One Man's Trash
Sarna News
| One Man's Trash | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Philip A. Lee | |||
 | |||
| First Publication | |||
| Published | 17 August 2017 | ||
| Published in | Legacy (Anthology) | ||
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs | ||
| Pages | 24 (POD) | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Succession Wars era | ||
| Timeline | 27 February 3005 — 1 March 3005 | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
One Man's Trash is a short story by Philip A. Lee and the fifth part of the Legacy anthology, which was published in August 2017.
Plot Summary[edit]
The GHR-5H Grasshopper (Legacy Grasshopper), piloted by one Leutnant Christiane Kühn, serves in the Seventeenth Arcturan Guards when they attack Kalidasa in early 3005. On 25 February, a laser blast penetrates the cockpit, kills Kühn and partially melts the headrest. The Grasshopper is later salvaged by the defending Silver Hawks Coalition forces and refurbished at the Kali-Yama Factory Annex. Two days later, on 27 February, it is given to Sergeant Vergil Armstrong of the Panther Assault Group, who doesn't mind the shot up condition as long as he can be a MechWarrior, and no longer just a reserve pilot–even if the 'Mech is ultimately just a walking spare parts depot for Major Szalinski who also pilots a Grasshopper.
Armstrong finds a small capsule hidden in the cockpit containing Kühn's personal belongings–a wedding ring, family photos, and an encrypted data crystal. The crystal turns out to contain a note to the Lyran raiders, ordering them to meet inbound reinforcements, the Tenth Skye Rangers, at Crater Hollow on 1 March.
Armstrong walks the 'Mech, which still bears the colors of the Seventeenth Arcturan Guards, to Crater Hollow and offers to switch sides. However, his feigned surrender to the Lyran troops (who demand that he hands over the 'Mech at gunpoint) is a ruse to allow the Panther Assault Group to maneuver into position for a surprise attack. In the ensuing battle, the Grasshopper is downed and Armstrong wounded. He later learns that the expected Lyran reinforcements turn out to be no more than a battalion, a force the defenders can handle. When offered other salvaged 'Mechs such as a Warhammer or Zeus, Armstrong decides to keep the Grasshopper, which he has come to name "Trash".
Featured Characters[edit]
- Leutnant Christiane Kühn
- Sergeant Vergil Armstrong
- Major Szalinski (mentioned)
Featured Units[edit]
Featured Places[edit]
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
- GHR-5H Grasshopper
- Warhammer (mentioned)
- Zeus (mentioned)