MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries

FASA Studio's MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries is a 2002 computer game set in the BattleTech universe. Smith and Tinker announced on 09 July 2009 that the MechWarrior 4 series of games and expansions will be made available for free via MekTek, this finally happened on 30 April 2010. However, with development stalling, Smith and Tinker going out of business, and the introduction of MechWarrior Online, MekTek ultimately dropped their license for MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries. Download of the Free Release is now considered illegal.[1]

Canonicity

Computer games are explicitly excluded from the list of products that contribute straight Canon to the BattleTech universe while at the same time it was stated that the IP owners are "not in total denial about these sources either"; it has also been stated that fluff from certain official, licensed products (namely certain computer games including those produced by FASA) can be assumed to be part of the shared universe as long as it is not directly contradicted, and makes sense. On this premise, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries is considered to be an apocryphal product.

Areas of conflict with established canon

  • The flexible mission selection system allows missions to take place at different times than they may have historically occurred. Beyond this, many of the conflicts that provide the mission backdrop canonically occur well outside the timeframe of the game, which is limited to 3066-3067.
  • The Capellan Confederation conquered and absorbed the Styk Commonality in 3062, rather than 3066
  • The Federated Commonwealth Civil War began affecting mercenary contracts in 3063, rather than 3066
  • Spectre cannot have won a Solaris Championship in the 3060s. All winners for this period have been named, and are either veteran duelists or female (Spectre is a male rookie duelist).
  • No canon source records a Jade Falcon raid on New Exford during the Jade Falcon Incursion of 3064. An incursion after 3064 would have constituted a violation of the arrangement worked out by Archer Christifori and Adam Steiner with Khan Marthe Pryde.
  • Talon/Wernke was garrisoned by the Seventh Federated Commonwealth RCT, rather than the Twentieth. Fighting began there in 3064.
  • Burr's Black Cobras were not destroyed on Talon/Wernke, but took a long-term contract with the Word of Blake.
  • The Free Skye Uprising began in 3065.
  • New Canton was not conquered by Clan Wolf during the FedCom Civil War. It became a part of the Blake Protectorate in 3067-3068.

Plot synopsis

Backstory

The player takes the role of Spectre, a male commander of a small mercenary company. Trained under a pilot program on Outreach where smaller mercenary companies are "sponsored" by larger ones (such as the Kell Hounds, Wolf's Dragoons, Grey Death Legion, or Northwind Highlanders), Spectre travels inside the fictional interstellar region of the Chaos March during the FedCom Civil War (specifically during the time period from January 1, 3066 to late July 3067). The player makes a living earning cash and useful salvage from completing mission contracts for various factions. With these resources, the player can purchase new weapons and BattleMechs, pay for 'Mech repairs, and hire additional MechWarriors for his or her company.

A Note on Dates

The player has significant flexibility in which missions they choose and in what order. Accordingly, there are no firm dates for when any of the campaigns take place during the game's 3066 - 3067 time frame. Since many of the campaigns use events from throughout the 3062 - 3067 Federated Commonwealth Civil War as a backdrop, dates of related canonical events are noted.

Eaton Campaign

Styk Campaign

Dates: In 3061-3062, First Lord of the Star League Sun-Tzu Liao placed SLDF peacekeeping troops on Styk Commonality worlds. Just prior to leaving office, he rotated those troops, replacing them with CCAF regulars, and then launched a campaign of annexation. The star map in the 3063-dated "Shattered Sphere" sourcebook shows the Styk Commonality having rejoined the Confederation, suggesting that the Styk Commonality fell in 3062.

Styk Commonality Under Siege - The Capellan Confederation attacks the Styk Commonality, hoping to absorb the small Chaos March state. Both sides hire mercenary support.

Reinforcement - Spectre is hired by the Styk Commonality to support Lindon's Battalion in the defense of the city of Thurbid and its naval repair facility. Hammer and Watchdog Lances from Lindon's Battalion are under heavy attack by Capellan forces when Spectre arrives.

  • Honor branch - Spectre saves Hammer and Watchdog Lances and defends the facility
  • Infamy branch - Spectre lets Hammer Lance die

Peace in the Chaos March? - After the Styk Commonality's victory at Thurbid, the Capellan Confederation offers to begin peace talks. Spectre is chosen as an honor guard.

(Honor Branch)

Peace Talks - Spectre stands guard with the Commonality security force as peace talks begin. The Capellan motorcade explodes on arrival, throwing the Styk security forces into disarray. Capellan 'Mechs attack in the explosion's aftermath, and Styk air cover is destroyed when its base is hit with a fuel-air explosive. As fighting renews throughout the capital city, Spectre escorts the Styk peace delegates to a secure firebase. If Hammer Lance survived earlier, they assist Spectre.

Evacuation - With the heads of the Styk Commonality scattered by the fighting, Spectre escorts the peace delegates from the firebase to the spaceport to escape offworld. The Commonality appears to be breaking up, and there is no longer a functional government to pay for this mission.

(Infamy Branch)

Assassination - Capellan agent Krull hires Spectre to assassinate three key Styk Commonality political leaders on the eve of the peace talks. After killing the targets, Spectre takes his payment and leaves Styk for more contracts.

Treachery in the Styk Commonality - Styk's peace delegation, including its military leader General Maureen Steele, was wiped out in a sneak attack, allegedly led by Spectre. The Styk Commonality is in danger of imminent collapse.

Halloran V Campaign I

Dates: The Halloran V campaign could have taken place any time during the Federated Commonwealth Civil War. Spectre finishes the first group of missions, then leaves and comes back after an interval, so earlier in the war is most likely.

The Halloran V planetary militia has split along faction lines in the Federated Commonwealth Civil War. Rival militia units have imposed martial law and seized supplies from local industries. The Halloran Mining & Excavation (HM&E) Cartel has hired Spectre's mercenary unit to defend its holdings.

Checkpoint - Spectre Lance destroys Halloran Protectorate militia roadblocks on the route through the Caspian Mountains used by Transpax, Inc, a subsidiary of HM&E, allowing Transpax to resume running convoys.

Transpax Defies Militia Control - Transpax confirms it has hired a mercenary unit for short-term defense of its coastal holdings as part of its corporate security measures.

Offshore - Transpax, Inc. hires Spectre to defend the Deneb offshore drilling platform on the northwest coast of the secondary continent against Halloran Protectorate navy units - two destroyer groups and the aerospace carrier Indignation. Spectre's unit destroys the destroyers and VTOLs launched from the carrier. Spectre and his troops leave Halloran V in search of additional contracts after this mission is complete.

Solaris VII Championship

Dates: Though they can vary throughout the year, the Solaris VII sourcebook indicates that the championships are usually run in the latter part of any given year. This could take place any year between 3063 and 3066. The Map Pack: Solaris VII book lists the canon champions for the 3060s, and Spectre is not a match for any of them, rendering his Grand Championship victory non-canon.

The Jungle (Light) - Spectre wins the first Light match of the season. Announcer Duncan Fisher says he's never heard of Spectre before, but congratulates him on his first Solaris victory.

The Factory (Light) - Spectre gets an offer from a Flea pilot to cooperate until they are they final two. Fisher declares Spectre a rookie Solaris pilot to watch.

The Coliseum (Light) - Fisher calls Spectre a fancy merc hotshot turned Solaris jock.

The Jungle (Medium) - Fisher says the Medium circuit has been slow, except forr a scandal when Bobby "Killer" Fields was accused of throwing a match, and ahs been banned pending a full inquiry. Fisher says Spectre rolled right over the competition.

The Factory (Medium) - Spectre defeats Peter Dexter, who had come out of retirement after five years, though he never placed better than 37th, even in his prime. Fisher notes that fan favorites Alice Newkirk and Miria Stewart have moved up to the Heavy Circuit.

The Coliseum (Medium) - Fisher notes that Davion and Steiner supporters have nearly come to blows. The announcer spotlights mercenary gladiator Alex Haight, but he falls to Spectre.

The Jungle (Heavy) - Fisher notes that this Heavy season has been dominated by House Steiner pilots, who avoid shooting at each other. Spectre faces off against Capellan Miria Stewart, who Fisher thinks should have stayed in the Medium Circuit.

The Factory (Heavy) - At the halfway point for the season, Spectre defeats Steiner contender Nako Tayuma.

The Coliseum (Heavy) - Spectre faces off against Steiner's Ellie Neals, who has a home crowd advantage, and breaks Steiner's stranglehold on their home arena.

The Jungle (Assault) - Fisher names Odessa, Coleman, and Neals as three of the most elite pilots to watch on the Assault Circuit. Spectre wins and qualifies for the Jungle Championship.

The Factory (Assault) - Spectre defeats fan favorite Marcus Wilder and teams up with Alice Newkirk until the final two., qualifying for the Factory Championship.

The Coliseum (Assault) - Spectre battles rising star Kaylee Tyrell, a pro-Victor gladiator who needs bodyguards after having put a Steiner fan into the hospital with one punch.

The Jungle (Championship) - Fisher describes Spectre as a bookie's nightmare as he wins the Championship, qualifying for the Grand Championship.

The Factory (Championship) - Spectre faces all-stars Srin Odessa and Marcus Wilder and wins through, becoming the king of the rubble pile.

The Coliseum (Championship) - Steiner fans are enraged because their favorite, Ellie Neals, has failed to qualify for the championships. Fisher says he hasn't seen a performance like Spectre's since Thomas Gross took the grand championship in '62.

The Coliseum (Grand Championship) - Spectre faces off against Srin Odessa, Samantha Coleman, and Nako Tayuma. Srin is notable for having a mysterious training regimen involving eating live beetles, but she falls to Spectre nonetheless, making Spectre the grand champion.

New Exford Campaign

Wernke Campaign

Hesperus II Campaign

New Avalon Campaign

Tharkad Campaign

Carse Campaign

New Canton Campaign

Featured BattleMechs

Light 'Mechs

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy'Mechs

Assault 'Mechs

Featured Planets

Modifications

In 2010, Studio MekTek, Inc. released a free version of MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, with Microsoft's approval along with Mektek's Mekpaks (Mekpaks 1, 2 and 3, with 4 slowly progressing). These MekPaks improve upon many things in the game, including multiplayer. They also add many new 'Mechs (over 120 different 'Mechs and other units in total are used in-game, when those in the MekPaks are added to the default number of units included in MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries and the Inner Sphere and Clan 'MechPacks) and weapons to choose from, as well as many new maps for multiplayer and some for singleplayer. One interesting feature in the free release is the ability to play as battle armor or infantry.

Below is a list, organized by MekPak number, that shows the various units introduced by Studio MekTek, Inc. Units marked with an asterisk (*) are non-canon designs by MekTek.

MekPak 1 New 'Mechs

Light 'Mechs

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy 'Mechs

Assault 'Mechs

MekPak 2 New 'Mechs

Light 'Mechs

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy 'Mechs

Assault 'Mechs

MekPak 3 New 'Mechs

Battle Armor and Infantry

Infantry:

  • Players can choose to play as Inner Sphere or Clan infantry with either a single ballistic, energy, or missile hardpoint.

Battle Armor:

Light 'Mechs

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy 'Mechs

Assault 'Mechs

MekPak 3.1 New Content

This new MekPak was released as the free, stand-alone version of MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries mentioned above (including MekTek's previous modifications), and added another two 'Mechs as development progressed. There were plans to include several more 'Mechs, but development began to slow and eventually ended completely towards the end of 2012. The goal of this development was to transition to a final MekPak 4, featuring not only more new 'Mechs, but also a large array of new equipment and many more options and enhancements. Some of the planned features for MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries that were released before development halted include Advanced Radar and Artillery Range Indicator.

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy 'Mechs

Planned New Content

Planned 'Mechs

Light 'Mechs

Medium 'Mechs

Heavy 'Mechs

Assault 'Mechs

Planned Equipment

Resources

Media

Downloads

  • The MTX Download client, and other pertinent files. [1]

References

  1. ↑ Simple explanation of why downloading free release is now illegal

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