Difference between revisions of "Arms of the Destroyer"
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==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 ''[[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. | ||
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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). | 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; 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. |
==Featured Characters== | ==Featured Characters== | ||
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*[[Rhonda James]] | *[[Rhonda James]] | ||
*[[Will Jenkins]] | *[[Will Jenkins]] | ||
| − | *[[Terrence Larkin]] | + | *Dr. [[Terrence Larkin]] |
*[[Aaron Tanaka]] | *[[Aaron Tanaka]] | ||
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===WarShips=== | ===WarShips=== | ||
*''[[Commonwealth (WarShip class)|Commonwealth]]''-class cruiser ''LCS [[Wagner]]'' | *''[[Commonwealth (WarShip class)|Commonwealth]]''-class cruiser ''LCS [[Wagner]]'' | ||
| − | *''[[Soyal]]''-class heavy cruiser ''[[Kali]]'' (wreckage) | + | *''[[Soyal]]''-class heavy cruiser ''FSS [[Kali]]'' (wreckage) |
*''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette ''DCS [[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]]. | ||
[[Category:Short Stories]] | [[Category:Short Stories]] | ||
[[Category:Works by Travis Heermann]] | [[Category:Works by Travis Heermann]] | ||
Revision as of 17:02, 20 November 2021
| Arms of the Destroyer | |
|---|---|
| Story information | |
| Author | Travis Heermann |
| Pages | 39 |
| Type | Short story |
| Product | Kill Zone |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 22 October - ca. 8 November 2940 |
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.
Contents
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, 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 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.
After their JumpShip has moved off to reach the nearest HPG and report on their findings, salvage techs restore power to parts of the wrecked Kali, which leads to its mobile HPG suddenly beginning to transmit scheduled messages of unknown content and to an unknown destination. This raises alert among the dig team as they think it may have alerted others to the find.
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-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 (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.
Featured Characters
Featured places
Featured BattleTech
BattleMechs
Aerospace Fighters
DropShips
JumpShips
- Invader-class JumpShip Pony Express
- Star Lord-class JumpShip
WarShips
- Commonwealth-class cruiser LCS Wagner
- Soyal-class heavy cruiser FSS Kali (wreckage)
- 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.