The Face of the Enemy
Sarna News
| The Face of the Enemy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Philip A. Lee | |||
| First Publication | |||
| Published | 13 May 2015 | ||
| Publisher | BattleCorps | ||
| Pages | 12 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Star League era | ||
| Timeline | 12 July 2698 — 7 April 2722 | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
The Face of the Enemy is a short story by Philip A. Lee that was first published online on BattleCorps on 13 May 2015 as the first installment in the Honor Code series that was solicited to appear concurrently with the release of the long-awaited Handbook: House Kurita.
It was later republished in print in the BattleTech anthology Honor Code in 2025.
[edit]
| “ | During the lull of peace in the Star League's Golden Age, a lone Kurita warrior seeks to win his own personal war. | ” |
Plot Summary[edit]
Thorsten Stenberg grows up on Rasalhague in a family with a long history of service to the Draconis Combine. On his twelfth birthday in 2698, his older brother Mikkel gifts him an ebony bokken and begins teaching him the ways of a warrior. Soon after, the family is torn apart when Mikkel defies their father and enlists in the Star League Defense Force. Their father disowns him, leaving Thorsten as the last hope to uphold the family's honor.
At Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy, Thorsten receives word that Mikkel has been killed in action. He directs his grief and anger into training, focusing on dueling techniques designed to counter SLDF MechWarriors. Over the years, he earns a place in the Second Sword of Light and builds a reputation as a skilled officer. Yet the memory of his brother's choice and death fuels his resentment of the Star League.
In 2722, Thorsten steps outside his duties and publicly challenges the Star League's presence on Luthien. Stripped of rank and cast out of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery, he takes up the mantle of a ronin to fight the SLDF in an unsanctioned duel. At Fort Luthien, he faces Captain Jia Lin Kwan, an SLDF Gunslinger pilot in a Champion. Thorsten, piloting his crimson Lancelot, fights a brutal one-on-one battle before finally defeating her.
Standing over the fallen Champion, Thorsten confronts the face of his true enemy. In that moment, he sees not his opponent but the memory of Mikkel in SLDF uniform. Faced with the choice between vengeance and restraint, Thorsten decides for what honor demands: he shows restraint and congratulates his opponent to be a worthy opponent.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Tai-i Thorsten Stenberg
- Captain Jia Lin Kwan
- Lieutenant Mikkel Stenberg (mentioned)
- Coordinator Takiro Kurita (mentioned)
- Amanda Kazutoyo (mentioned)
- Heidi Stenberg (mentioned)
Featured Units[edit]
- Second Sword of Light
- 131st Royal Mechanized Infantry Division
- Thirty-second Infantry Division (mentioned)
- Third Benjamin Regulars (mentioned)
- First Sun Zhang Academy Cadre (mentioned)
Featured Places[edit]
- Luthien
- Rasalhague
- New Samarkand
- Sackville (mentioned)