Difference between revisions of "Obligation's Forge"

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{{ApocryphalProduct}}
 
 
{{InfoBoxProduct
 
{{InfoBoxProduct
| image              = Obligation's Forge.jpg
+
| image              = Obligation's Forge cover.jpg
 
| name                =  
 
| name                =  
 
| type                = [[Novella]]
 
| type                = [[Novella]]
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| interiorart        =  
 
| interiorart        =  
 
| illustrations      =  
 
| illustrations      =  
| publisher          = [[MechaPub Inc]]
+
| publisher          = [[MechaPub, INc.]]
 
| productioncode      =  
 
| productioncode      =  
 
| year                = 10 December 2019
 
| year                = 10 December 2019
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| content            =  
 
| content            =  
 
| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
 
| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
| timeline            = 13 September [[3013]] -
+
| timeline            = 13 September - 21 October [[3013]]
 
| series              = [[MechWarrior 5: Origins (series)|MechWarrior 5: Origins]]
 
| series              = [[MechWarrior 5: Origins (series)|MechWarrior 5: Origins]]
 
| precededby          = [[A Skein of Schemes]]
 
| precededby          = [[A Skein of Schemes]]
| followedby          =  
+
| followedby          = [[The Sun Will Rise]]
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Obligation's Forge''''', subtitled ''A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 8'', is an original [[BattleTech]] [[novella]] penned by [[Randall N. Bills]]. It was released in electronic format on 10 December 2019.
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'''''Obligation's Forge''''', subtitled ''A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 8'', is an original [[BattleTech]] [[novella]] penned by [[Randall N. Bills]], offered as a free tie-in product supporting the ''[[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]]'' computer game.
  
The ''MechWarrior 5 Origins'' series is offered as a free tie-in product supporting the [[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]] computer game; the individual stories narrate the backgrounds of important characters from the game.
+
It was originally released in electronic format on 10 December 2019, before being also included in an electronic omnibus collection on 12 December 2019, two days after the game's launch. The novella was later re-released as part of ''[[The Mercenary Life]]'' anthology released 12 April 2021, with an additional author postscript.
 +
 +
==Plot summary==
 +
Undertaking another defense contract for an [[Interstellar Expeditions]] dig, this time in the [[Federated Suns]] system of [[Mallory's World]], [[Nik's Cavaliers|the Cavaliers]] are increasingly uneasy as the [[Draconis Combine]] [[Third Battle of Mallory's World|launch a massed invasion of the underdefended world]]. Nikolai and Chloe bicker constantly, while both fear for the Cavaliers safety among such giants, Chloe's obligation to completing the contract and anxiety over the damage inflicted on the world's population contrasts with Nikolai's willingness to trust IE's neutrality will protect their team and that the Cavaliers should pull out rather than get drawn into the high intensity conflict.
  
==Canonicity==
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The Cavaliers spirits are initially buoyed with the arrival of the [[Fourth Davion Guards]] and [[Seventeenth Avalon Hussars]] led by [[First Prince]] Ian Davion himself, but the Combine's nine regiments worth of troops blunt his attacks and the Cavaliers attempts to extract their IE charges are now repeatedly blocked by Kurita 'Mechs. When the battle turns against the Federated Suns troops, First Prince Davion publicly broadcasting his position, sacrificing himself so the bulk of his troops may possibly withdraw. Nikolai sees this as an opportunity to escape as the Combine troops focus on the First Prince, but a guilty Chloe insists on leading a [[lance]] to distract their Combine pursuers, ordering Nikolai and Ryana to see the IE staff and rest of the Cavaliers to safety.
This novella is a promotional publication going with MechWarrior 5 and, like MechWarrior 5, derives from [[Piranha Games]]' license to BattleTech video games instead of the (distinct) "mainline" BattleTech license held by [[Catalyst Game Labs]]. As such it does not meet the criteria for canon in the "mainline" BattleTech universe and is therefore flagged as apocryphal.
 
  
==Plot summary==
+
Though taking increasing losses, Chloe successfully delays the DCMS 'Mechs long enough for an anxious Nikolai to lead the rest to the [[DropShip]]s though Ryana disobeys and races back to try and save her friend. Even with the addition of Ryana's ''Highlander'' the outmatched but at peace Chloe is killed in battle, an enraged Campbell destroying her ''Claidheamh-mór'' performing a lethal [[Death from Above|''Highlander Burial'']] to avenge her. A appalled IE helicopter crew sent by a distraught Nikolai extract the badly injured Ryana, who refuses to leave until she confirms firsthand the death of her friend. The remains of the Cavaliers and the Interstellar Expeditions team flee the planet as a tearful Nikolai reflects with his child on the impact Chloe had on all their lives. As they struggle with what they will do now, Ryana repeats Dawson's comment from Galatea so long ago as the now renamed Nik's Cavaliers will continue what Chloe started.
The Cavaliers become caught up in the [[Third Battle of Mallory's World]].
 
  
 
==Featured Characters==
 
==Featured Characters==
 
* Captain [[Chloe Reed]]
 
* Captain [[Chloe Reed]]
* [[Farad Arazad]]
+
* [[Fahad Arazad]]
 
* [[Nikolai Mason]]
 
* [[Nikolai Mason]]
 
* [[Ryana Campbell]]
 
* [[Ryana Campbell]]
 +
* [[Jake Mason|Chloe and Nikolai's Child]]
 +
* [[Sebastian Spears]]
 +
* [[Ian Davion]]
 
* Talo
 
* Talo
 
* [[Brooklynn Jales|Brooklynn]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Brooklynn Jales|Brooklynn]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Dawson Clarmont|Dawson]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Dawson Clarmont|Dawson]] (mentioned)
* [[Ian Davion]] (mentioned)
 
  
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
===BattleMechs===
 
===BattleMechs===
 +
* ''[[Catapult]]''
 +
* ''[[Griffin]]''
 +
* ''[[Highlander]]''
 +
* ''[[Jenner]]''
 +
* ''[[Marauder]]''
 +
* ''[[Shadow Hawk]]''
 +
* ''[[Wasp]]''
 +
* ''[[Zeus]]''
  
 
+
===Combat Vehicles===
===Aerospace Fighters===
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* [[Boomerang|Boomerang Spotter Plane]]
 
+
* [[Ferret|Ferret Light Scout VTOL]]
  
 
===DropShips===
 
===DropShips===
 
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* ''[[Fortress]]''-class
 +
* ''[[Union]]''-class
  
 
==Featured Places==
 
==Featured Places==
 
* [[Mallory's World]]
 
* [[Mallory's World]]
 +
* [[Benet III]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Crossing]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Cylene]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Emris IV]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Emris IV]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Galatia III]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Galatea]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Harrow's Sun]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Mara]] (mentioned)
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 +
* ''Obligiation's Forge'' was the original final story of the ''MechWarrior 5 Origins'' series, later being superseded by the exclusive ''The Sun Will Rise'' in ''The Mercenary Life'' anthology.
  
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
[[Category:Novels]]
 
 
[[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills]]
 
[[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills]]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 2 April 2023

Obligation's Forge cover.jpg
Obligation's Forge
Product information
Type Novella
Author Randall N. Bills
Cover Artwork David Kerber
Publication information
Publisher MechaPub, INc.
First published 10 December 2019
MSRP Free
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 13 September - 21 October 3013
Series MechWarrior 5: Origins
Preceded by A Skein of Schemes
Followed by The Sun Will Rise

Obligation's Forge, subtitled A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 8, is an original BattleTech novella penned by Randall N. Bills, offered as a free tie-in product supporting the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries computer game.

It was originally released in electronic format on 10 December 2019, before being also included in an electronic omnibus collection on 12 December 2019, two days after the game's launch. The novella was later re-released as part of The Mercenary Life anthology released 12 April 2021, with an additional author postscript.

Plot summary[edit]

Undertaking another defense contract for an Interstellar Expeditions dig, this time in the Federated Suns system of Mallory's World, the Cavaliers are increasingly uneasy as the Draconis Combine launch a massed invasion of the underdefended world. Nikolai and Chloe bicker constantly, while both fear for the Cavaliers safety among such giants, Chloe's obligation to completing the contract and anxiety over the damage inflicted on the world's population contrasts with Nikolai's willingness to trust IE's neutrality will protect their team and that the Cavaliers should pull out rather than get drawn into the high intensity conflict.

The Cavaliers spirits are initially buoyed with the arrival of the Fourth Davion Guards and Seventeenth Avalon Hussars led by First Prince Ian Davion himself, but the Combine's nine regiments worth of troops blunt his attacks and the Cavaliers attempts to extract their IE charges are now repeatedly blocked by Kurita 'Mechs. When the battle turns against the Federated Suns troops, First Prince Davion publicly broadcasting his position, sacrificing himself so the bulk of his troops may possibly withdraw. Nikolai sees this as an opportunity to escape as the Combine troops focus on the First Prince, but a guilty Chloe insists on leading a lance to distract their Combine pursuers, ordering Nikolai and Ryana to see the IE staff and rest of the Cavaliers to safety.

Though taking increasing losses, Chloe successfully delays the DCMS 'Mechs long enough for an anxious Nikolai to lead the rest to the DropShips though Ryana disobeys and races back to try and save her friend. Even with the addition of Ryana's Highlander the outmatched but at peace Chloe is killed in battle, an enraged Campbell destroying her Claidheamh-mór performing a lethal Highlander Burial to avenge her. A appalled IE helicopter crew sent by a distraught Nikolai extract the badly injured Ryana, who refuses to leave until she confirms firsthand the death of her friend. The remains of the Cavaliers and the Interstellar Expeditions team flee the planet as a tearful Nikolai reflects with his child on the impact Chloe had on all their lives. As they struggle with what they will do now, Ryana repeats Dawson's comment from Galatea so long ago as the now renamed Nik's Cavaliers will continue what Chloe started.

Featured Characters[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

Combat Vehicles[edit]

DropShips[edit]

Featured Places[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Obligiation's Forge was the original final story of the MechWarrior 5 Origins series, later being superseded by the exclusive The Sun Will Rise in The Mercenary Life anthology.