The Quest for Jardine

(Redirected from The Hunt for Jardine)
The Quest for Jardine cover.jpg
The Quest for Jardine
Product information
Type Novel/Trilogy
Author Herbert A. Beas II
Pages 352 (PoD edition)
Cover Artwork Tan Ho Sim
Interior Artwork Doug Chaffee, Harri Kallio, Chris Lewis, Duane Loose
Publication information
Publisher Catalyst Game Labs
Product code 36072
First published 2007 - 2024
ISBN-13 978-1-947335-83-7
MSRP $ 14.95
Content
Era Jihad era
Timeline 13 February - 12 December 3067

The Quest for Jardine is an omnibus edition, published electronically and in Print on demand format, of the Forgotten Worlds novel-sized multipart story by Herbert A. Beas II. It comprises of three parts, or books, named The Hunt for Jardine (including a prologue), Finding Jardine, and Escape from Jardine, plus a Foreword by John Helfers.

Although publication of individual parts of the story, then as a BattleCorps serial, began as early as 2007, the third and final instalment was only published in 2023. For the purpose of this article, the omnibus edition combining all three instalments into a single volume is considered the primary (lead) product.

From the back cover (omnibus edition)[edit]

LOST IN THE FIRES OF WAR…

Freelance explorer Dr. Brooklyn Stevens made her career finding lost artifacts from Inner Sphere history, but a job offered by the academic organization known as Interstellar Expeditions gives her a chance at the find of a lifetime: a missing planet, one lost in the ravages of the brutal Succession Wars.

But the world of Jardine did not die in planet-scouring fire… it was entirely erased from stellar maps—and Brooke's employer wants to know why. But someone wants this planet to remain hidden—and will go to any length to ensure that Brooke's quest ends in tragedy.

SHROUDED IN SECRETS…

But when she finds the long-lost planet of Jardine, Brooklyn finds more than she bargained for—a lot more. She and her partner soon find themseves between two very different groups: one whose members are an unholy amalgamation of man and machine, the other a hardy village of natives thta live off the land. Both groups are soon after Stevens and her knowledge of Jardine—one side to protect the planet from those that seeking to reclaim it, the other intent on killing anyone who knows of its existence. Caught between both factions, Brooklyn must uncover the mysteries of Jardine… and stay alive long enough to tell the universe about it…

Plot summary[edit]

Book 1: The Hunt for Jardine[edit]

The Hunt for Jardine, 2020 edition cover

The Hunt for Jardine was originally released electronically in a serialized form through BattleCorps in 2007, and later in print in the fourth BattleCorps anthology, Fire for Effect, in 2013. It was re-released as an stand-alone ebook novella in 2020 and finally included in the 2024 omnibus novel.

The prologue and chapter I were also available as free teaser downloads from the BattleCorps site.

From the back cover (2020 novella)[edit]

BURIED IN THE ASHES OF WAR…

Freelance explorer and treasure hunter Dr. Brooklyn Stevens has made her career finding lost artifacts from Inner Sphere history, but during the waning days of the FedCom Civil War, a job offered by the academic organization known as Interstellar Expeditions affords her the chance to pursue the find of a lifetime: a missing planet, one lost in the ravages of the brutal Succession Wars.

But the world of Jardine did not only die in fire—it was erased from stellar maps entirely, and Brooke's employer wants to know why.

She must hunt down the only known link to this forgotten world: a dangerous predator native to Jardine, whose initial discoverer was silenced under mysterious circumstances. Someone wants this planet to remain buried—and they will go to any lengths to ensure that Brooke's quest to uncover the truth of Jardine's disappearance ends in tragedy...

Prologue[edit]

published on 12 October 2007
They are the lost. The hidden. Worlds erased from star charts across the centuries. Some harbor terrifying secrets. Are they real or just fantasy? Doctor Brooklyn Stevens and her ex-IE crew will risk their lives and more to find out.

On the lost world of Rocky, now in a nuclear winter, Brooklyn Stevens and her crew recover the Chalice of Uston DeKirk for a client from the cargo vessel "Annie M" which is beached on an ice shelf. During the retrieval on 13 May 3067, decayed ammunition aboard the ship ignites and threatens to capsize it. Dr. Stevens narrowly escapes when the wreck breaks up, but manages to secure the Chalice and other valuables.

Chapter I[edit]

published on 12 October 2007
Brooklyn Stevens--Scientist, Explorer, Mercenary--will receive her greatest challenge ever…

During a reception on Skye celebrating her recovery of the Chalice of Uston DeKirk, Stevens is approached by Dr. Henry Croft who offers her work for Interstellar Expeditions as a freelancer on her own terms. Stevens and IE apparently had a falling-out, but Croft assures her that IE now acknowledges that "what happened at Vulture's Nest" was not her fault and that director Denderhoff was sent back for field work, and was since killed by the Green Ghosts.

Stevens' interest is piqued by Croft producing a recent scientific publication about the rediscovery of the Jardinian Fire Cat and the fact that the author was subsequently killed in an accident while his work was decried as a hoax. Croft and Stevens agree that the lost world of Jardine may have been rediscovered but obviously, a powerful faction is willing to kill to keep the find secret. IE wants Stevens to find the lost world.

Chapter II[edit]

published on 26 October 2007
The hunt for Jardine is on, but first Brooke must play the peacemaker.

On 29 July 3067, Stevens and her bickering crew make preparations aboard their modified Explorer-class JumpShip Sacajawea at Shasta's zenith jump point to trace the find of the Jardinian Fire Cat in the Mesozonia natural rainforest preserve on Shasta, six days away.

Meanwhile, the Leopard-class DropShip Kaylin which has been in a waiting position in the Alterf sytem with its Scout-class JumpShip (later identified as Broken Knee) receives orders to move to Shasta.

Chapter III[edit]

published on 30 October 2007
A stalker lurks in the wilds of Shasta, but so do the clues to the greatest find of Brooke's career.

Forced to accept a local guide, Esok, to accompany them, Stevens' team comb the dangerous Mesozonia rainforest for over a week until they finally come across a dead juvenile Skatha Ape that was apparently killed by a Fire Cat. At that point, a sniper opens fire and kills Esok. Stevens evades the camouflaged attacker long enough for her team members Lawrence Pohl and Marissa Boerefijn to arrive in their Ibex RV and manages to kill the sniper, but not before Pohl is wounded and Boerefijn killed. Just before passing out, Stevens comes face to face with a live Fire Cat.

Chapter IV[edit]

published on 6 November 2007
"We're with Interstellar Expeditions, and we've come to help you."

Following the death of Boerefijn, a journal entry by Stevens relates how she and her team traced the Fire Cats for weeks, only to find the Clarke, a IE DropShip that had crashlanded on Shasta at least five years ago and seems to have brought them to Shasta where they thrived in the jungle.

Although downhearted, they decide to carry on with the mission. Discussing recent events, they deduct that Croft probably knew of the Clarke and that it had apparently found Jardine prior to getting lost, but does not know its itinerary.

When their DropShuttle arrives back at the jump point on 13 October 3067, they are hailed by Captain Anton Hara of the Kaylin. Hara explains that he was hired by Croft to serve as their military escort and security advisor. Stevens and her crew suspect that Hara might mistake "mission support" for "mission control", and decide to play along and try to gain control of the situation.

Chapter V[edit]

published on 13 November 2007
Brooke and her crew may have discovered the location of Jardine, but who could have made a world vanish without a trace centuries ago?

Like Stevens suspected, Hara has a IE liaison with him (Nathan Bellamy) and through him, Stevens regains control of the situation as well as the official travel itinerary of the Clarke. From this, they manage to identify a system called Herakleion as the likely last stop of the ill-fated Clarke before it was shot down over Shasta. Herakleion was placed under full quarantine and written off following an extremely virulent plague deployed as a bioweapon around 2815. Matching the system's features against the known data for lost Jardine marks the two worlds as virtual twins, and Tibor Mitternacht (from Stevens' team) suspects the mixup may be intentional to hide the very existence of Jardine as early as prior to 2788.

Anton Hara meanwhile ponders why his IE liaison gave Stevens the data when suddenly another Scout-class JumpShip appears with a Leopard CV-class DropShip (the Luminus Omega) and immediately launches its fighters for an attack...

Book 2: Finding Jardine[edit]

Finding Jardine, 2020 edition cover

Finding Jardine was originally released electronically in a serialized form through BattleCorps from 2008 to 2009, re-released as an stand-alone ebook novella in 2020 and finally included in the 2024 omnibus novel.

From the back cover (2020 novella)[edit]

UNCOVERING THE SECRETS OF A LOST WORLD...

Interstellar explorer and freelance treasure hunter Dr. Brooklyn Stevens has made the find of a lifetime—an entire planet thought lost for centuries. Jardine was supposedly wiped off the maps of the Inner Sphere during the hard-fought Succession Wars, but the verdant forested world she and her adventuring partner just crash-landed on tells a much different story.

And so do its inhabitants. Dr. Stevens and her partner soon find themselves between two very different groups: one whose members are an unholy amalgamation of man and machine, the other a hardy group that lives off the land. Both groups are soon after Stevens and her knowledge about Jardine—one side to protect the planet from those that would seek to reclaim it, the other intent on killing anyone who knows of its existence. Caught between both sides, Brooklyn must uncover the mysteries of Jardine...and stay alive long enough to tell the universe about it...

Part VI[edit]

published on 25 December 2008
Brooklyn Stevens and her crew have narrowly escaped, but where have they escaped to? And who has followed them there, and who awaits?
Chapter One[edit]

Stevens and her crew have evaded the unknown attackers at Shasta by jumping to a pirate jump point in the Herakleion system, where they are greeted by an automated beacon warning them about a "Class Ten Extreme Biological Hazard Site" and quarantine protocols. However, it turns out that the 'bombing' by the aerospace fighters was actually the delivery of boarders in battle armor, and one such trooper has entered the ship and is only narrowly defeated, causing substantial damage in the process.

Chapter Two[edit]

Convinced that "Herakleion" is in fact Jardine, Stevens and Mitternacht proceed to the planet on the K-1 DropShuttle Magellan while JumpShip captain Pohl recuperates from wounds sustained in the fight against the battle-armored trooper, and his crew repairs the Sacajawea. Despite coasting under emcon, the DropShuttle is detected by SentrySat J-1098 on 30 October 3067. The satellite raises an intruder alert and launches a trio of ancient Mk30 BlackWasp drone fighters. Trying to evade them in the atmosphere (because BlackWasps are not designed to operate in atmosphere), the DropShuttle suddenly faces Hammerhead fighters.

Part VII[edit]

published on 31 December 2008
They survived the fight in orbit, and the crash to the world below, but a ship falling out of the sky attracts the eyes of everyone for hundreds of kilometers. Will Brooke and Tibor find help, or will they be found instead by more enemies?
Chapter Three[edit]

Having crash landed in the Forest of Shrouds on Jardine, Stevens and Mitternacht escape the wrecked Magellan in the Rock Possum WorkMech they brought, which survived the crash with light damage. A squad of six Manei Domini troopers led by Ghost Adept Omega Errol investigates the crash site and pursues the 'Mech westward.

Meanwhile, a rather angry Anton Hara arrives in the "Herakleion" system in search for Stevens, after having plotted a course with the reconstructed information that Stevens' ship had sent them just prior to jumping out of the Shasta battle. IE liaison Bellamy loses the last remnants of Hara's respect by suffering from Transit Disorientation Syndrome.

Chapter Four[edit]

Aware of being followed by what they think might be battlesuits, Stevens and Mitternacht find that their pursuers are almost twice as fast and are finally forced to confront them at a river where they are swarmed by the eerie Manei Domini cyborgs. They flee into the jungle with erratic moves, trying to shake off the attackers. Eventually, they kill the Manei Domini more through lucky chance but their 'Mech is also damaged beyond repair in the process, and Mitternacht's prosthetic implants are damaged. Emerging from the wreckage, they are confronted by the final Manei Domini operative who is then suddenly shot by a man in primitive clothing on an alien riding beast (later revealed to be a Tabiranth).

Part VIII[edit]

published on 21 January 2009
Trapped on Jardine, hunted by the enemy, and sheltered — for now, at least — but unknowns, can Brooke and Tibor survive their mission to the Forgotten World
Chapter Five[edit]

The ostensibly primitive hunters have captured Stevens and Mitternacht, and inform Stevens that they have used EMP mines and heavy rifles to fight the cyborgs they refer to as "Guardians", machine-men, and also as Manei Domini. Mitternacht's implants make them wary he might be a Guardian as well. They are brought to the hunters' village, where they learn Jardine's history.

In the hidden city of Hope, the only remaining city on Jardine, Poltergeist Precentor Sigma Damien Lucille reports to Specter Precentor Omega Apollyon on the loss of Errol and his team to an EMP mine and the "Waywards" and suggests carpet bombing the jungle to wipe them out and send a message to other tribes. Apollyon objects because burning down the jungle would make the city easier to detect from orbit, and orders Lucille to hunt the intruders down with a Level II of 'Mechs and Phantom operatives instead.

Back aboard the Sacajawea, Pohl and Gretchen Morden have received the DropShuttle's mayday message and are thus aware that Stevens crashlanded after being shot down. Silently loitering at the pirate jump point, they detect the emergence wave of another JumpShip and deduct it must be Hara who has arrived in-system.

Chapter Six[edit]

Stevens learns more about the Manei Domini on Jardine, about 'The Master', who is described as a "House Lord" and said to have arrived as a gravely injured many years ago, and about The Five. Mitternacht is aware that not all tribespeople are happy to host him and Stevens, and prepares to leave for the nearby Manei Domini city of Hope where some inhabitants are sympathetic to the tribes; he also hopes to gain access to a transmitter that will allow them to send a signal to the Sacajawea.

Aboard the Kaylin, Bellamy has correctly interpreted a narrowband transmission from the Sacajawea as a warning that the system is hostile. He wants to secure the fame for finding of Jardine for himself, and is plotting with Hara to double-cross Stevens' team, hoping to somehow pick her up on the return trip from the planet.

Precentor Lucille meanwhile assembles a 'Mech and battle armor force to exterminate the tribe hosting Stevens and Mitternacht.

Book 3: Escape from Jardine[edit]

Escape from Jardine, 2023 edition cover

Escape from Jardine was mostly written but had not yet begun publication before BattleCorps shut down after 2016. To see the story completed, author Herb Beas started to release the final instalment in a "semi-official" (in his words) capacity in a serialized fashion in the Fan Fiction section of the BattleTech Forum starting on April 14, 2019. The publication was around halfway through when CGL decided to buy the manuscript for proper publication after all and most of what had been published via the forum was removed again. The final novella was officially released on 23 February 2023.

From the back cover (2023 novella)[edit]

SHE FOUND THE LOST PLANET…

Intrepid interstellar explorer Brooke Stevens has seen many strange and unique sights in her lifetime, but this one may be the most incredible one of all. Tasked by the organization Interstellar Explorations to locate an entire world, she located the previously “lost” planet of Jardine.

BUT WILL SHE LIVE TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT?

Once there, however, she stumbles upon a powerful ComStar faction, the Word of Blake, that will do anything to keep Jardine’s location a secret—including terminating any outsiders with knowledge of their concealed base. Now Brooke and what’s left of her team—a taciturn tech and a native of Jardine whose tribe was wiped out by brutal Manei Domeni cyborgs—must brave the hazards of the jungle planet and journey to the heart of the Word of Blake’s operations in hopes of finding a way off the planet… before their relentless enemies bury them on it…

Chapter One[edit]

Lucille's forces begin to systematically eradicate the tribe of "Waywards" in the jungle, losing a Griffin to an EMP mine in the process. Apollyon and Lamashti analyze what they know of the intruders and forge plans to capture them. Tribe leader Mikeke meanwhile realizes that the Guardians intend to kill them all no matter what they do, and orders Alahni to bring Steven and Mitternacht to Hope through a secret pass.

Chapter Two[edit]

While fleeing from the massacre, Stevens, Mitternacht and Alahni come across the downed Griffin which they reactivate. Stevens pilots the largely undamaged 'Mech back to the tribe encampment and engages the attacking forces, destroying a Nexus. Aboard the Kaylin, Bellamy plots with Captain Hara and his executive officer Lenard Bryce to strike out against Stevens and capitalize on her predicament should she manage an escape from the planet, revealing what Hara considers a hidden edge to Bellamy.

Chapter Three[edit]

Stevens' battle against Lucille's elite warriors goes badly once the element of surprise wears off, forcing her to flee with 'Mechs and battle armor troopers in pursuit.

Chapter Four[edit]

Apollyon has a K-1 DropShuttle (Stiletto-7) fueled, stocked and prepared for launch, and given transponder codes matching Stevens' crashed K-1 Magellan. Stevens meanwhile ejects from the Griffin at an opportune moment and makes her escape from her pursuers, and Mitternacht and Alahni, following Stevens' orders, come across the wreck of the Rock Possum WorkMech.

Chapter Five[edit]

In order to capture and destroy the JumpShip that brought Stevens' team, the Stiletto-7 launches with a Union-class vessel (Hera's Shield) ostensibly in pursuit, carrying Lucille and twelve Longinus battlesuits configured for vacuum operation - and six nuclear warheads. Lamashti perfectly imitates Stevens' voice to reinforce the impression that this is indeed Stevens' ship.

Aboard the Sacajawea, Pohl and Morden are uncertain about the identity of the approaching DropShuttle; they come up with a plan to send a signal on the frequency of Tibor Mitternacht's implants to verify his presence and "ping" him. They also decide not to inform Hara and Bellamy because they do not trust them.

Stevens' team reunites at the broken WorkMech and Alahni proposes to enter the city of Hope through the water lines.

Chapter Six[edit]

Apollyon discusses the situation with the city's civilian administrator, Ogima Lunalla, who is distraught at the prospect that the city may have to be abandoned. Aboard Hera's Shield, the DropShip ostensibly pursuing the K-1 that is in turn pretending to be Stevens' shuttle, Lucille is delighted to receive an answer from the Kaylin to Lamashti's fake radio call, not realizing that there are two competing factions in-system.

Alahni leads Stevens and Mitternacht into the city, where they are apprehended by a group of natives led by Uku. Blaming them at first for what is happening, Uku reconsiders after Alahni confirms that the Guardians massacred the Waywards of the Shrouded Forest tribe without even contacting them about the "Lost" (offworlders) or any communication whatsoever. Uku finally agrees to help them stow away on one of the DropShips.

Chapter Seven[edit]

In an attempt to recover or seize what they believe to be Stevens' approaching shuttle, Bellamy and Hara have the Kaylin and its JumpShip jump from their position 18 AU out in the Jardine system to an intercept point closer to the shuttle, with a tight window for the shuttle to brake and dock with them while the JumpShip can quick-recharge its jump drive and escape with their prize. Aboard the Sacajawea, Pohl and Morden meanwhile hope that their assumptions are correct and that the approaching shuttle is really a trap which the Kaylin is now about to spring.

The DropShip Agravain, outbound from Jardine with Stevens, Mitternacht and Alahni aboard as stowaways, detects another jump signature and diverts its course to intercept. The stowaways realize from the thrust that the ship must have made an unplanned course change. They assault the engineering section and unsuccessfully attempt to cut life support to the bridge.

Back aboard the Kaylin Hara is not surprised that the Sacajawea waited him out before jumping closer in-system, but he is worried to find that they jumped nowhere near an intercept course to the approaching K-1 but instead to essentially the opposite direction.

Chapter Eight[edit]

In a running firefight throughout the DropShip, Stevens and Mitternacht manage to capture the Agravain. Apollyon, aware of what has happened, executes Uku in the presence of Ogima Lunalla and, with regret, announces that he shall inform The Master and that the "Karpov Protocols" are clear enough on what will now happen.

Chapter Nine[edit]

Pretending to be the Magellan, the Stiletto-7 with Lucille and his team aboard can approach very close to the Kaylin (which has undocked from its JumpShip) before the ruse is detected. In the end the DropShuttle rams into the Kaylin, causing heavy damage.

Chapter Ten[edit]

Before ramming into the Kaylin, the Stiletto-7 had deployed Lucille and his men in battle armor suits. They proceed to board the damaged Kaylin and kill all aboard.

Chapter Eleven[edit]

The Agravain has been drifting for a day, its fusion core scrammed during the fighting for the ship, in the general direction of the Sacajawea which is the JumpShip it had tried to intercept. The last three survivors aboard - Stevens, Mitternacht, and Alahni - eventually escape the stricken ship in an 85-ton OmniFighter (implicitly, a Striga) that Mitternacht can fly.

Chapter Twelve[edit]

Having recovered Stevens, Mitternacht and Alahni, the Sacajawea makes its escape and arrives at the Loric zenith jump point by 12 December. They are horrified to learn what has happened in the Inner Sphere since, and have a terse meeting with Dr. Croft where Stevens bargains hard for the payment and refuses to hand over Alahni. They know they are now marked by the Word of Blake and prepare to cover their tracks.

Epilogue[edit]

Aboard the Broken Knee, the JumpShip associated with Hara and the Kaylin and which they have apparently seized before it could jump out, Apollyon reviews the latest news about developments in the Inner Sphere, particularly the attack againat the Word of Blake on Mars by Wolf's Dragoons. He is also reminded of the "Karpov Protocols" and informed that the Erinyes is sent to Jardine...

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