Shadow of Death

Shadow of Death
Product information
Type Short story
Author Randall N. Bills
Publication information
Publisher Catalyst Game Labs
First published 6 November 2020
Content
Era Clan Invasion era
Timeline 2 January 3050 to 6 May 3052
Series Battle of Tukayyid (anthology)
Preceded by Two Roads Diverged
Followed by The Burdens of Honor

Shadow of Death is a short story by Randall N. Bills, third entry in the Battle of Tukayyid series written as a companion of the BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid

Teaser text[edit]

“ Torian Nostra is yoked with an unbearable truth he must endure as the Nova Cats fight for their lives at Losiije. ”

Plot summary[edit]

Nova Cat warrior Torian Nostra is shocked at the sight of Alpha Galaxy's command ship falling from the sky. The loss of a significant portion of his Clan's strength within the first hours of battle against ComStar seems to confirm the background of the heart-breaking mission personally given to him by Khan Severen Leroux himself, but does not match his vision of the terrible task he must do. While the burden weighs heavily upon him, he continues to fight well as the Nova Cats attempt to earn victory on Tukayyid, suffering increasing losses in the process.

In the two years leading up to the battle, Khan Severen Leroux grows increasingly convinced that his Clan is following the wrong path. This belief begins with the first fateful meeting with Anastasius Focht and the unexpected assault against the Precentor Martial by his Loremaster Biccon Winters. Having chosen until that point to heed only the positive aspects of her visions and join Operation REVIVAL, the confrontation with Focht had him increasingly focusing on the terrible fate for all the Clans she has foretold. Meeting with her, Winters attempts to lead Leroux to understanding, asking why their ancestors followed Nicholas Kerensky, shooting down the easy Clan answers to get him to admit the truth - the exiled SLDF had suffered such horrendous losses that it followed the Founder because the only alternative was death.

Winters insists that the Clans will face ComStar and again must suffer such terrible losses that the Nova Cats will willingly accept transformation from what they are now to follow a totally new path, to avoid their destruction and ensure their survival. Recognizing that this vision must be assured to pass, a sorrowful Leroux meets with Torian Nostra and three other warriors and instructs them to intentionally cripple the offensive, to ensure their Clan is not just defeated but totally humbled during the battle. Acknowledging that others might see his actions as treason for dooming all the Clans, Leroux steadfastly believes in the shared vision with the Loremaster and insists he will pay any price to ensure the ultimate salvation and survival of their people.

While the battle turns against his Clan, Torian's Star discovers a secret 'Mech-sized tunnel running towards Joje under the impenetrable ComStar walls. Presented with an opportunity for the Nova Cats to still triumph, Nostra instead jams his Starmates' communications before killing them all, dying as foretold as he takes the last of his friends with him.

As the Nova Cat's fifteenth and last functional 'Mech, a battered Arctic Cheetah, boards a DropShip to lift off Tukayyid days later in defeat, a heavily wounded Severen Leroux reflects on the burden he has carried for the past two years. Knowing that his name will join those of history's most incompetent generals, Leroux consoles himself with the thought that in the long run his actions have ensured the long-term salvation of Clan Nova Cat.

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