Difference between revisions of "The Fires of Hell"
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+ | Pushing forward with their injured, the squad spots a Blakist defensive patrol, which leads to them finding a small militia cache. There is a vehicle tent with unknown equipment, possibly including a BattleMech. Also present is a [[Manei Domini]] ''[[Malak]]'', clearly not part of the local militia. | ||
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+ | Luella pushes forward through meter-high brush, armed with a silenced firearm provided by Ethan, intending to hotwire a vehicle. She instead discovers why the brush is meter-high: it was cut down to that height. The squad is being ambushed. | ||
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===Heavy Artillery=== | ===Heavy Artillery=== | ||
{{InfoBoxStory | {{InfoBoxStory |
Revision as of 14:04, 28 August 2021
The Fires of Hell is a nine-part short story published in A Time of War as intro fiction for the book's individual chapters. Seven authors wrote individual parts, forming a full continuous story of a 3076 reconnaissance mission on Rochelle by Recon Squad Four of Stone's Lament.
Contents
Plot summary
Gathering Players
Gathering Players | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Ben H. Rome |
Pages | 6 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 5 June 3076 |
At Fort Defiance on Hesperus II, Recon Squad Four of Stone's Lament gathers for orders. Captain Jared Travis's squad is not at its best. Its old members, Busby "Buzzy" Matvey, old veteran Ethan Naoko, and Doctor Grace Luther, struggle with the losses the squad sustained on Hesperus, where two of its soldiers died protecting House Hogarth's strategically insignificant summer home's art. They have been replaced with two newcomers: Lyran noble Luella Hildebrand, the squad's new executive officer, and inexperienced wannabe MechWarrior Franz Logan.
In the lead-up to their briefing, Jared challenges Luella to prove she's earned her position, and Franz accidentally spills raspberry juice on a redheaded MechWarrior, one he finds attractive.
Said MechWarrior, Franz discovers at the briefing, is General Belle Lee. She has a mission for Recon Squad Four.
The Calm Before
The Calm Before | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Kevin Killiany |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 12-13 June 3076 |
On the DropShip David, on the way to the pirate jump point to Rochelle, Recon Squad Four prepares for the mission. The task is clear: land just below the Arctic circle, observe and scout en route to a Blakist installation, examine the installation, neutralize it if necessary for Rochelle's liberation, and send the intelligence to the Coalition fleet.
Rochelle is a dangerous place, polluted into hostility over centuries. All squad members take personalized drugs to survive the hazardous environment. While receiving her meds, Luella learns a Squad Four internal secret: Grace is a pacifist, staunchly unwilling to kill.
The Mission Begins
The Mission Begins | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Steven Mohan, Jr. |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 3 July 3076 |
For a moment, everything seems to go according to plan. Dropped on Rochelle in a Mark VII Landing Craft piloted by Buzzy, the squad descends through an electrified snowstorm that should hide their presence. Then a Blakist Shiva finds them. Buzzy shoots the fighter down, but the fighter's presence means the intended landing zone isn't safe - an undiscovered enemy base is likely near, and the Shiva's disappearance will attract attention.
A short search off track, into a forest, reveals an airstrip. Finding a safe landing zone proves harder. Battered by a wave of missiles from within the forest, the Landing Craft begins to plummet, and all Buzzy can do is try to save what he can.
Securing the LZ
Securing the LZ | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Paul Sjardijn |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 3 July 3076 |
The crash leaves a few injured, but the squad survives. Buzzy (injured but mobile), Jared, and Ethan head off to scout and prepare an ambush for any incoming Blakist forces, leaving Grace to treat the unconscious Luella and Franz. In the middle of her work, as her squadmates start to regain consciousness, she is caught by surprise by a Protectorate Militia soldier, Yuri. Efforts to bluff and seduce her way out fail, and Yuri notifies his commander.
The only option is to fight. In a desperate moment, under pressure, Grace starts shooting. She and Luella incapacitate Yuri, though Grace takes a shot to the arm.
The pacifist doctor realizes what she has done and tries to provide first aid and comfort. It is no use. The squad must leave dying Yuri behind, and reinforcements are unlikely to save him. Luella provides a little comfort to Grace, sharing the responsibility for having killed a man.
Recon
Recon | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Kevin Killiany |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 5 July 3076 |
Pushing forward with their injured, the squad spots a Blakist defensive patrol, which leads to them finding a small militia cache. There is a vehicle tent with unknown equipment, possibly including a BattleMech. Also present is a Manei Domini Malak, clearly not part of the local militia.
Luella pushes forward through meter-high brush, armed with a silenced firearm provided by Ethan, intending to hotwire a vehicle. She instead discovers why the brush is meter-high: it was cut down to that height. The squad is being ambushed.
Heavy Artillery
Heavy Artillery | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Jason Hardy |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 5 July 3076 |
Journey
Journey | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Ken' Horner |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 8 July 3076 |
Storming the Objective
Storming the Objective | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Jim Rapkins |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 11 July 3076 |
Burnout
Burnout | |
---|---|
Story information | |
Author | Ben H. Rome |
Pages | 4 |
Type | Short story |
Product | A Time of War |
Content | |
Era | Jihad era |
Timeline | 17 July 3076 |
Featured characters
- Busby Matvey
- Luella Hildebrand
- Ethan Naoko
- Jared Travis
- Franz Logan
- Grace Luther
- Belle Lee
- Yuri
- Edwin Garcia
- Jenny (mentioned)
- Devlin Stone (mentioned)
- Lieutenant Jamison (likely Richie or Donald) (mentioned)
- Richie (mentioned)
- Donald (mentioned)
- General Thomas Hogarth (mentioned)
- Alys Rousset-Marik (mentioned)
Featured BattleTech
BattleMechs
DropShips
- Excalibur-class (Duquesne)
- Leopard CV-class (David)
- Overlord-class (Tharkad Summer)
JumpShips
- Scout-class
Aerospace Fighters
Combat Vehicles
- Ontos
- Demolisher
- Warrior (Combat Vehicle) (mentioned)
- Von Luckner (mentioned)