Difference between revisions of "Almost Sounds Like the Guns Themselves"
Sarna News
(Era, timeline) |
(expansion) |
||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Almost Sounds Like the Guns Themselves''''' is a short story by [[E. Clark Avery]]. | + | '''''Almost Sounds Like the Guns Themselves''''' is a short story by [[E. Clark Avery]] that was published in the sixth issue of ''[[Shrapnel (magazine)|Shrapnel]]''. |
==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| + | Walter Suydam, born on on the [[Aurigan Coalition]] world of Itrom, piloted the only [[Sitwell Corporation|Sitwell]] ''Powerman'' [[IndustrialMech]] in the [[rimward]] [[Periphery]] for [[House Gallas]]. Eager for greater glory, he responded to the [[Aurigan Directorate]]'s call for [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] against the [[Arano Restoration]]. However, he becames the sole survivor of his command when an [[Markham's Marauders|elite Arano mercenary unit]] brutally attack his garrison unit protecting a vital mineral silo. | ||
| + | Surviving the war but battling severe PTSD, a desperate Walter prematurely stops treatment for a high-paying three-month job on Coromodir to support his mother and sister, again piloting the ''Powerman'' and aiding in salvaging the crashed DropShip ''Iberia.'' Struggling with PTSD triggers, a tortured Walter secures life insurance to provide for his family, contemplating a fatal on-the-job accident to bypass the suicide moratorium. When tensions between Directorate and Restoration supporters overflow in the commissary, Walter seizes his chance to attack former Restoration soldier Yuri Warren, who responds with brutal force. | ||
| − | + | The anticipated fatal blow never materializes, and to Walter's astonishment, once he recovers he is introduced to Directorate remnant [[Ibex Rampant]], led by the presumed-dead Alistair Haust. Mistakenly thinking Walter is loyal, Haust discloses their plan to salvage the ''Iberia'''s mostly intact [[Long Tom artillery cannon]] to attack the Arano Palace. Seeking redemption, Walter agrees to help. With the ''Powerman,'' they swiftly reconstruct the cannon. However, unbeknownst to Ibex Rampant, Walter plants demolition charges which he triggers before they can fire the Long Tom, a massive explosion annihilating the worksite and the cannon. | |
| + | Ultimately Walter Suydam survives the worksite blast but suffers severe injuries, losing an arm and a leg and his ability to hear and speak. Having sent what he assumed would be a posthumous recording revealing the plot to the authorities, Walter's family receives a full military pension for his seemingly loyalty and sacrifices for House Arano and the Aurigan Coalition. At a small ceremony in his honor Lady Arano herself promises Walt that no expense will be spared on [[:Category:Cybernetic Enhancements and Implants|bionics]] to make him whole, where he unsuccessfully tries to suggest she spend her money instead on the less fortunate on Itrom. Able to resume his medication now he is unable pilot the destroyed ''Powerman'' and unable to hear any noises to trigger memories of the war, Walter Suydam finally achieves a measure of peace. | ||
| + | ==Featured characters== | ||
| + | <div class="desktop-3-col"> | ||
| + | * [[Walter Suydam]] | ||
| + | * [[Lieutenant]] Vanzant | ||
| + | * [[Sergeant]] [[Emilo Delahoya]] | ||
| + | * [[Private|Private First Class]] [[Abdul Wilders]] | ||
| + | * [[Lance Corporal]] [[Sergei Momoa]] | ||
| + | * [[Cuervo Hazama]] | ||
| + | * "[[Yuri Warren]]" | ||
| + | * [[Captain]] [[Alistair Haust]] | ||
| + | * [[High Lady of the Aurigan Coalition]] [[Kamea Arano]] | ||
| + | * [[Samuel Ostergaard]] (mentioned) | ||
| + | * [[Marlene Suydam-Scott]] (mentioned) | ||
| + | * [[Beatrix Suydam]] (mentioned) | ||
| + | * [[Isaka Suydam]] (mentioned) | ||
| + | * Doctor Kala'iki | ||
| + | * Section Chief Carioca | ||
| + | </div> | ||
== Featured BattleTech == | == Featured BattleTech == | ||
<div class="desktop-3-col"> | <div class="desktop-3-col"> | ||
| − | * | + | * [[Blackjack (BattleMech)|''Blackjack'']] |
| − | * | + | * [[Centurion (BattleMech)|''Centurion'']] |
* ''[[Commando]]'' | * ''[[Commando]]'' | ||
* ''[[Fortress]] ([[Iberia]])'' | * ''[[Fortress]] ([[Iberia]])'' | ||
| Line 45: | Line 66: | ||
* [[Coromodir VI]] | * [[Coromodir VI]] | ||
* [[Itrom]] | * [[Itrom]] | ||
| − | * [[New Avalon]] | + | * [[New Avalon]] (mentioned) |
| − | * [[Perdition]] | + | * [[Perdition]] (mentioned) |
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* The title is identical to a quote from a standup comedy routine by George Carlin.<ref>[https://youtu.be/vuEQixrBKCc?t=31 YouTube: "George Carlin - Euphemisms"]</ref> | * The title is identical to a quote from a standup comedy routine by George Carlin.<ref>[https://youtu.be/vuEQixrBKCc?t=31 YouTube: "George Carlin - Euphemisms"]</ref> | ||
| − | * The MechWarrior piloting the Blackjack in ''Liberate Itrom'' is given the surname "Hazama", which is also the name of the main character in the manga series ''Black Jack'' by Osamu Tezuka. | + | * While lightly touching portions of the ''[[House Arano (The Aurigan Coalition)]]'', the story integrates and further canonizes numerous aspects of the [[BattleTech (video game)|2018 ''BattleTech'' video game]], with the flashback portion specially being an adaption of the [[BattleTech (Video Game)/Liberate: Itrom|Liberate: Itrom mission]] with Walter and his unit being the defending Directorate forces the player encounter at Silo Alpha, with the [[Star League Defense Force Royal Divisions|unusually pristine ''Highlander'']] received as a reward following [[BattleTech (Video Game)/Escape|the Escape mission]]. |
| + | * The description of the ''Shadow Hawk'' from the Itrom battle matches the unique Umbra skin given to [[2015 BattleTech Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign]] backers, purchases of the delxue edition of the game or as the separate [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/799751/BATTLETECH_Shadow_Hawk_Pack/| ''Shadow Hawk'' DLC]]. | ||
| + | * The MechWarrior piloting the ''Blackjack'' in ''Liberate Itrom'' is given the surname "Hazama", which is also the name of the main character in the [[w:Black_Jack_(manga)|manga series ''Black Jack'']] by [[w:Osamu_Tezuka|Osamu Tezuka]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Short Stories]] | [[Category:Short Stories]] | ||
[[Category:Works by E. Clark Avery]] | [[Category:Works by E. Clark Avery]] | ||
Revision as of 09:19, 21 December 2023
.jpg)
| |
| Almost Sounds Like the Guns Themselves | |
|---|---|
| Story information | |
| Author | E. Clark Avery |
| Type | Short Story |
| Product | Shrapnel Issue 6 |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 30 November 3025 - 23 June 3027 |
Almost Sounds Like the Guns Themselves is a short story by E. Clark Avery that was published in the sixth issue of Shrapnel.
Contents
Plot summary
Walter Suydam, born on on the Aurigan Coalition world of Itrom, piloted the only Sitwell Powerman IndustrialMech in the rimward Periphery for House Gallas. Eager for greater glory, he responded to the Aurigan Directorate's call for MechWarriors against the Arano Restoration. However, he becames the sole survivor of his command when an elite Arano mercenary unit brutally attack his garrison unit protecting a vital mineral silo.
Surviving the war but battling severe PTSD, a desperate Walter prematurely stops treatment for a high-paying three-month job on Coromodir to support his mother and sister, again piloting the Powerman and aiding in salvaging the crashed DropShip Iberia. Struggling with PTSD triggers, a tortured Walter secures life insurance to provide for his family, contemplating a fatal on-the-job accident to bypass the suicide moratorium. When tensions between Directorate and Restoration supporters overflow in the commissary, Walter seizes his chance to attack former Restoration soldier Yuri Warren, who responds with brutal force.
The anticipated fatal blow never materializes, and to Walter's astonishment, once he recovers he is introduced to Directorate remnant Ibex Rampant, led by the presumed-dead Alistair Haust. Mistakenly thinking Walter is loyal, Haust discloses their plan to salvage the Iberia's mostly intact Long Tom artillery cannon to attack the Arano Palace. Seeking redemption, Walter agrees to help. With the Powerman, they swiftly reconstruct the cannon. However, unbeknownst to Ibex Rampant, Walter plants demolition charges which he triggers before they can fire the Long Tom, a massive explosion annihilating the worksite and the cannon.
Ultimately Walter Suydam survives the worksite blast but suffers severe injuries, losing an arm and a leg and his ability to hear and speak. Having sent what he assumed would be a posthumous recording revealing the plot to the authorities, Walter's family receives a full military pension for his seemingly loyalty and sacrifices for House Arano and the Aurigan Coalition. At a small ceremony in his honor Lady Arano herself promises Walt that no expense will be spared on bionics to make him whole, where he unsuccessfully tries to suggest she spend her money instead on the less fortunate on Itrom. Able to resume his medication now he is unable pilot the destroyed Powerman and unable to hear any noises to trigger memories of the war, Walter Suydam finally achieves a measure of peace.
Featured characters
- Walter Suydam
- Lieutenant Vanzant
- Sergeant Emilo Delahoya
- Private First Class Abdul Wilders
- Lance Corporal Sergei Momoa
- Cuervo Hazama
- "Yuri Warren"
- Captain Alistair Haust
- High Lady of the Aurigan Coalition Kamea Arano
- Samuel Ostergaard (mentioned)
- Marlene Suydam-Scott (mentioned)
- Beatrix Suydam (mentioned)
- Isaka Suydam (mentioned)
- Doctor Kala'iki
- Section Chief Carioca
Featured BattleTech
Featured planets
- Coromodir V
- Coromodir VI
- Itrom
- New Avalon (mentioned)
- Perdition (mentioned)
Notes
- The title is identical to a quote from a standup comedy routine by George Carlin.[1]
- While lightly touching portions of the House Arano (The Aurigan Coalition), the story integrates and further canonizes numerous aspects of the 2018 BattleTech video game, with the flashback portion specially being an adaption of the Liberate: Itrom mission with Walter and his unit being the defending Directorate forces the player encounter at Silo Alpha, with the unusually pristine Highlander received as a reward following the Escape mission.
- The description of the Shadow Hawk from the Itrom battle matches the unique Umbra skin given to 2015 BattleTech Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign backers, purchases of the delxue edition of the game or as the separate [Shadow Hawk DLC].
- The MechWarrior piloting the Blackjack in Liberate Itrom is given the surname "Hazama", which is also the name of the main character in the manga series Black Jack by Osamu Tezuka.