The Ruins of Power
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The Ruins of Power | |
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Product information | |
Type | Novel |
Author | Robert E. Vardeman |
Pages | 295 |
Cover Artwork | Ray Lundgren |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Roc Books |
First published | 1 April 2003 |
ISBN-10 | 0451459288 |
ISBN-13 | 978-0451459282 |
Content | |
Era | Dark Age era |
Timeline | 3 April – 12 May 3133 |
Series | MechWarrior: Dark Age Novels |
Preceded by | A Call to Arms |
Followed by | A Silence in the Heavens (The Proving Grounds trilogy) |
The Ruins of Power, by Robert E. Vardeman, is the third novel in the MechWarrior: Dark Age series. It was first published in April 2003 by Roc Books and was later republished in April 2021 by Catalyst Game Labs as a BattleTech Legends title.
Contents
From the back cover[edit]
“ | The destruction of the interplanetary communications net has isolated planets across The Republic of the Sphere. On the world of Mirach, a widening schism in the military between those who would remain loyal to The Republic and those who would break away threatens the peace and prosperity that have lasted for generations...
Once a formidable MechWarrior, Mirach governor Sergio Ortega now believes that diplomacy will win the day. His sons, Dale and Austin, are also stalwarts of The Republic and aspiring MechWarriors. Against growing civil unrest, they urge a military show of force before events spiral out of control. But Mirach has no military equipment up to BattleMech status. And the pacifistic governor is slashing military spending. Marta Kinsolving's Mirach Business Association has been converting IndustrialMechs into fighting machines. After putting down a civil uprising, MBA could field a force in the imminent civil war and split Mirach three ways. Although Austin believes that Marta may be complicit in murder, she may turn out to be the strongest ally the Ortegas have when open warfare erupts. |
” |
Plot Summary[edit]
Tensions are high on Mirach in the aftermath of the Blackout. The planet's minister of information, Elora Rimonova, openly foments unrest against the pacifistic Governor Sergio Ortega and key business leader Marta Kinsolving, using her control of Mirach's communications network. The economy is in crisis, shattered by the HPG collapse, and the planet has caught the attention of the rogue industrialist Jacob Bannson.
Brothers Austin and Dale Ortega, members of their father's elite First Cossack Lancers, fear for the planet. When Dale's lover Hanna Leong is assassinated, shortly followed by Dale himself, Austin finds himself searching for the truth. Before his investigation can amount to much, though, the culprit makes her move. Rimonova, alongside manipulated Legate Calvilena Tortorelli, launches a military coup, seeking to hand the planet over to Kal Radick's Steel Wolves.
Through the combination of Sergio's plots and manipulations, Marta's Mirach Business Association IndustrialMech force, Republic agent Jerome Parsons's Atlas, and Austin's heartfelt pleas and museum-recovered Centurion, the planetary government fends off the coup attempt. Rimonova is sent into exile, and Tortorelli, left in his post, is stripped of his powers.
Featured characters[edit]
- Austin Ortega
- Benton Nagursky
- Boris Chin
- Calvilena Tortorelli
- Dale Ortega
- Dmitri Borodin
- Elora Rimonova
- Hanna Leong
- Inger Ryumin
- Jerome Parsons
- Manfred Leclerc
- Marta Kinsolving
- Pavel Orndorff
- Sergio Ortega
- Barnaby
- Barkhausen
- Bethany
- Jurgen
- Captain Mugabe
- Lieutenant Newell
- Dr. Penrose
- Sergeant Posner
- Aaron Sandoval (mentioned)
- Devlin Stone (mentioned)
- Galina Stepanova (mentioned)
- Jacob Bannson (mentioned)
- Kal Radick (mentioned)
- Colonel Armitage (mentioned)
Featured worlds[edit]
Featured units[edit]
Featured BattleTech[edit]
'Mechs[edit]
- Atlas
- Centurion
- Enforcer III
- converted AgroMech
- converted MiningMech
Combat Vehicles[edit]
- Behemoth II
- Condor
- JES Tactical Missile Carrier
- Lamprey
- Mobile HQ
- Ranger VV1
- Shandra Advanced Scout Vehicle
- unspecified APC
- unspecified VTOL
Foreign-Language Editions[edit]
German[edit]
A German edition, translated by Reinhold H. Mai, was published by Heyne in 2004 as Ruinen der Macht (ISBN 9783453879003).[1]
Hungarian[edit]
A Hungarian edition, translated by Zaránd Fruzsina, was published by Delta Vision in 2003 as A hatlom romaji.[2]
Spanish[edit]
A Spanish edition, translated by Ángel Martínez, was published by Devir in 2004 as Las ruinas del poder.
Covers[edit]
2021 cover. Art by Tan Ho Sim.
References[edit]
- ↑ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for Ruinen der Macht
- ↑ Beholder product page for A hatlom romaji