Lost Ghosts
Sarna News
- HEXTECH Review - Wave 3 Brings More Urban Options To Your Battlefield
- Your BattleTech News Round-Up For March, 2024
- Crashing 'Mechs With Jennifer Brozek, Author Of The Rogue Academy Trilogy
- Getting The Word Out With Rem Alternis, Catalyst Community & Marketing Director
- Bad 'Mechs - Yeoman
- Read more →
| |
| Lost Ghosts | |
|---|---|
| Story information | |
| Author | David G. Martin |
| Type | Short Story |
| Product | Shrapnel Issue 9 |
| Content | |
| Era | Dark Age Era |
| Timeline | 13 September 3083 |
Plot summary[edit]
On 13 September 3083, a meeting took place on Terra. After the end of the Word of Blake Jihad, the Republic Armed Forces Internal Review Commission invited the Northwind Highlander officer Jessie McGinnis to help determine how the legendary Colonel Loren Jaffray died.
Jessie explained how the Ghosts of the Black Watch, hunted by the Opacus Venatori Blakist elite unit, had been fleeing since their escaped from Dieron, managing to survive but suffering losses in every battle. They were conducting a recon in force of the Odessa system in the Lyran Commonwealth, investigating a potential Blakist secret base. They located one on Odessa IV's moon, and landed nearby. The Ghost's low personnel strength forced them to land with all their remaining forces while Jessie surveilled the base. The Ghosts attacked the base defenses, easily destroying the turrets, but after entering the facility, a group of Blakist 'Mechs appeared and attacked from all sides. These were the Opacus Venatori, whose leader, Precentor Berith, revealed that the base was an ambush for the Ghosts. Loren ordered the Ghosts to retreat, but he fell, and Berith approached his fallen 'Mech. However, before he could finish Loren, McGinnis called in an artillery strike. That gave Loren time to right his 'Mech, and he ordered Jessie to escape. She obeyed, but waited in vain, hoping to see Loren escape, before two of Berith's 'Mechs downed his 'Mech once again, and it finally exploded. Without alternatives, Jessie retreated to her DropShip along with the rest of the survivors.
On Terra, McGinnis finished telling the tale, and confirmed Loren's death. After being released from the meeting, Jessie met with her superior officer, the Paladin Andrea Stirling. The two discussed the commission's meeting, and about Loren's death, before speaking of him, revealing than he was, in fact, alive and working undercover.
Featured characters[edit]
- Jessie McGinnis
- Kindral Hastin
- Loren Jaffray
- Neil Campbell (mentioned)