The Hunters
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The Hunters | |
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Product information | |
Type | Novel |
Author | Thomas S. Gressman |
Pages | 336 |
Cover Artwork | Bruce Jensen |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Roc Books |
Product code | LE5624 |
First published | 01 December 1997 |
ISBN-10 | 0451456246 |
ISBN-13 | 978-0451456243 |
Content | |
Era | Clan Invasion era |
Timeline | 12 August 3058 – 3 January 3060 |
Series | Twilight of the Clans |
Preceded by | Grave Covenant |
Followed by | Freebirth |
The Hunters, by Thomas S. Gressman, is the third book in the Twilight of the Clans series.
The novel was made available on BattleCorps on 27 October 2009 as a PDF file (text only, without cover, pictures, or any other interior artwork except for the usual BattleCorps frame graphics). The PDF copy includes a disclaimer stating that it was created from a pre-final edition text that might differ from the printed version and that canon-wise, the print edition trumps the PDF edition.
Contents
From the back cover[edit]
“ | "Carry the fight to the Clans!" has become the rallying cry for the armies of the Successor States. Now, as the Great Houses launch an offensive against the Clan Occupation Zone, a combined armed task force, drawn from across the Inner Sphere, begins its own desperate journey.
Following the road marked out for them by a Clan defector, Task Force Serpent sets out to strike a blow at the heart of the Clans, at their home worlds. For so many years, the Inner Sphere has been the prey of the Clans. Now, in a war to end all wars, the hunted have become the hunters. |
” |
Summary[edit]
The Hunters covers the journey of Task Force Serpent from the Inner Sphere to the Smoke Jaguar home world of Huntress. The story is primarily told from the viewpoint of the task force Commander, Morgan Hasek-Davion.
Along the journey down the Exodus Road, Task Force Serpent has two encounters with other groups. These encounters threaten to compromise Task Force Serpent's secrecy.
The first encounter is with a pirate base on a habitable world in the Meribah system that Serpent was using to replenish their water supply. During the water collection work, a lance of pirate 'Mechs attacked the Serpent collection crews, but were rebuffed by the Eridani Light Horse.
Pirate prisoners captured during this engagement reveal the existence of the pirate base, and the fact that most of the pirates are off world attacking periphery refugees from the Clan invasion.
The Eridani Light Horse are tasked with eliminating the pirate base. This mission runs into problems when Serpent power armored infantry are detected by pirate slaves while on approach to the base. The slaves, being refugees from the Clan invasion, mistake the Eridani power armor for Elementals, and run back to alert the Pirates.
Despite this, the Light Horse succeed in destroying the pirates' base and capture multiple prisoners. This forces the question of what to do with them, given the secret nature of Task Force Serpent's mission and the limited resources at their disposal. Morgan decides to offer the former slaves/refugees support positions on the task force. Four pirate leaders were court-martialed for piracy and murder and were summarily executed. The rest of the pirates were convicted of lesser crimes and sentenced to be marooned on an uninhabited planet. This is done quickly and without notice to the majority of the Task Forces unit commanders. Morgan's actions cause consternation among some of his commanders, particularly Eridani Commander General Ariana Winston and Marik Knights of the Inner Sphere Commander Paul Masters.
Weeks later, as the Task force Jumps into another system, they detect the presence of Clan warships, and have to immediately move to engage them. Commodore Alain Beresick is given command of the fleet, and the two sides' naval assets engage in the largest naval battle since the fall of the Star League. After the battle it is revealed that the Clan fleet belonged to the Ghost Bears and was transporting civilians to colonize the conquered worlds of the Inner Sphere.
The captured Clan population is also given the option to joint the task force, which they begin to refer to as "Clan Serpent". Those that do not accept are marooned on a planet off the main transport route to the home worlds.
Throughout the novel is a side plot concerning Nekakami agents, provided as a gift by Theodore Kurita, that are embedded within the Task Force with an unknown mission. The novel ends with the assassination of Morgan Hasek-Davion on the eve of the invasion of Huntress. The invasion plot is picked up two novels later in "Sword and Fire".
Featured characters[edit]
- Adin of Clan Ghost Bear (Winter Wind)
- Private Kenichi Akida of DEST 6
- Stefan Amaris (mentioned)
- Sir Anropov of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Colonel Charles Antonescu of the Eridani Light Horse
- Colonel Edwin "Ed" Amis of the Eridani Light Horse
- Tai-i Asihiro of DEST 4
- Captain Avilla of the Eridani Light Horse
- Duke of Poulsbo Clarence Astra III (mentioned)
- Colonel Sandra "Sandy" Barclay of the Eridani Light Horse
- Precentor Commodore Alain Beresick of the Com Guards fleet (Invisible Truth)
- Lieutenant Bharie of the Com Guards fleet
- Master Technician Philip Brna
- Marshal Sharon Bryan of the 11th Lyran Guards
- Lieutenant Tubal Caine of the Eridani Light Horse
- Major Paul Calvin of the Eridani Light Horse
- First Lord Richard Cameron (mentioned)
- Captain Neil Campbell of the Northwind Highlanders
- Carasia, Trooper of the Eridani Light Horse
- Ralph Carter of DEST 6
- Sho-sa Martin Chisei
- Captain Cho of the DCS Hainan of the Draconis Combine
- Master Sergeant Carole Cole of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Coote of the Com Guards fleet (Invisible Truth)
- Captain Stanley Crosetti of the Eridani Light Horse
- Crow, Infantry trooper of the Eridani Light Horse
- Tai-i William "Bill" Culp of DEST 5
- Petty Officer Margaret Culp of the Com Guards fleet (Invisible Truth)
- Seaman Daum of the Com Guards fleet
- Vance Davis, Infantry trooper of the Eridani Light Horse
- First Prince Hanse "The Fox" Davion (mentioned)
- Captain Randolph DeMoise of the DCS Haruna of the Draconis Combine
- Antony DeVanziano, Pirate of Meribah
- Captain Doctor Joel Donati of the Invisible Truth of the Com Guards
- Sir Robert Dunleavy of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Lieutenant Charles Emrys, Infantry of the Eridani Light Horse
- Major Eveline Eicher of the Eridani Light Horse
- Technician Failoni of ComStar
- Major Kent Fairfax of the Eridani Light Horse
- Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht (mentioned)
- Lieutenant Commander Lorraine Fontanazza of the Com Guards fleet (Ranger)
- Captain Dr. Brian Fornal of the Eridani Light Horse
- Rumiko Fox of the Amber Crags nekekami
- Frei of the Invisible Truth of the Com Guards
- Leftenant Miguel Fuentes of MI6 Rabid Foxes
- Major Sir Clovis Gainard of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Captain Gascoine of the Eridani Light Horse
- Tai-i Maeda Ge, Captain of the Bisan of the Draconis Combine
- Star Colonel Alonso Gilmour of Clan Ghost Bear (Shining Claw)
- Corporal Penelope Greene of the Eridani Light Horse
- Captain Joshua Greystone of the Com Guards fleet
- Sergeant Grinnell, Infantry of the Eridani Light Horse
- Lieutenant Commander Sally Guter, Captain of the Lancer of the Eridani Light Horse
- Captain R. C. Gutjahr of the Eridani Light Horse (mentioned)
- Marshal of the Armies Morgan Hasek-Davion
- Demi-Precentor Regis Grandi of the Com Guards 2nd Division
- Chu-i Yacob Grimm
- Warrent Officer Leonard "Hedgehog" Harpool of the Eridani Light Horse
- Kasugai Hatsumi of the Amber Crags nekekami
- Star Captain Hector of Clan Ghost Bear (Winter Wind)
- Lieutenant Commander Held of the Com Guards fleet (Ranger)
- Colonel Scott Hinesick of the Eridani Light Horse
- Seaman Hivlan of the Com Guards fleet
- Gunner's mate Erin Hoey
- Frank Hollis of DEST 6
- Captain Holmes of the Eridani Light Horse
- Sho-sho Hideki Ishmaru of DEST
- Captain Martin "Marty" Izzat of the Eridani Light Horse
- Major Loren Jaffray of the Northwind Highlanders
- Major Ron Jenkins of the Eridani Light Horse
- Malcolm Jersey (mentioned)
- Leftenant General Hiram Jolar of the 6th Donegal Guards
- Private Steven Kalp of the Invisible Truth'' of the Com Guards
- Major Miklos Karabin of the Com Guards fleet (Invisible Truth)
- Commander Frank Kazeva
- Private Kee of DEST 4 (mentioned)
- Lance Sergeant Charlotte Kempka of the Eridani Light Horse
- General Aleksandr Kerensky (mentioned)
- Tai-sho Hohiro Kiguri of DEST (mentioned)
- Lieutenant Kindig of the DCS Hainan of the Draconis Combine
- Sang-shao Samuel Kingston of the 1st Victoria Rangers (Kingston's Legionnaires)
- Marshal Seamus Kinnell of the 6th Donegal Guards
- Sho-sa Masahiro Kobayashi of the DCS Haruna
- Coordinator Jimjiro Kurita (mentioned)
- Coordinator Theodore Kurita
- Captain Helen Lamus of the Com Guards fleet
- Senior Technician Lennox of Clan Ghost Bear
- Sho-sa Leshko) of the ISF
- Chancellor & First Lord Sun-Tzu Liao (mentioned)
- Major Kathy Lykken of the Eridani Light Horse
- Lieutenant Commander M'Basa of the Com Guards fleet (Ranger)
- Adept Ferro Machak, Technician of ComStar
- Colonel William MacLeod of the Northwind Highlanders
- Sir August Mangini of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Captain-General Thomas Marik
- Colonel Sir Paul Masters of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Dame Marta of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Captain Roger Montjar of MI6 Rabid Foxes (Fox Fives)
- Private Teji Nakamura of DEST 6
- Leland Newell of the Invisible Truth of the Com Guards
- Technician Simon Nisimura of DEST 6
- Lieutenant Commander Phat Ng of the Com Guards fleet
- Lieutenant Richard Norgan of the Com Guards fleet
- Robin Pennick of MIIO
- Flight Lieutenant Debi Petrillo of the ComStar Com Guards
- Petty Officer 3rd class Jack Piet of the DCS Haruna
- Major Marcus Poling of the 2nd St. Ives Lancers
- Kieji Sendai of the Amber Crags nekekami
- Sir Pracha Seni of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Talon Sergeant Kashira Raiko of DEST 6
- General Andrew Redburn of the 1st Kathil Uhlans
- Lance Sergeant Willis Rexer of the Eridani Light Horse
- Major Gary "Rib" Ribic of the Eridani Light Horse
- Gunjin Ringh of DEST 5
- Ritt of the Invisible Truth of the Com Guards
- Seaman Ruiz of the Com Guards fleet
- Tai-i Michael Ryan of DEST 6
- Lieutenant Donald "Too-tall" Sandoval of the ComStar Com Guards
- Elmer "Badger" Sarti of the ComStar Com Guards
- Private Frank Seremet of the Invisible Truth of the Com Guards
- Gunjin Carlotta "Lo" Sior of DEST 6
- Överste Carl Sleipness of the 4th Drakøns
- Star Captain Manfred Snuka of the CGB Fire Fang of Clan Ghost Bear
- Duchess of New Syrtis Kym Sorenson-Hasek (mentioned)
- Private Henry Stano of the Eridani Light Horse
- Archon Katherine "Katrina" Steiner-Davion
- General of the Armies Nondi Steiner (mentioned)
- Archon-Prince Victor Ian Steiner-Davion (mentioned)
- Captain D. C. Stockdale of the Eridani Light Horse
- Jonin "Stormcrow" of the Amber Crags nekekami
- Lieutenant Richard "Rick" Sule of the Bisan of the Draconis Combine
- Hondo Tan of the Amber Crags nekekami
- Tanabe of DEST 6
- Leutenant "Wild Steve" Timmons of the Eridani Light Horse
- Adept Tobin of ComStar ROM
- Star Captain Trent of Clan Smoke Jaguar (Bloodhouse Howell) (mentioned)
- Corporal Ufko of the Eridani Light Horse
- Captain Daniel "Dan" Umsont of the Eridani Light Horse
- Alan Vaux, Trooper of the Eridani Light Horse
- Lieutenant Tony Vitina of the Eridani Light Horse
- Oliver West of the Eridani Light Horse
- Precentor Captain Mercia Winslow of the Com Guards fleet (Ranger)
- Brevet General Ariana "Ria" Winston of the Eridani Light Horse
- Colonel Charles Winston of the Eridani Light Horse (mentioned)
- Woart of Clan Ghost Bear
- Private Peter Wu of DEST 6
- Dame Marie Yanika of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Sho-sa Yodama (mentioned)
- Doctor Yohi of ComStar
- Regimental Sergeant Major Steven Young Jr. of the Eridani Light Horse (mentioned)
- Tai-sho Yoshida (mentioned)
- Captain Yosuke of DEST 4 (mentioned)
- Captain Zeco of the ComStar Honor
- Captain Telemachus Zeek of the Eridani Light Horse (mentioned)
- Captain Telemachus Zeek Jr. of the Eridani Light Horse
Featured places[edit]
- Alpheratz
- Arcadia (mentioned)
- Atreus
- Bangor
- Defiance
- Huntress (mentioned)
- Kentares (mentioned)
- Kikuyu
- Lee Shore
- Maldonado (mentioned)
- Meribah (Eleuthera)
- Mogyorod (mentioned)
- Pajarito
- Peacock (mentioned)
- Pesht
- Sendai (mentioned)
- Strana Mechty (mentioned)
- Sudeten (mentioned)
- Tharkad (mentioned)
- Tsamma (mentioned)
- Waypoint Juniper
- Weldon
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
- Archer (mentioned)
- Assassin
- Atlas
- Blackjack
- Black Knight
- CPLT-C3 Catapult (mentioned)
- Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born)
- Centurion
- Cicada
- Commando
- CP-11-C Cyclops
- Dire Wolf (Daishi)
- Viper (Dragonfly)
- Enforcer
- Firestarter
- Dervish
- Gargoyle (Man O' War)
- Griffin
- Hermes II
- Hellbringer (Loki)
- Highlander
- Hunchback
- JagerMech
- Javelin (mentioned)
- Jenner
- King Crab
- Locust
- Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)
- ON1-M Orion
- Phoenix Hawk
- Adder (Puma)
- Quickdraw
- Raven
- Stormcrow (Ryoken)
- Sunder
- Thug
- Kit Fox (Uller)
- Valkyrie
- Victor
- Warhawk (Masakari)
- Watchman
- Whitworth
- Wolverine
- Zeus
Vehicles[edit]
Aerospace[edit]
DropShips and Small Craft[edit]
- Achilles-class DropShip Bisan of the Draconis Combine
- Avenger-class DropShip DCS Dojo of the Draconis Combine
- Avenger-class DropShip DCS Hainan of the Draconis Combine
- Broadsword-class DropShip Ice Dart (Stiletto) of Clan Ghost Bear
- Hannibal-class DropShip
- KR-61 Long-Range Shuttle
- Leopard-class DropShip
- Mammoth-class DropShip
- Mule-class DropShip
- Nagumo-class DropShip
- NL-42 "Battle Taxi"
- Overlord-class DropShip
- Overlord-class DropShip Lancer of the Eridani Light Horse
- Union-class DropShip Cossack of the Eridani Light Horse
- Union-class DropShip Honor of ComStar
- Union-class DropShip Integrity of ComStar
- Union-C-class DropShips
- unknown class Dropship Hussar of the Eridani Light Horse (probably Overlord)
JumpShips and WarShips[edit]
- Cameron-class battlecruiser SLS Invisible Truth of ComStar
- Cameron-class battlecruiser StarSword of ComStar (mentioned)
- Congress-class frigate Shining Claw of Clan Ghost Bear
- Essex-class destroyer Emerald of ComStar
- Essex-class destroyer Starlight of ComStar
- Fox-class Corvette Antrim of the Federated Commonwealth
- Fox-class Corvette Rostock of the Federated Commonwealth
- Invader-class JumpShip Alkmarr of the Federated Commonwealth
- Invader-class JumpShip Circe of the Eridani Light Horse
- Invader-class JumpShip Ericsson of the 1st Kathil Uhlans
- Invader-class JumpShip Winter Wind of Clan Ghost Bear
- Kyushu-class frigate DCS Haruna of the Draconis Combine
- Lola III-class Destroyer Ranger of ComStar Com Guards
- McKenna's Pride (mentioned)
- Monolith-class JumpShip Gettysburg of the Eridani Light Horse
- Monolith-class JumpShip Banbridge of ComStar
- Monolith-class Jumpship Cabot of the 11th Lyran Guards
- Star Lord-class JumpShip Bernlad of the Knights of the Inner Sphere
- Star Lord-class JumpShip Buford of the Eridani Light Horse
- Whirlwind-class destroyer CGB Fire Fang of Clan Ghost Bear
- Whirlwind-class destroyer CGB Ursus of Clan Ghost Bear
- unknown class Asturias of ComStar
Infantry Equipment[edit]
- Kage suit
Foreign-Language Editions[edit]
German[edit]
A German edition, translated by Reinhold H. Mai, was published by Heyne in 1999 as Die Jäger (ISBN 9783453139886).[1] This was republished as an EPUB by Ulisses Spiele in 2021 as BattleTech Legenden 40 : Die Jäger (ISBN 9783963317965).[2]
Hungarian[edit]
A Hungarian edition, translated by Zseli Ferenc, was published by Beholder in 2003 as Vadászok.[3]
Russian[edit]
A Russian edition, translated by I. Gavrilov, was published by Дрофа (Drofa) in 2003 as Охотники (ISBN 5710769614) as part of a series produced in collaboration with Армада-пресс (Armada-Press). [4] [5]
Spanish[edit]
A Spanish edition, translated by Jaime de Marcos Andreu, was published by Timun Mas in 1999 as La caza de los jaguares.
Covers[edit]
Notes[edit]
Trivia[edit]
The novel's author Thomas S. Gressman, a native of Pennsylvania, appears to poke fun at his neighboring state of New Jersey by taking the opportunity to have a minor portmaster character describe Jerseyville, the capital of Defiance VII as "the ugliest, hottest, smelliest, and all around-nastiest post I've ever had." To which Kasugai Hatsumi replies "What did you do to get yourself assigned to this garden spot?" It is a running (though not necessarily true) joke in America, particularly in the states surrounding New Jersey, to describe the state as having all of the qualities mentioned by the portmaster (in part due to its industrial ports), despite the state nickname being "The Garden State."