Ace Darwin and the Sidewinder Canyon
Sarna News
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| Ace Darwin and the Sidewinder Canyon | |
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| Story information | |
| Author | James Bixby |
| Type | Short Story |
| Product | Shrapnel Issue 6 |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 3035, 24 February 3044 |
Contents
Plot summary
Ace Darwin was in the Velvet Glove Bar and Grill, a bar on Timbiqui, in 3044, after completing a mission. There, a local ask him how he had obtained his 'Mech, a Kuritan Panther, and Ace began relating the story of Sidewinder Canyon.
Ace, after being expelled from the Nagelring, managed to find work as a 'Mech pilot in the planetary militia of Kooken's Pleasure Pit. There, he served a three year tour, where his lack of discipline—and a sordid affair with the colonel's daughter—ensured he would not be welcome to reenlist.
In 3035, on his final patrol before discharge, he found that his lancemates had repainted his Commando pink and baby blue. During his patrol, he encountered an unfamiliar Panther in Sidewinder Canyon; the Panther refused to answer his calls and attacked. Ace called for reinforcements, and the two 'Mechs exchanged fire. After losing his 'Mech's main weapon, Ace made a desperate move: he charged the Panther, ejecting from his Commando as the two 'Mechs fell into the canyon. An hour later, Darwin was rescued by reinforcements from the militia before passing out.
After awakening in a hospital, Darwin knew than the enemy BattleMech's pilot, identity unknown, was found to have died from the fall, suffering a spine broken. Darwin's Commando was recovered, but will need time to be repaired. Ace was entitled to the Panther as salvage, having defeated it himself. As a going-away present, his unit painted it pink, and as Darwin hadn't the money to repaint, he left it as it was.
After telling this story, when Darwin refused to answer questions before leaving the bar. Once outside, his Astech asked him if his story was true, and he answered "why let the truth get in the way of a good story?"