Difference between revisions of "Broken Blade"
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| − | '''''Broken Blade''''' is a short story by [[Steven Mohan Jr.]] that was published online on [[BattleCorps]] on 28 June 2005. It was also published in print in the second BattleCorps print anthology, ''[[First Strike (anthology)|First Strike]]''. | + | '''''Broken Blade''''' is a short story by [[Steven Mohan Jr.]] that was published online on [[BattleCorps]] on 28 June 2005. It was also published in print in the second BattleCorps print anthology, ''[[First Strike (anthology)|First Strike]]'', and in the free [[BattleCorps Fiction Sampler]]. |
==Teaser text== | ==Teaser text== | ||
| − | {{quote|''The first battle for [[Hesperus II|Hesperus]] | + | {{quote|''The first battle for [[Hesperus II|Hesperus]] hearkens the darkness of the [[First Succession War]]. Steve Mohan Illustrates this with his tale of two sides in the first of many battles for the critical world.''}} |
==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| − | In December of [[2787]] Danver McEdwards, a [[First Leutnant]] | + | In December of [[2787]] Danver McEdwards, a [[First Leutnant]] in the [[30th Lyran Guards]], participates in the First Battle of [[Hesperus II]] in the defense of the planet and experiences a new type of total and merciless warfare. Dubbed [[Operation BROKEN BLADE]], the [[Draconis Combine]] assault aims to destroy as much of Hesperus' valuable factories as possible. During the battle, when the [[DCMS]] troops try to break through the [[Lyran]] defenders, McEdwards' ''[[Sentinel]]'' is heavily damaged by an enemy ''[[Thug]]'' and only survives because of an orbital bombardment that erroneously goes down in the middle of the battlefield and separates the two combatants from each other. After surviving this encounter, McEdwards retreats to a [[Defiance Industries]] vehicle factory, which serves as a field repair camp, to repair his [[BattleMech]]. Here he finds that the fight with the ''Thug'' snapped his ancient family heirloom, a broadsword, that he carries with him to signify centuries of civilization. |
| − | At the same time [[Tai-i]] Aiko Makita, the pilot of the [[Kurita]] ''Thug'' takes the moment of confusion after the orbital attack to break with her company through the Lyran lines unrecognized. | + | At the same time ''[[Tai-i]]'' Aiko Makita, the pilot of the [[Kurita]] ''Thug'' takes advantage of the moment of confusion after the orbital attack to break, together with her company, through the Lyran lines unrecognized. Her goal is to overcome the perimeter defense and destroy said vehicle facility. |
| − | Her goal is to overcome the perimeter defense and destroy said vehicle facility. | ||
| − | At the factory, McEdwards learns of the approaching | + | At the factory, McEdwards learns of the approaching enemies, after his ''Sentinel'' breaks down. Together with another [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]], who also pilots a ''Sentinel'', and the factory workers the First Leutnant decides to defend the complex. When Makita arrives, she and the only other remaining member of her company, who pilots a ''[[Kintaro]]'', enter the building, where they are attacked by industrial robots and cranes. Finally they encounter a ''Sentinel'' and the pilot of the ''Kintaro'', frustrated by the mysterious attacks, chases after it. Despite Makita's warnings his 'Mech skids on grease and falls next to a pressure vessel, which is ignited by the ''Sentinel'' and sets the ''Kintaro'' on fire. Makita believes her fellow MechWarrior dead and leaves the building to circumvent the dangerous area to reach the deuterium tanks and destroy the whole complex. |
| − | Outside she | + | Outside she comes under fire by several brand new [[Hunter (Combat Vehicle)|Hunter]] tanks. When she counterattacks, the vehicle crews leave their vehicles and flee and the ''Tai-i'' recognizes that they are simple factory workers and no soldiers. Infuriated, she attacks them and the ''Sentinel'' arrives too late to prevent her from cutting them all down. Instead the Lyran 'Mech gets shot in the back while it tries to flee and collapes to the ground. She arrives at the fallen 'Mech just in time to see how the Lyran MechWarrior leaves his ''Sentinel''. Beaten, the pilot signals his surrender only to get smashed by Makita's ''Thug''. |
| − | Now McEdwards attack comes too late to save the other | + | Now McEdwards's attack comes too late to save the other pilot's life. He is piloting his own prone ''Sentinel'' whose unexpected attack surprises the Combine MechWarrior and destroys one of the ''Thug'''s legs. Makita is subsequently captured by Lyran infantry. |
| − | When she learns of the Combine retreat, she is afraid that she is about to be tortured or executed and disbelieves McEdwards, who tells her | + | When she learns of the Combine retreat, she is afraid that she is about to be tortured or executed and disbelieves McEdwards, who tells her that she will be surrendered to the Combine troops together with the ''Kintaro'' pilot who survived after all. Though furious about the murder of retreating and surrendering people, McEdwards refuses to kill her. Instead he wants to keep his tiny corner of the battle honorable and just, and proudly bears the broken blade of his ancestors' broadsword. |
| + | |||
| + | == Featured characters == | ||
| + | *[[First Leutnant]] Danver McEdwards | ||
| + | *[[Tai-i]] Aiko Makita | ||
| + | *[[Hauptmann-Kommandant]] Krieg | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Featured units == | ||
| + | *[[5th Sword of Light]] | ||
| + | *[[8th Sword of Light]] | ||
| + | *[[18th Algedi Regulars]] | ||
| + | *[[30th Lyran Guards]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Featured BattleTech == | ||
| + | === BattleMechs === | ||
| + | *''[[Archer]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]'' (mentioned) | ||
| + | *''[[Crab]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Dragon]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Kintaro]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Mercury (BattleMech)|Mercury]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Panther]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Sentinel]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Thug]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Zeus]]'' | ||
| + | === Combat Vehicles === | ||
| + | *[[AC/2 Carrier]] | ||
| + | *''[[Hunter (Combat Vehicle)|Hunter]]'' light tank (erroneously; see Notes below) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Featured planets == | ||
| + | *[[Hesperus II]] | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| − | Though the vehicle factory | + | *Though the vehicle factory where the main part of the story takes place is supposed to produce [[Hunter (Combat Vehicle)|Hunter]] tanks and several participate in the battle, this missile carrier was in fact first introduced in [[2937]]. Since the [[Master Unit List]] and its dates take precedence, the Hunters featured in the story must be assumed to be another, older combat vehicle type. Alternatively, they may have been meant to be [[Manticore]] tanks which were produced here during that time, and also feature an LRM launcher. |
| + | |||
| + | *Automated defenses were present around Defiance Industries. It is unknown if they are truly automated (e.g. [[ATAC]]) or merely remotely controlled. | ||
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]] | [[Category:BattleCorps publications]] | ||
[[Category:Short Stories]] | [[Category:Short Stories]] | ||
[[Category:Works by Steven Mohan Jr.]] | [[Category:Works by Steven Mohan Jr.]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:15, 11 November 2023
| Broken Blade | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Steven Mohan Jr. |
| Pages | 27 |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | BattleCorps |
| First published | 28 June 2005 |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 28 December 2787 |
Broken Blade is a short story by Steven Mohan Jr. that was published online on BattleCorps on 28 June 2005. It was also published in print in the second BattleCorps print anthology, First Strike, and in the free BattleCorps Fiction Sampler.
Contents
[edit]
| “ | The first battle for Hesperus hearkens the darkness of the First Succession War. Steve Mohan Illustrates this with his tale of two sides in the first of many battles for the critical world. | ” |
Plot summary[edit]
In December of 2787 Danver McEdwards, a First Leutnant in the 30th Lyran Guards, participates in the First Battle of Hesperus II in the defense of the planet and experiences a new type of total and merciless warfare. Dubbed Operation BROKEN BLADE, the Draconis Combine assault aims to destroy as much of Hesperus' valuable factories as possible. During the battle, when the DCMS troops try to break through the Lyran defenders, McEdwards' Sentinel is heavily damaged by an enemy Thug and only survives because of an orbital bombardment that erroneously goes down in the middle of the battlefield and separates the two combatants from each other. After surviving this encounter, McEdwards retreats to a Defiance Industries vehicle factory, which serves as a field repair camp, to repair his BattleMech. Here he finds that the fight with the Thug snapped his ancient family heirloom, a broadsword, that he carries with him to signify centuries of civilization.
At the same time Tai-i Aiko Makita, the pilot of the Kurita Thug takes advantage of the moment of confusion after the orbital attack to break, together with her company, through the Lyran lines unrecognized. Her goal is to overcome the perimeter defense and destroy said vehicle facility.
At the factory, McEdwards learns of the approaching enemies, after his Sentinel breaks down. Together with another MechWarrior, who also pilots a Sentinel, and the factory workers the First Leutnant decides to defend the complex. When Makita arrives, she and the only other remaining member of her company, who pilots a Kintaro, enter the building, where they are attacked by industrial robots and cranes. Finally they encounter a Sentinel and the pilot of the Kintaro, frustrated by the mysterious attacks, chases after it. Despite Makita's warnings his 'Mech skids on grease and falls next to a pressure vessel, which is ignited by the Sentinel and sets the Kintaro on fire. Makita believes her fellow MechWarrior dead and leaves the building to circumvent the dangerous area to reach the deuterium tanks and destroy the whole complex.
Outside she comes under fire by several brand new Hunter tanks. When she counterattacks, the vehicle crews leave their vehicles and flee and the Tai-i recognizes that they are simple factory workers and no soldiers. Infuriated, she attacks them and the Sentinel arrives too late to prevent her from cutting them all down. Instead the Lyran 'Mech gets shot in the back while it tries to flee and collapes to the ground. She arrives at the fallen 'Mech just in time to see how the Lyran MechWarrior leaves his Sentinel. Beaten, the pilot signals his surrender only to get smashed by Makita's Thug.
Now McEdwards's attack comes too late to save the other pilot's life. He is piloting his own prone Sentinel whose unexpected attack surprises the Combine MechWarrior and destroys one of the Thug's legs. Makita is subsequently captured by Lyran infantry.
When she learns of the Combine retreat, she is afraid that she is about to be tortured or executed and disbelieves McEdwards, who tells her that she will be surrendered to the Combine troops together with the Kintaro pilot who survived after all. Though furious about the murder of retreating and surrendering people, McEdwards refuses to kill her. Instead he wants to keep his tiny corner of the battle honorable and just, and proudly bears the broken blade of his ancestors' broadsword.
Featured characters[edit]
- First Leutnant Danver McEdwards
- Tai-i Aiko Makita
- Hauptmann-Kommandant Krieg
Featured units[edit]
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
Combat Vehicles[edit]
- AC/2 Carrier
- Hunter light tank (erroneously; see Notes below)
Featured planets[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Though the vehicle factory where the main part of the story takes place is supposed to produce Hunter tanks and several participate in the battle, this missile carrier was in fact first introduced in 2937. Since the Master Unit List and its dates take precedence, the Hunters featured in the story must be assumed to be another, older combat vehicle type. Alternatively, they may have been meant to be Manticore tanks which were produced here during that time, and also feature an LRM launcher.
- Automated defenses were present around Defiance Industries. It is unknown if they are truly automated (e.g. ATAC) or merely remotely controlled.