflicht
  2. ↑ Beholder product page for Hősi nagyság

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