The Lions of Prezno

The Lions of Prezno
Product information
Type Short story
Author Bryan Young
Publication information
Publisher Catalyst Game Labs
First published 27 November 2020
Content
Era Clan Invasion era
Timeline 1 May 3052
Series Battle of Tukayyid (anthology)
Preceded by Always Moving
Followed by The Icarus Lament

The Lions of Prezno is a short story by Bryan Young, sixth entry in the Battle of Tukayyid series written as a companion of the BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid

Teaser text[edit]

“ Jade Falcon Star Colonel Diane Anu's warriors are attacked from all sides, but something about these hit-and-run assaults does not add up. ”

Plot Summary[edit]

Landing on Tukayyid's Prezno Plain, Clan Jade Falcon finds themselves under constant but low-level attack, the ComStar forces striking without warning from ambush, inflicting losses on a few isolated Clan troops then withdrawing before Jade Falcon units such as the Fifth Battle Cluster can even respond. As a Warden in a predominately Crusader Clan, Star Colonel Diane Anu is disconnected from the overall drive of her Clan's action during the Invasion but resolved to fight for her Clan to the best of her ability. Reviewing the information available, Anu deduces that the hit and run attacks are from small forces designed to buy time to fortify the defenses at Robyn's Crossing and Plough Bridge, ordering her forces to form up and push ahead towards them at maximum speed.

She quickly finds her plan overruled by Kael Pershaw who instead believes the entire Eleventh Army is dug-in and waiting. Unable to disobey the personal representative of the Khan even though she disagrees with his assessment, Anu reluctantly orders her Cluster to make camp for the night as their leaders plan their next move. As the rest of the Cluster sleep in their 'Mechs, two Kit Foxes perform sentry duty when they are suddenly attacked without any warning. Despite their best efforts to sound the alarm both 'Mechs are crippled by long-range fire before the ComStar attackers again vanish. Now having lost a complete Star of 'Mechs without inflicting a single ComStar loss, the next morning Diane Anu meets with her commanders to discuss options, the evidence pointing to her earlier assertion of delaying tactics.

With her Cluster now slowly advancing in tight formation to prevent ComStar's so-called White Lion from being able to strike any isolated stragglers, the Golden Talons search every grove of trees or outcropping, this caution prevent further losses but still being unable to damage the ComStar forces. For the next three days the same pattern continues until the Falcons finally draw in sight of the bridge heads and Pershaw reveals to Anu she had been right, the so-called Lions of Prezno ultimately turned out to be a few dozen ComStar 'Mechs at most. Focusing on the now rather than the past, Anu readies the Fifth for the assault against the bridges, convinced they and Clan Jade Falcon will triumph there, followed by Olalla and Humptulips and then Terra itself.

Featured characters[edit]

Featured places[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • The original teaser on both the official forums and the Battle of Tukayyid Experience site has Rard Hoyt as the main character of this story, with the author indicating during an AMA Hoyt was the original character pitched by him and the editors, only to encounter an issue during fact check and resulting in a seamless replacement with Diane Anu in the narrative. [1]

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