Zeroing In

Zeroing In
Short story by Robert Thurston
First Publication
Published	9 September 2004
Publisher	BattleCorps
Illustrator(s)	Franz Vohwinkel
Pages	22
Chronology
Era	Clan Homeworlds era
Timeline	Prior to 3030 (see notes)
Series
—   Way of the Clans

Zeroing In, subtitled A Prequel to The Legend of the Jade Phoenix, is a short story by Robert Thurston that was first published online on BattleCorps on 9 September 2004. It was also made available for purchase as a PDF file on BattleShop on 15 January 2005. The story was later republished in print in the first BattleCorps anthology The Corps in 2008.

Teaser Text

Everyone's favorite Falconer, Joanna, is back for a prequel, telling one of the many tales that took place before she met Diana, or Horse, or Aidan Pryde. This Jade Falcon story by Robert Thurston heralds the author's return to Classic BattleTech fiction, and shows that you can go home again.

Plot Summary

Upon arriving at the Ironhold training camp, newly appointed Falconer Joanna moves into her decrepit quarters and unpacks her belongings. Among these is a locked box with a collection of items she carries from place to place as mementos. Three of these pertain to Joanna's memory of Lyonor, the closest equivalent to a friend she ever had: a holographic photo of Lyonor looking happy (after a prolonged, exhausting fight with Joanna); a comb made from an unusually symmetrical shell Joanna found on a beach on Strana Mechty and had made into a comb (and a work of art) by a labor casteman, which Lyonor once used to almost kill another MechWarrior with; and a piece of armor that remained from Lyonor's Summoner after she was killed in a freak collision accident involving Joanna's malfunctioning Hellbringer' and fire from an enemy Stormcrow during battle with Clan Ghost Bear.

Like Joanna, Lyonor coveted but never achieved a bloodname.

Featured Characters

• Falconer Joanna
• Lyonor
• Ter Roshak

Featured Places

• Ironhold
• Tokasha
• Strana Mechty (mentioned)

Featured BattleTech

BattleMechs

• Hellbringer
• Mad Dog
• Stormcrow
• Summoner
• Warhawk
• Dire Wolf (mentioned)

Notes

• Although published as a Succession Wars era story, it is actually set in the Clan Homeworlds era, which was introduced later.