Indomitable (short story)

This article is about the Shrapnel short story. For other uses, see Indomitable.

Indomitable
Story information
Author	Robin Briseño
Type	Short Story
Product	Shrapnel Issue 15
Content
Timeline	3028-3058

Indomitable is a short story by Robin Briseño that was published in the fifteenth issue of Shrapnel.

Plot summary

The Order of Indigo mercenary unit are charged with the defense of the Water Pure Industries plant on Corridan IV from attacking pirates. Thanks to the efforts and sacrifice of Indigo CO Luz Villanueva their only loss is her Marauder "Indomitable" as the pirates are defeated. Her XO and romantic partner Haruka Nishimura knows "Idomitable" is much more that simply Luz's 'Mech, but a tie to the tortured past she never speaks of and the mysterious "Gabe" that she only mentions in her nightmares. As Luz struggles to put into words what the loss of "Indomitable" really represents, Haruka asks that she let her help.

Three decades ago, Luz's family governed Danais in the Free Worlds League. Inspired by her childhood friend and role-model Gabriel Ruiz, she became a MechWarrior at the controls of "Indomitable" instead of following in her frequently absent father's footsteps. Her father's mismanagement of Danais leads to economic turmoil and frequent revolts among its population. In October 3028, during the Fourth Succession War, with the planet's garrison absent for Operation DAGGER, the rebels seized their chance to finally overthrow and kill her father.

Driven by murderous rage after learning of her father's death, Luz defies Gabriel's orders to evacuate her off-world. Ruthlessly attacking anything in her path as she attempts to reach the governor's mansion, Luz brutally downs multiple 'Mechs, even firing upon a defenseless MechWarrior descending by parachute after they ejected from their Locust. Her bloodlust interrupted when a Marauder II attacks, Gabriel sacrifices his Trebuchet to save her, urging her to head to the evacuation site. As a frantic Luz finally flees, she hears a stranger in Gabriel's cockpit screaming about the fate of the Locust pilot she herself had slaughtered before they shoot him in revenge.

Luz, tearful and burdened by guilt for the lives she took and what she's lost herself, confides in Haruka she should have stayed and died with Gabe. Haruka consoles her, urging her to acknowledge her past but not be defined by it. She emphasizes that being held back by her the past would betray the potential Gabe and the Order of Indigo see in her. Encouraged by this faith, Luz finally chooses to bid farewell to "Indomitable" and embraces the prospect of a new beginning.

Featured characters

• Captain Luz Villanueva
• Lieutenant Haruka Nishimura
• Captain Gabriel Ruiz
• Cranston Snord (mentioned)
• Lieutenant Lastimosa (mentioned)
• Alfonso Villanueva (mentioned)
• Sergeant Chang (mentioned)
• Lieutenant Delgado (mentioned)
• Miss Ryong (mentioned)

Featured planets

• Corridan IV
• Danais

Featured BattleTech

• Locust
• Marauder "Indomitable"
• Marauder II
• Shadow Hawk
• Stinger
• Thunderbolt
• Trebuchet
• Leopard-class DropShip