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Line 1: − {{ApocryphalArticle}} {{InfoBoxStory {{InfoBoxStory | image = | image = Line 12:
Line 11: | scrollable timeline = [[Start date::]][[End date::]] | scrollable timeline = [[Start date::]][[End date::]] }} }} − '''''Arms of the Destroyer''''' is a short story by [[Travis Heermann]] and his [[BattleTech]] debut story. It was published exclusively in the seventh [[BattleCorps]] print anthology, ''[[Kill Zone]]'', in 2019. Unlike all other stories in the book, it had not previously been published online via BattleCorps but was that anthology's original story. + '''''Arms of the Destroyer''''' is a short story by [[Travis Heermann]] and his [[BattleTech]] debut story. It was published exclusively in the seventh [[BattleCorps]] print anthology, ''[[Kill Zone]]'', in 2019. Unlike all other stories in the book, it has not been published online via BattleCorps. − ==Canonicity==+ It has been acknowledged by [[CGL]] that the story as published cannot be reconciled with established [[canon]], with the implication that it should not be regarded as canonical unless and until the issues have been addressed. (See Notes below.) − The appearance of two [[WarShip]]s in this story is a glaring anachronism that cannot be reconciled with established [[canon]]: The last functional WarShip to be fielded during the [[Succession Wars era]] was the [[LCS Invincible|LCS ''Invincible'']], which was famously lost in a misjump in [[2858]], i.e. almost a century prior to the time when this story supposedly takes place. − − This has been acknowledged by [[CGL]], with the implication that the story should not be regarded as canonical unless and until the issues have been addressed. For this reason, the story was provisionally flagged as [[apocryphal]]; it may turn out to be outright noncanonical. − − [[Line Developer]] [[Ray Arrastia]] suggested a possible fix might be to move the entire story roughly one century back in time, i.e. to around 2840, though he did not make an actual ruling to this effect.<ref>https://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/arms-of-the-destroyer/msg1627884/#msg1627884</ref> It should be noted that simply setting the story a century earlier would make other parts of the story, particularly the prominence of the concept of LosTech, anachronistic in turn and cause problems with the introduction dates of the ''Soyal'' class and mobile HPGs. Ultimately, no ruling was made yet at the same time the story was not declared to be noncanonical either. ==Plot summary== ==Plot summary== − [[Hauptmann]] [[Arra Jackson]] is in command of Ghost Company, the [[BattleMech]] company that is guarding a [[Lyran Commonwealth]] salvage operation on the poisonous, inhospitable planet [[Cinnabar]] where a ''[[Soyal]]''-class [[WarShip]], the FSS ''[[Kali (Individual Soyal-class WarShip)|Kali]]'', has crashlanded a century ago following a [[misjump]]. The find is an immeasurably valuable [[lostech]] treasure. + [[Hauptmann]] [[Arra Jackson]] is in command of Ghost Company, the [[BattleMech]] company that is guarding a [[Lyran Commonwealth]] salvage operation on the poisonous, inhospitable planet [[Cinnabar]] where a ''[[Soyal]]''-class [[WarShip]], the ''FSS [[Kali]]'', has crashlanded a century ago following a [[misjump]]. The find is an immeasurably valuable [[lostech]] treasure. As it so happens, the civilian salvage and science team is headed by [[Terrence Larkin]], a native of [[Somerset]] like Jackson herself. They were close until she suddenly up and left for academy to become a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] eight years ago. Although Jackson is fearful of relationships that could get in the way of her warrior life, they gravitate towards each other and before long make out. As it so happens, the civilian salvage and science team is headed by [[Terrence Larkin]], a native of [[Somerset]] like Jackson herself. They were close until she suddenly up and left for academy to become a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] eight years ago. Although Jackson is fearful of relationships that could get in the way of her warrior life, they gravitate towards each other and before long make out. Line 30:
Line 24: Sure enough, within a few days a Draconis Combine strike force of several DropShips and including a small WarShip arrives and claims the planet, ordering the Lyrans to leave. Refusing in hopes that reinforcements will arrive with their overdue JumpShip, the dig team prepare a defense and even manage to reactivate some dorsal naval weapons on the ''Kali''; this firepower takes out two approaching DropShips but the enemy corvette in turn destroys the dig team's ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip with orbital fire, leaving them stranded. In the ensuing battle, superior aerospace and ground forces threaten to overrun the defenders. Sure enough, within a few days a Draconis Combine strike force of several DropShips and including a small WarShip arrives and claims the planet, ordering the Lyrans to leave. Refusing in hopes that reinforcements will arrive with their overdue JumpShip, the dig team prepare a defense and even manage to reactivate some dorsal naval weapons on the ''Kali''; this firepower takes out two approaching DropShips but the enemy corvette in turn destroys the dig team's ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip with orbital fire, leaving them stranded. In the ensuing battle, superior aerospace and ground forces threaten to overrun the defenders. − During the fighting, a Commonwealth task force around the cruiser LCS ''[[Wagner (Individual Commonwealth-class WarShip)|Wagner]]'' (a WarShip far outclassing the enemy corvette) arrives in-system and makes their presence known, announcing they will arrive in orbit in just over 46 hours. At this point the corvette starts to pound the ''Kali'' from orbit. Jackson bluffs the enemy into moving off by threatening to launch two five hundred kiloton [[Killer Whale]] missiles from the ''Kali'' at them (with techs on the ''Kali'' barely able to open one of the missile port doors, by rerouting power from the gut batteries). + During the fighting, a Commonwealth task force around the cruiser LCS ''[[Wagner]]'' (a WarShip far outclassing the enemy corvette) arrives in-system and makes their presence known, announcing they will arrive in orbit in just over 46 hours. At this point the corvette starts to pound the ''Kali'' from orbit. Jackson bluffs the enemy into moving off by threatening to launch two five hundred kiloton [[Killer Whale]] missiles from the ''Kali'' at them (with techs on the ''Kali'' barely able to open one of the missile port doors, by rerouting power from the gut batteries). It is not enough. Ghost Company is crushed by the stronger enemy force, and Jackson's ''[[Cyclops]]'' is downed in the battle. Barely conscious, she witnesses how the science team destroys the ''Kali'' with explosives to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Although she survives long enough to see the arrival of the ''Wagner'' task force thanks to an oxygen mask she managed to don, the extremely poisonous Cinnabar atmosphere had entered her cockpit and radio traffic informs her that the entire salvage and science team including her old friend and newfound love Terrence Larkin are dead. Previous dialogue suggests she is facing a slow and painful death from the toxic atmosphere and especially the mercury vapor; impaired vision and strange sensations on her skin already suggest the onset of nerve damage. It is not enough. Ghost Company is crushed by the stronger enemy force, and Jackson's ''[[Cyclops]]'' is downed in the battle. Barely conscious, she witnesses how the science team destroys the ''Kali'' with explosives to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Although she survives long enough to see the arrival of the ''Wagner'' task force thanks to an oxygen mask she managed to don, the extremely poisonous Cinnabar atmosphere had entered her cockpit and radio traffic informs her that the entire salvage and science team including her old friend and newfound love Terrence Larkin are dead. Previous dialogue suggests she is facing a slow and painful death from the toxic atmosphere and especially the mercury vapor; impaired vision and strange sensations on her skin already suggest the onset of nerve damage. Line 60:
Line 54: * ''[[Zeus]]'' * ''[[Zeus]]'' ===Aerospace Fighters=== ===Aerospace Fighters=== − *''[[Hellcat (Aerospace Fighter class)|Hellcat]]'' + *''[[Hellcat]]'' ===DropShips=== ===DropShips=== *''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip ''[[Zephyr (Individual Excalibur-class DropShip)|Zephyr]]'' *''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip ''[[Zephyr (Individual Excalibur-class DropShip)|Zephyr]]'' Line 68:
Line 62: *''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''-class JumpShip *''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''-class JumpShip ===WarShips=== ===WarShips=== − *''[[Commonwealth (WarShip class)|Commonwealth]]''-class cruiser LCS ''[[Wagner (Individual Commonwealth-class WarShip)|Wagner]]'' + *''[[Commonwealth (WarShip class)|Commonwealth]]''-class cruiser ''LCS [[Wagner]]'' − *''[[Soyal]]''-class heavy cruiser FSS ''[[Kali (Individual Soyal-class WarShip)|Kali]]'' (wreckage) + *''[[Soyal]]''-class heavy cruiser ''FSS [[Kali]]'' (wreckage) − *''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette DCS ''[[Kuromaru (Individual Vigilant-class WarShip)|Kuromaru]]'' + *''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette ''DCS [[Kuromaru]]'' + + ==Notes== + *The appearance of two WarShips in this story is an anachronism: It is generally held that the last functional WarShip to be fielded during the [[Succession Wars era]] was the ''[[LCS Invincible]]'', which was famously lost in a misjump in [[2858]]. [[Line Developer]] [[Ray Arrastia]] acknowledged this and suggested a possible fix might be to move the entire story roughly one century back in time, i.e. to around 2840, though without making an actual ruling to this effect.<ref>https://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/arms-of-the-destroyer/msg1627884/#msg1627884</ref> + It should be noted that setting the story a century earlier would make other parts of the story, particularly the prominence of the concept of LosTech, anachronistic in turn and cause problems with the introduction dates of the ''Soyal'' class and mobile HPGs. ==References== ==References==
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| scrollable timeline = [[Start date::]][[End date::]] | | scrollable timeline = [[Start date::]][[End date::]] | ||
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| − | '''''Arms of the Destroyer''''' is a short story by [[Travis Heermann]] and his [[BattleTech]] debut story. It was published exclusively in the seventh [[BattleCorps]] print anthology, ''[[Kill Zone]]'', in 2019. Unlike all other stories in the book, it | + | '''''Arms of the Destroyer''''' is a short story by [[Travis Heermann]] and his [[BattleTech]] debut story. It was published exclusively in the seventh [[BattleCorps]] print anthology, ''[[Kill Zone]]'', in 2019. Unlike all other stories in the book, it has not been published online via BattleCorps. |
| − | + | It has been acknowledged by [[CGL]] that the story as published cannot be reconciled with established [[canon]], with the implication that it should not be regarded as canonical unless and until the issues have been addressed. (See Notes below.) | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| − | [[Hauptmann]] [[Arra Jackson]] is in command of Ghost Company, the [[BattleMech]] company that is guarding a [[Lyran Commonwealth]] salvage operation on the poisonous, inhospitable planet [[Cinnabar]] where a ''[[Soyal]]''-class [[WarShip]], the | + | [[Hauptmann]] [[Arra Jackson]] is in command of Ghost Company, the [[BattleMech]] company that is guarding a [[Lyran Commonwealth]] salvage operation on the poisonous, inhospitable planet [[Cinnabar]] where a ''[[Soyal]]''-class [[WarShip]], the ''FSS [[Kali]]'', has crashlanded a century ago following a [[misjump]]. The find is an immeasurably valuable [[lostech]] treasure. |
As it so happens, the civilian salvage and science team is headed by [[Terrence Larkin]], a native of [[Somerset]] like Jackson herself. They were close until she suddenly up and left for academy to become a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] eight years ago. Although Jackson is fearful of relationships that could get in the way of her warrior life, they gravitate towards each other and before long make out. | As it so happens, the civilian salvage and science team is headed by [[Terrence Larkin]], a native of [[Somerset]] like Jackson herself. They were close until she suddenly up and left for academy to become a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] eight years ago. Although Jackson is fearful of relationships that could get in the way of her warrior life, they gravitate towards each other and before long make out. | ||
| Line 30: | Line 24: | ||
Sure enough, within a few days a Draconis Combine strike force of several DropShips and including a small WarShip arrives and claims the planet, ordering the Lyrans to leave. Refusing in hopes that reinforcements will arrive with their overdue JumpShip, the dig team prepare a defense and even manage to reactivate some dorsal naval weapons on the ''Kali''; this firepower takes out two approaching DropShips but the enemy corvette in turn destroys the dig team's ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip with orbital fire, leaving them stranded. In the ensuing battle, superior aerospace and ground forces threaten to overrun the defenders. | Sure enough, within a few days a Draconis Combine strike force of several DropShips and including a small WarShip arrives and claims the planet, ordering the Lyrans to leave. Refusing in hopes that reinforcements will arrive with their overdue JumpShip, the dig team prepare a defense and even manage to reactivate some dorsal naval weapons on the ''Kali''; this firepower takes out two approaching DropShips but the enemy corvette in turn destroys the dig team's ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip with orbital fire, leaving them stranded. In the ensuing battle, superior aerospace and ground forces threaten to overrun the defenders. | ||
| − | During the fighting, a Commonwealth task force around the cruiser LCS ''[[ | + | During the fighting, a Commonwealth task force around the cruiser LCS ''[[Wagner]]'' (a WarShip far outclassing the enemy corvette) arrives in-system and makes their presence known, announcing they will arrive in orbit in just over 46 hours. At this point the corvette starts to pound the ''Kali'' from orbit. Jackson bluffs the enemy into moving off by threatening to launch two five hundred kiloton [[Killer Whale]] missiles from the ''Kali'' at them (with techs on the ''Kali'' barely able to open one of the missile port doors, by rerouting power from the gut batteries). |
It is not enough. Ghost Company is crushed by the stronger enemy force, and Jackson's ''[[Cyclops]]'' is downed in the battle. Barely conscious, she witnesses how the science team destroys the ''Kali'' with explosives to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Although she survives long enough to see the arrival of the ''Wagner'' task force thanks to an oxygen mask she managed to don, the extremely poisonous Cinnabar atmosphere had entered her cockpit and radio traffic informs her that the entire salvage and science team including her old friend and newfound love Terrence Larkin are dead. Previous dialogue suggests she is facing a slow and painful death from the toxic atmosphere and especially the mercury vapor; impaired vision and strange sensations on her skin already suggest the onset of nerve damage. | It is not enough. Ghost Company is crushed by the stronger enemy force, and Jackson's ''[[Cyclops]]'' is downed in the battle. Barely conscious, she witnesses how the science team destroys the ''Kali'' with explosives to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Although she survives long enough to see the arrival of the ''Wagner'' task force thanks to an oxygen mask she managed to don, the extremely poisonous Cinnabar atmosphere had entered her cockpit and radio traffic informs her that the entire salvage and science team including her old friend and newfound love Terrence Larkin are dead. Previous dialogue suggests she is facing a slow and painful death from the toxic atmosphere and especially the mercury vapor; impaired vision and strange sensations on her skin already suggest the onset of nerve damage. | ||
| Line 60: | Line 54: | ||
* ''[[Zeus]]'' | * ''[[Zeus]]'' | ||
===Aerospace Fighters=== | ===Aerospace Fighters=== | ||
| − | *''[[ | + | *''[[Hellcat]]'' |
===DropShips=== | ===DropShips=== | ||
*''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip ''[[Zephyr (Individual Excalibur-class DropShip)|Zephyr]]'' | *''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip ''[[Zephyr (Individual Excalibur-class DropShip)|Zephyr]]'' | ||
| Line 68: | Line 62: | ||
*''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''-class JumpShip | *''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''-class JumpShip | ||
===WarShips=== | ===WarShips=== | ||
| − | *''[[Commonwealth (WarShip class)|Commonwealth]]''-class cruiser | + | *''[[Commonwealth (WarShip class)|Commonwealth]]''-class cruiser ''LCS [[Wagner]]'' |
| − | *''[[Soyal]]''-class heavy cruiser | + | *''[[Soyal]]''-class heavy cruiser ''FSS [[Kali]]'' (wreckage) |
| − | *''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette | + | *''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette ''DCS [[Kuromaru]]'' |
| + | |||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | *The appearance of two WarShips in this story is an anachronism: It is generally held that the last functional WarShip to be fielded during the [[Succession Wars era]] was the ''[[LCS Invincible]]'', which was famously lost in a misjump in [[2858]]. [[Line Developer]] [[Ray Arrastia]] acknowledged this and suggested a possible fix might be to move the entire story roughly one century back in time, i.e. to around 2840, though without making an actual ruling to this effect.<ref>https://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/arms-of-the-destroyer/msg1627884/#msg1627884</ref> | ||
| + | It should be noted that setting the story a century earlier would make other parts of the story, particularly the prominence of the concept of LosTech, anachronistic in turn and cause problems with the introduction dates of the ''Soyal'' class and mobile HPGs. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||