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Line 27: ==Teaser text== ==Teaser text== ===Original release=== ===Original release=== − {{quote|''BattleMechs have been kings of the battlefield for centuries. But it wasn't always so. In this first installment of a grand new series, the "Proliferation Cycle" looks at the rise of BattleMech technology and a story of the first people to be tapped as the first [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]]. Story by Ilsa J. Bick.''}} + {{quote|''BattleMechs have been kings of the battlefield for centuries. But it wasn’t always so. In this first installment of a grand new series, the "Proliferation Cycle" looks at the rise of BattleMech technology and a story of the first people to be tapped as the first [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]]. Story by Ilsa J. Bick.''}} ===Re-release=== ===Re-release=== {{quote|''The choice of first pilot for the first BattleMech was a difficult one, and fierce; perhaps too fierce?''}} {{quote|''The choice of first pilot for the first BattleMech was a difficult one, and fierce; perhaps too fierce?''}} ==Plot summary== ==Plot summary== − In late December 2438, four potential test pilots for the ''[[Mackie]]'', the first BattleMech, undergo a Level-C SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) trial in Wyoming, [[Terra]]: Equipped only with survival gear, remotely accessible IFF-style ID tags and a nonlethal targeting laser rifle, they have to reach a radio station and call a VTOL to evacuate them. The group includes [[Colonel]] [[Charles Kincaid (25th c.)|Charles Kincaid]], betrothed in a purely political marriage to [[Isabelle Cameron]], the Director-General's third cousin, and his wingman and lover [[Major]] [[Amanda Cunningham]]. Whoever reaches the radio first will likely be chosen to pilot the ''Mackie'', and they (working independently) are explicitly allowed to "kill" each other with the laser. But the exercise has been infiltrated by an assassin who brought a live gun and kills people for real during the exercise—a [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]] Colonel with a grudge. He aims to exact revenge on Kincaid and Cunningham, and has taken over Kincaid's identity on the training grounds while the real Kincaid has been captured and is held by the Colonel's [[Maskirovka]] team. + In late December 2438, four potential test pilots for the ''[[Mackie]]'', the first BattleMech, undergo a Level-C SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) trial in Wyoming, [[Terra]]: Equipped only with survival gear, remotely accessible IFF-style ID tags and a non-lethal targeting laser rifle, they have to reach a radio station and call a VTOL to evacuate them. The group includes [[Colonel]] [[Charles Kincaid]], betrothed in a purely political marriage to [[Isabelle Cameron]], the Director-General's third cousin, and his wingman and lover [[Major]] [[Amanda Cunningham]]. Whoever reaches the radio first will likely be chosen to pilot the ''Mackie'', and they (working independently) are explicitly allowed to "kill" each other with the laser. But the exercise has been infiltrated by an assassin who brought a live gun and kills people for real during the exercise—a [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]] Colonel with a grudge. He aims to exact revenge on Kincaid and Cunningham, and has taken over Kincaid's identity on the training grounds while the real Kincaid has been captured and is held by the Colonel's [[Maskirovka]] team. Simultaneously, Dr. [[Carolyn Fletcher]], a civilian veterinarian who works on the neuro-science staff developing neurohelmet controls at the Yakima Proving Grounds, has stayed at the lab over the holidays. She notes unusual behavior among the chimps in the lab and believes it to be connected to a recently-implemented neurohelmet technique called augmentation loop. While arguing about her findings with Colonel [[Nathan Powers]], a flight surgeon on the project, a ruckus among the chimps prompts them to look after them. Horrified, they find that the alpha male has killed and mutilated one of the females and their baby in what seems unnaturally aggressive behavior. Powers suggests that heightened aggression might actually be a good thing in a military application, a sentiment not shared by Fletcher. They leave the facility to report on their findings, but Powers draws a gun on Fletcher and orders her to drive out into the steppe where he intends to kill her. She eventually crashes the car, which gives her the opportunity to struggle with Powers and shoot him. Simultaneously, Dr. [[Carolyn Fletcher]], a civilian veterinarian who works on the neuro-science staff developing neurohelmet controls at the Yakima Proving Grounds, has stayed at the lab over the holidays. She notes unusual behavior among the chimps in the lab and believes it to be connected to a recently-implemented neurohelmet technique called augmentation loop. While arguing about her findings with Colonel [[Nathan Powers]], a flight surgeon on the project, a ruckus among the chimps prompts them to look after them. Horrified, they find that the alpha male has killed and mutilated one of the females and their baby in what seems unnaturally aggressive behavior. Powers suggests that heightened aggression might actually be a good thing in a military application, a sentiment not shared by Fletcher. They leave the facility to report on their findings, but Powers draws a gun on Fletcher and orders her to drive out into the steppe where he intends to kill her. She eventually crashes the car, which gives her the opportunity to struggle with Powers and shoot him. Line 40:
Line 40: It is narrated in the end that Fletcher raised the alarm, which prompted the VTOL to appear over the training grounds. It remains uncertain if Powers was connected to the Capellans, or working for a third party. It is narrated in the end that Fletcher raised the alarm, which prompted the VTOL to appear over the training grounds. It remains uncertain if Powers was connected to the Capellans, or working for a third party. − ==Featured characters== + == Featured characters == − * [[Amanda Cunningham]] + * Colonel [[Charles Kincaid]] − * [[Brian Hackett]] + * Major [[Amanda Cunningham]] − * [[Carolyn Fletcher]] + * Dr. [[Carolyn Fletcher]] − * [[Charles Kincaid (25th c.)|Charles Kincaid]] + * Colonel [[Nathan Powers]] − * Coleman+ * unnamed Capellan ''[[Sang-Shao]]'' (Colonel) − * [[Nathan Powers]] − * [[Htov Gbarleman]] − * [[Sarah James]] − * [[Isabelle Cameron]] (mentioned) − * [[Jacob Cameron]] (mentioned) == Featured places == == Featured places == Line 63:
Line 58: * [[Desert Cobra]] VTOL (mentioned) * [[Desert Cobra]] VTOL (mentioned) * [[Redhawk]] Gunship VTOL * [[Redhawk]] Gunship VTOL − − ===Infantry Weapons=== − * [[Barrett M468]] − * [[KA-BAR]] − * [[Mauser 480]] − * [[Prestar-Glock 90]] − * [[SIG Pro-SP 2022]] − * [[Mac 3176]] (mentiuned) − * [[Ruger-Barrett RLR 7000]] (mentioned) == Notes == == Notes == − * The use of ''[[Sang-shao]]'' as a Capellan rank in this story is an anachronism, since the [[CCAF]] did not implement such a rank until the beginning of [[Sun-Tzu Liao]]'s ''[[Xin Sheng]]'' movement in [[3052]] (using 'Colonel' instead until then). + * The use of ''[[Sang-shao]]'' as a Capellan rank in this story is an anachronism, since the [[CCAF]] did not implement such a rank until the beginning of [[Sun Tzu Liao]]'s [[Xin Sheng]] movement in [[3052]] (using 'Colonel' instead until then). [[Category:BattleCorps publications]] [[Category:BattleCorps publications]] [[Category:Short Stories]] [[Category:Short Stories]] [[Category:Works by Ilsa J. Bick]] [[Category:Works by Ilsa J. Bick]]
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
==Teaser text== | ==Teaser text== | ||
===Original release=== | ===Original release=== | ||
| − | {{quote|''BattleMechs have been kings of the battlefield for centuries. But it | + | {{quote|''BattleMechs have been kings of the battlefield for centuries. But it wasn’t always so. In this first installment of a grand new series, the "Proliferation Cycle" looks at the rise of BattleMech technology and a story of the first people to be tapped as the first [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]]. Story by Ilsa J. Bick.''}} |
===Re-release=== | ===Re-release=== | ||
{{quote|''The choice of first pilot for the first BattleMech was a difficult one, and fierce; perhaps too fierce?''}} | {{quote|''The choice of first pilot for the first BattleMech was a difficult one, and fierce; perhaps too fierce?''}} | ||
==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| − | In late December 2438, four potential test pilots for the ''[[Mackie]]'', the first BattleMech, undergo a Level-C SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) trial in Wyoming, [[Terra]]: Equipped only with survival gear, remotely accessible IFF-style ID tags and a | + | In late December 2438, four potential test pilots for the ''[[Mackie]]'', the first BattleMech, undergo a Level-C SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) trial in Wyoming, [[Terra]]: Equipped only with survival gear, remotely accessible IFF-style ID tags and a non-lethal targeting laser rifle, they have to reach a radio station and call a VTOL to evacuate them. The group includes [[Colonel]] [[Charles Kincaid]], betrothed in a purely political marriage to [[Isabelle Cameron]], the Director-General's third cousin, and his wingman and lover [[Major]] [[Amanda Cunningham]]. Whoever reaches the radio first will likely be chosen to pilot the ''Mackie'', and they (working independently) are explicitly allowed to "kill" each other with the laser. But the exercise has been infiltrated by an assassin who brought a live gun and kills people for real during the exercise—a [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]] Colonel with a grudge. He aims to exact revenge on Kincaid and Cunningham, and has taken over Kincaid's identity on the training grounds while the real Kincaid has been captured and is held by the Colonel's [[Maskirovka]] team. |
Simultaneously, Dr. [[Carolyn Fletcher]], a civilian veterinarian who works on the neuro-science staff developing neurohelmet controls at the Yakima Proving Grounds, has stayed at the lab over the holidays. She notes unusual behavior among the chimps in the lab and believes it to be connected to a recently-implemented neurohelmet technique called augmentation loop. While arguing about her findings with Colonel [[Nathan Powers]], a flight surgeon on the project, a ruckus among the chimps prompts them to look after them. Horrified, they find that the alpha male has killed and mutilated one of the females and their baby in what seems unnaturally aggressive behavior. Powers suggests that heightened aggression might actually be a good thing in a military application, a sentiment not shared by Fletcher. They leave the facility to report on their findings, but Powers draws a gun on Fletcher and orders her to drive out into the steppe where he intends to kill her. She eventually crashes the car, which gives her the opportunity to struggle with Powers and shoot him. | Simultaneously, Dr. [[Carolyn Fletcher]], a civilian veterinarian who works on the neuro-science staff developing neurohelmet controls at the Yakima Proving Grounds, has stayed at the lab over the holidays. She notes unusual behavior among the chimps in the lab and believes it to be connected to a recently-implemented neurohelmet technique called augmentation loop. While arguing about her findings with Colonel [[Nathan Powers]], a flight surgeon on the project, a ruckus among the chimps prompts them to look after them. Horrified, they find that the alpha male has killed and mutilated one of the females and their baby in what seems unnaturally aggressive behavior. Powers suggests that heightened aggression might actually be a good thing in a military application, a sentiment not shared by Fletcher. They leave the facility to report on their findings, but Powers draws a gun on Fletcher and orders her to drive out into the steppe where he intends to kill her. She eventually crashes the car, which gives her the opportunity to struggle with Powers and shoot him. | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
It is narrated in the end that Fletcher raised the alarm, which prompted the VTOL to appear over the training grounds. It remains uncertain if Powers was connected to the Capellans, or working for a third party. | It is narrated in the end that Fletcher raised the alarm, which prompted the VTOL to appear over the training grounds. It remains uncertain if Powers was connected to the Capellans, or working for a third party. | ||
| − | ==Featured characters== | + | == Featured characters == |
| − | * [[ | + | * Colonel [[Charles Kincaid]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * Major [[Amanda Cunningham]] |
| − | * [[Carolyn Fletcher]] | + | * Dr. [[Carolyn Fletcher]] |
| − | * | + | * Colonel [[Nathan Powers]] |
| − | + | * unnamed Capellan ''[[Sang-Shao]]'' (Colonel) | |
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| − | * [[ | ||
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== Featured places == | == Featured places == | ||
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* [[Desert Cobra]] VTOL (mentioned) | * [[Desert Cobra]] VTOL (mentioned) | ||
* [[Redhawk]] Gunship VTOL | * [[Redhawk]] Gunship VTOL | ||
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== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| − | * The use of ''[[Sang-shao]]'' as a Capellan rank in this story is an anachronism, since the [[CCAF]] did not implement such a rank until the beginning of [[Sun | + | * The use of ''[[Sang-shao]]'' as a Capellan rank in this story is an anachronism, since the [[CCAF]] did not implement such a rank until the beginning of [[Sun Tzu Liao]]'s [[Xin Sheng]] movement in [[3052]] (using 'Colonel' instead until then). |
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]] | [[Category:BattleCorps publications]] | ||
[[Category:Short Stories]] | [[Category:Short Stories]] | ||
[[Category:Works by Ilsa J. Bick]] | [[Category:Works by Ilsa J. Bick]] | ||