Not the Way the Smart Money Bets

Not the Way the Smart Money Bets.jpg
Not the Way the Smart Money Bets
Product information
Type Novella (6 parts)
Author Michael A. Stackpole
Pages 152
Publication information
Publisher BattleCorps
Catalyst Game Labs
Product code CAT35882NV
First published 7 March–16 May 2008 (BattleCorps)
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 3–7 October 3010
Series Kell Hounds Ascendant
Followed by A Tiny Spot of Rebellion

Not the Way the Smart Money Bets, subtitled A Tale of the Kell Hounds in the original BattleCorps release, is a serialized novella by Michael A. Stackpole that was published online on BattleCorps in six parts. It was republished in print in 2019 as the first installment of the Kell Hounds Ascendant Trilogy, where its title is (apparently erroneously) given as Not How the Smart Money Bets on the back cover, but remains unchanged within the book.

BattleCorps teasers[edit]

Part 1[edit]

published on 7 March 2008
“ Two brothers arrive on Galatea with money in their pocket and a vision to create a unit that will change life for the better. But first they have to deal with life that is worse. ”

Part 2[edit]

published on 21 March 2008
“ One brother dives into the sharks den. One brother dances into the local scene. With both actions the Kell Hounds set themselves on a course that could collide or collude with the powers of Galatea. ”

Part 3[edit]

published on 4 April 2008
“ "A month"... If the Kells could recruit and outfit their unit in a month then they just might skirt around a raging Blizzard hiding a Social General with a chip on his son's shoulder. Of course to do that they have to dodge idiot son's, assassins, politics, and even angry potential future girlfriends. They probably wished they had brought their 'Mechs. ”

Part 4[edit]

published on 18 April 2008
“ One brother at an embassy ball, the other at a fine restaurant. One will spar with words, the other weapons, but both Kells are winning friends, influencing a planet and pounding on those that oppose them in their quest to form the Kell Hounds. ”

Part 5[edit]

published on 2 May 2008
“ The fight is set, the outcome will determine if the Hounds rise like a rocket or plummet like a rock. But first they have to make sure that Patrick and his 'Mech actually make it to the fight in one piece. ”

Part 6[edit]

published on 16 May 2008
“ It's fight day and the Kells are fighting the fight of their very existence. All before Patrick ever takes the field, and if they can't find him a BattleMech the fight will be over before it even can begin. ”

Plot summary[edit]

Morgan and Patrick Kell have just inherited a fortune from their cousin Arthur Luvon, the late spouse of Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth Katrina Steiner. The Kell brothers intend to form a morally upstanding mercenary unit with the money by hiring only the best MechWarriors and personnel on Galatea, the Mercenary's Star. They had not anticipated the fallout their offer, broadcast in advance before they even set foot on the world, would create: A financially sound outfit with close ties to House Steiner is almost too good to be true.

Upon arriving on Galatea in person on 3 October 3010, the Kell brothers learn about another unforeseen aspect: Their hiring offer is going to inject a lot of money into the market and will thereby upset the business model of local loan shark and underworld kingpin Haskell Blizzard, as it will allow mercenary MechWarriors to pay him off for good instead of working the debt off in arena fights likely to incur further costly damage — owing money to Blizzard is colloquially called being "snowed under" among mercenaries on Galatea. Blizzard is very well connected. His granddaughter happens to be married to Thomas Volmer, son of corrupt Lyran General "Viper" Volmer who is in command of the local militia and police on Galatea as well as spies and underworld informants and enforcers.

General Volmer immediately attempts to intimidate Morgan into playing by his rules, pointing out that the Archon has little direct power on Galatea. In a meeting in the 'Mech bay Morgan is prepared to hear Volmer's demands, but finds them so outrageous that he openly calls Volmer out as just being Blizzard's puppet and threatens him back. Following the meeting, Morgan expresses a curious interest in the paint requisition orders for Volmer's regiment.

Patrick meanwhile meets cab driver Walter de Mesnil, who from overhearing discussions has a good grasp of what the Kells are trying to achieve and has a high opinion of their approach; Patrick informally recruits him as a talent scout for potential recruits. Shortly afterward, de Mesnil's quick thinking rescues Patrick from an abduction attempt by Hector Damiceau. When de Mesnil reveals he is a Blackjack pilot and applies for a job, Patrick hires him on the spot. De Mesnil also mentions he has the "best tech on the planet" working on his 'Mech.

Later that day, the Kell brothers decide that they will not allow the Kell Hounds to be compromised, and to take on Blizzard (and Volmer) head-on and get the first punch in if they cannot avoid getting into conflict with them. Escorted by Franck, Morgan goes to a demolition derby event that Blizzard is known to attend, a rigged mock fight with replica "BattleMechs" built from cheap materials and of inferior quality. The fight is won by "Titan" in a show 'Mech imitating a Commando. As expected, Morgan is summoned to meet Haskell Blizzard in his box. They have a very straightforward discussion about the situation, but fail to come to an understanding and essentially declare war in pleasant, if direct terms. It ends with Blizzard, after ordering a handyman to break Franck's arm but relenting when Morgan suggests he will play by Blizzard's rules, telling Morgan that he has Patrick followed, and that he will mark Patrick to prove his absolute power on Galatea. Morgan also meets glam courtesan Veronica Matova at the box, and is introduced to "Titan", who turns out to be none other than Volmer's son Thomas and who has past history with Patrick Kell.

Patrick goes dancing and meets a charming, street-wise woman named Tisha who gives him a street-level perspective on things. Upon returning to the hotel and meeting Morgan, the brothers discuss the situation but there does not in fact seem to be a mark on Patrick's jacket.

The next day, Morgan finds Veronica Matova waiting for him. She tells Morgan that, after Morgan left, Blizzard had decided that Patrick was to be roughed up after all to teach the Kells a lesson. But security cam footage shows that an unknown third party intercepted and incapacitated Blizzard's thug without Patrick even realizing he was being followed. This means war. Matova explains that she needs to know wether the Kells can really bring down Blizzard in the upcoming shadow war as she seeks stability for her own business interests and has to make informed decisions. They form something of an informal understanding with hints of more, and she kisses Morgan goodbye, leaving him to wonder just how much of a love mercenary she is.

Dining out with Tisha, who happens to also be an applicant for the Kell Hounds as an expert tech, Patrick Kell is assaulted by Thomas Volmer. It ends with a public challenge to an arena fight, which Volmer has no choice but to accept. Shortly afterwards, even before Patrick and Trish can leave the dining room, men working for Blizzard abduct them at gunpoint. As they are led out through the kitchen, a large black man rescues them by ambushing their kidnappers, and introduces himself as Clarence Wilson, late of Morgan's former unit. He left his post to join Morgan's unit, though Morgan is as of yet unaware of this.

Morgan meanwhile accompanies Veronica Matova to a reception at the Draconis Combine embassy, a high society meet-and-greet event where he enjoys articulately trading barbs with several people until he finally runs into General Volmer, whom he dismisses as all bark and no bite before leaving as their welcoming was wearing thin.

Haskell Blizzard personally meets the Kell brothers at their hotel the next day. In a terse exchange, Morgan explains how both sides stand to lose much, and suggests cooperation instead: The upcoming grudge match between Patrick and Volmer is to be made into a huge, highly publicised event. Blizzard will benefit from that directly, and from money that Morgan will bet on Patrick; the Kells will benefit from the publicity. And Morgan promises that Patrick will throw the fight (though, implicitly, not give away his life), to demonstrate that he can indeed go lower than Blizzard thought. Blizzard will then reimburse the Kell Hounds while they "get to plead poverty" in contract negotiations. After Blizzard leaves, the brothers discuss that Blizzard knows they will betray him, and will attempt to sabotage the fight himself. They also decide to carry out random acts that will keep him occupied and distracted through trying to find a deeper meaning in them that does not exist.

Morgan next asks Veronica Matova to bet heavily on Patrick through her network of clients and contacts and spread the word that Patrick's victory is all but guaranteed, to which she happily agrees. They are interrupted by Volmer and a police officer with a search warrant for Wilson (but find no trace of him). Volmer's attempts to intimidate Morgan are once again rebuffed, and Morgan explains that he has come to an arrangement with Blizzard. Unsure about what a deal between Morgan and Blizzard might mean for his son, the insecure General Volder initiates "Order Maroon" - owing to his wide-ranging powers he has an understanding with Precentor Kinnock that amonts to a communication control. Specifically, he seeks to be informed on any messages routed to Tharkad regarding impropriety on his part, any messages to do with the upcoming match, and any messages sent by Morgan Kell.

Blizzard is unsure what to make of the hefty betting against Thomas Volmer, which he can trace at least in part to Veronica Matova. As a precaution, he decides to transfer a significant amount of money off-world to secretly also bet against Thomas Volmer elsewhere, reducing his projected wins but giving him insurance against a total loss should Patrick win. However, Precentor Kinnock halts the messages and reports them to General Volmer, who is very alarmed that Blizzard is actually secretly betting against his son. On Volmer's orders, the messages are frozen and the money escrowed, while the false impression is given that the messags were sent. Volmer also enacts plans of his own to sabotage Patrick's fight, which includes removing Walter de Mesnil's Blackjack which Patrick was going to pilot from its hangar.

To improve Thomas Volmer's chances, Blizzard gives him his own family heirloom 'Mech, a pristine Orion (with the LRM-15 removed to reduce tonnage to the maximum allowed under the match rules). General Volmer meanwhile is overjoyed that Major Choate has apprehended Clarence Wilson, which he uses to confront Morgan and have him arrested for aiding and abetting Wilson's desertion. It backfires when Morgan not only produces a message from Tharkad that Sergeant Wilson has been seconded to the Kell Hounds as a training officer by order of the Archon, but turns the tables on Volmer and has him arrested for grand theft and misappropriation of government property. Morgan had correctly deduced that Volmer was using his unit's 'Mechs for Blizzard's arena fights, and had all damage declared as training damage; what he could however not hide in the paperwork was the substantial amount of paint needed to repaint the 'Mechs after every arena battle, which went far beyond any reasonable repainting of training damage.

The orders also install Morgan as interim commander of the garrison, a position he uses to provide Patrick with General Volmer's JagerMech in lieu of the missing Blackjack.

When the match begins, Patrick initially has difficulties until he finds and deactivates a targeting fairy in his cockpit that had thrown his aim off. Using his knowledge of Thomas Volmer's skills and weaknesses from back at the academy, Patrick proceeds to cripple the Orion through an ammo explosion and further damage and thereby win the fight, but he refuses to kill 'Titan' much to the frustration of the audience.

Blizzard's wealth greatly diminshes after the fight. Not only has he incurred large costs and lost a singificant amount of money and influence; he also learns that his safeguard bets were never transmitted off-world while many MechWarriors won enough money to pay him out and escape his loan shark business model which is now atrophying. He vows revenge on Morgan Kell.

Featured Characters[edit]

  • Haskell Blizzard - Nihilistic former MechWarrior and ruthless crimelord and loan shark.
  • Major Choate - Police officer
  • Richard O'Cieran - CO of a jump infantry contingent (the Crashers), recruit for the Kell Hounds with his unit (at least in part for security)
  • Hector Damiceau - Free Worlds League operative who believes the Kell Hounds will not be true mercenaries but rather a secret elite force for the Lyran Archon, and attempts to prevent the unit from being formed.
  • Erin Finney - Kell Hounds recruit, member of Guinn's Gunnes
  • Gordon Franck - Upstanding Lyran officer with the Lyran office of Mercenary Relations who is of a friendly disposition and dutifully guides and supports the Kells with his knowledge of Galatean local politics.
  • Confident Guinn - CO of Guinn's Gunnes, a competent but down-on-their-luck company. He applies his entire command for Kell Hounds membership.
  • Laeticia "Tisha" Hamilton - Expert tech working with Walter de Mesnil; meets Patrick Kell in a bar without realizing who he is and gives him a straightforward "street level" perspective on the Kell Hounds. They meet again when she is introduced as a potential recruit for the unit by de Mesnil, who knows her as "Lattie".
  • Amanda Heartsthorne - The Federated Suns ambassador is noncommittal about hiring the Kell Hounds and tells Morgan she will judge his unit by how they manage their situation with Blizzard and Volmer
  • Morgan Kell
  • Patrick Kell
  • Precentor Kinnock
  • Yorinaga Kurita
  • Veronica Matova
  • Walter de Mesnil
  • "Viper" Volmer - A "Social General" with powerful political connections; a career bureaucrat and political schemer but with little if any actual military experience. Commands the combined arms militia regiments on Galatea including a rump battalion of 'Mechs, and has thrown his lot in with crimelord Haskell Blizzard. Described as bald, with a walrus-like moustache.
  • Thomas Volmer - General Volmer's son is a reasonably capable MechWarrior but has a substance abuse problem. He was expelled from the Nagelring Academy over this and blames it on Patrick Kell who wouldn't cover it up. General Volmer and later Blizzard insist that the Kell Hounds must hire Thomas Volmer as a Lieutenant Colonel and that Patrick Kell must issue a public apology as part of any deal, which is a major reason for Morgan Kell to dig in his heels and not give in to their demands.
  • Leutnant Saxinger - General Volmer's 'teutonic' aide
  • Clarence Wilson - Former comrade-in-arms of Morgan Kell in the Tenth Skye Rangers

Featured systems[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

DropShips[edit]

Other[edit]

Notes[edit]

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