A Trial Most Acceptable

A Trial Most Acceptable
Story information
Author	Jason Hansa
Type	Short Story
Product	Shrapnel Issue 10
Content

A Trial Most Acceptable is a novella by Jason Hansa that was published in the tenth issue of Shrapnel.

Plot summary

On the planet Hsien, Lieutenant Junior Grade Kendra Slavoski assisted at a meeting. It was held at the command post of Stone's Coalition which were fighting to free the world of the Word of Blake Protectorate, and she watched specially the Clan Hell's Horses leader, Star Colonel John Lassenerra. The leader of the Allied task Forces, the duchess Alyss Rousset-Marik, stormed into the place and talked to the Clansman. She pointed than she had held him at reserve, but now than two regiments of the Capellan Confederation had landed and were engaging both the Task Force and the Blakists, and refusing to negotiate, she was to unleash them on the elite of the Capellans: the Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers, with orders to kill them until she ordered to stop. Lassenerra said than he had heard of this unit, which was part of the Star League Defense Forces which refused to join the Operation Exodus, and for that he showed a deep hate toward them. Alys later presented Kendra to John, telling him than her Support Battalion, mainly composed of artillery, will reincorce Lassenerra's Cluster. He agreed before departing. After that, Alys said Kendra than she will be her eyes, ears and conscience inside the Cluster. Meanwhile, Star Commander Rotislav Grimheald, the Horse's officer leading a ProtoMech Star was making a recon behind Capellan Lines. When Kendra arrived to the Horse's Mobile HQ, she dismounted and entered on it. She was boarded by the Nova Captain Ernesto Ravenwater, leader of Trinary Beta, and presented Kendra to the logistic' head of the Horses, the Point Commander Amanda. Kendra showed a high level of knowledge of the Horses' unit's composition. Kendra suggested using the ProtoMech star to making a near recon of the capellans, but the star Colonel said he was keeping them far away to prevent the Rangers' knowing of their presence too soon. Kendra made several suggestions to Amanda, but the later didn't liked them, so the lieutenant had to defy her in a Circle of Equals. Kendra's martial ability allowed her to easily defeat Amanda, assuming command of all logistics into the Cluster. Soon after, the Rangers' leader, Sang-shao Daniel Jax, made a communication with Lassenerra. The Star Colonel mocked the Rangers, and both agreed to fight. Kendra suspected the Capellans' intentions of striking their rearguard and warned the Star Colonel. Before the fight begin, the Star Colonel saw Kendra's old cooling vest and, interrogating her, uncovered than she hadn't gone to a formal academy,but trained to herself. John allowed her to stay in the unit, but only during the next battle. The Rangers attacked the Horses' line, but were crushed and a full company slaughtered, while the ProtoMechs sowed chaos in their rear lines. After the battle's ended, Kendra had won the respect of the Star Colonel, which gave her a full and modern cooling suit. She was talking with another Horses' officer when they were attacked by camoufled commandos, but Kendra managed to disarm and kill two of them, saving the officer, which was wounded. Lassenerra congratulated her for her success. The ProtoMech Star arrived to the Rangers' landing zone, where they took off lone enemies while the airspace Trinary of their Cluster launched a total assault. A ProtoMech point became crazy and made blow a Overlord DropShip, and the fighters blowned another of Union-class. The Horses and Kendra led a frontal assault, but the Clanners were so bloodthirsty than even after Jax began contacting them, Lassenerra ignored his calls while his people killed any enemy, taking no prisoners. Kendra was forced to appeal to the Horses' honor, and finally, the Star Colonel agreed to cease the fight and allow the Rangers to leave the battlefield. In a later meeting of Lassenerra and Kendra with the duchess, the Clan warrior thanked Alys for allowing them to fight, and ther duchess congratulated both for their hard work. Alys alluded to the Colonel's promise to send Kendra with her, and offered a place to the Lieutenant in her staff, but Kendra refused: she wanted to learn from the best, so she wanted to stay with the Horses.

Featured characters

• Alys Rousset-Marik
• Amanda
• Bethany
• Colin
• Ernesto Ravenwater
• John Lassenerra
• Kendra Slavoski
• Kordo
• Rotislav Grimheald

Featured BattleTech

• Centaur
• Battlefield Infiltration Unit
• Demolisher
• Elemental (Battle Armor)
• Executioner (Gladiator)
• Guillotine IIC
• J-27 Ordnance Transport
• Jackal
• Warhawk (Masakari)
• MASH Truck
• Roc
• Savage Coyote
• Turkina

Featured planets

• Hsien