Binding Force

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Binding Force, by Loren L. Coleman, provides a glimpse at the inner workings of a Capellan Warrior House against the backdrop of the invasion of Kaifeng in 3058.

From the back cover

“ BLOOD, STEEL, AND HONOR
Aris Sung is a rising young star in House Hiritsu, noblest of the Warrior Houses that have sworn allegiance to the Capellan Confederation. The Sarna Supremacy, a newly formed power in the Chaos March, is giving the Confederation some trouble—and Aris and his Hiritsu comrades are chosen to give the Sarnans a harsh lesson in Capellan resolve. But there is far more to the mission than meets the eye—and unless Aris beats the odds in a race against time and treachery, all the ferro-fibrous armor in the galaxy won't be enough to save House Hiritsu from the high-explosive cross fire of intrigue and shifting loyalties... 		”

Plot Summary

Prologue

During the New Year celebrations at the Forbidden Palace on Sian on 21 February 3058, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao summons House Master Ion Rush for a private discussion. Rush is anxious that the Chancellor might want to have him killed for his part in the assassination of his mother Romano Liao, of which he is certain the Chancellor is aware. However, the Chancellor instead discusses the Confederation's strategic disposition with him and announces that he will send a Warrior House to invade the Sarna Supremacy, a troublesome state in the newly formed Chaos March that stands in the way of reclaiming old Capellan holdings.

First Interlude

On 24 April 3047, a 13-year-old Aris Sung has been arrested by Lance Leader Ty Wu Non for breaking into the House Hiritsu stronghold on Randar and stealing Crescent Moon, the ceremonial katana, from the House Master's throne room. Having prepared for this moment for the past 18 months, he manages to impress House Master Virginia York enough to be accepted into House Hiritsu despite being over-age. Ty Wu Non, who has developed an intense dislike for the street urchin, is appointed his mentor.

Chapters 1 through 6

Kaifeng has been chosen for the invasion because it is a vital breadbasket world. The other two Sarna Supremacy worlds, Sarna and Sakhalin, depend on its food exports, making Kaifeng the fulcrum to bring the Sarna Supremacy to its knees.
Jodo Shinsa, the Olympus-class recharge station at the zenith Jump Point of the Kaifeng system, registers the arrival of the Merchant-class JumpShip Liu on 10 July 3058. Having previously been captured by House Hiritsu troops, the Liu feigns battle damage from a pirate encounter and the troops manage to secure the station before it can transmit a warning to the planet. However, Aris Sung has to damage its transmitter array in the process when it turns out that modifications to the station have sealed off their intended route to the comm center. The captured station staff are then coerced into cooperating after the transmitter has been repaired, to help cover up the ongoing invasion.

Shortly afterwards, House Master Virginia York is found murdered in the station commander's stateroom. Battalion Leader (previously Senior Company Leader) Ty Wu Non takes her place as leader of the attack forces. Aboard the Hiritsu JumpShip Tao-te he promotes Aris to Company Leader pro tem in his stead, but makes it clear to Aris that he does this so that any failure of the operation will fall upon Aris whose overall battle plan House Master York had previously decided to accept.

Second Interlude

Warrior House Hiritsu has just put down a rebellion on Gei-Fu, House Master York is present in the Hsien Park in the city of Yushui to personally oversee the execution of the rebel leadership on 8 March 3051. 16-year-old Aris Sung is present as one of the Hiritsu infantrymen on guard duty. Suddenly a Stinger, the last remaining rebel BattleMech on the planet, emerges from the nearby river where it had secretly advanced underwater, and attacks the assembled Hiritsu troopers. Using grapple rods from dead infantrymen around him, Aris Sung climbs up to the 'Mech's head and feigns his medkit to be a satchel charge. The enemy MechWarrior surrenders, and Virginia York subsequently assigns the captured Stinger to Aris, thereby promoting him to the ranks of the Hiritsu MechWarriors.

Chapters 7 through 18

While the four Hiritsu DropShips move towards Kaifeng there is some subtle bickering among the MechWarriors concerning the best battle plan. On 20 July, shortly before the DropShips enter the planet's atmosphere, they are surprisingly intercepted by Aerospace Fighters who had been hidden behind Kaifeng's moon, Nochen. Faced with the possibility that the enemy is not as unaware of the attack as hoped, Aris makes some last-minute alterations to his battle plan. Somewhat later on the same day, his 'Mech company is on the ground and engaged in combat in the Tarrahouse district, one of the cargo centers on Kaifeng where grain produce is shipped down the Jinxiang River. A trap is sprung on Aris' company at Port Terminal 12 North. The well-prepared defenders (Jacob's Juggernauts) use numerous 'Mechs with heavy tank support, and the Hiritsu troops barely manage to withdraw across the river, losing MechWarrior Justin Loup and his Hatchetman in the process. After some field repairs, Aris decides to change the plan again and move directly into the city of Tarrahouse. When his subordinates object, he reasons that the plan was to draw the defenders out of the city, which they have obviously achieved already.

They are ambushed again shortly afterwards by a Kaifeng SMM 'Mech company under Major Karl Bartlett at a bridge across the Jinxiang River. Recognizing Bartlett's BJ-2O Blackjack Omni, Aris realizes that they are up against regular Sarnese troops and orders a retreat. His own Wraith takes damage to its jump jets in mid-jump over the river and falls into the waters; Aris blacks out.

After waking up somewhat later, Aris realizes that he is now behind enemy lines and remembers the Stinger on Gei-Fu. He begins to crawl his 'Mech underwater right into Lake Ch'u Yuan in a park area in Tarrahouse where he disembarks and enters the city. He soon meets and befriends Li Wynn, a pickpocket and petty criminal.

In an administrative building near the Dainwu, the Hiritsu Overlord-class DropShip landed at the (already secured) Beijing Aerodrome on Kaifeng, the Hiritsu commanders hold a strategy meeting two days later. Aris Sung is considered missing, and it is obvious that the Hiritsu attack had been anticipated by the defenders. Tarrahouse is the last stronghold of the defenders. Ty Wu Non reveals that the Capellan Confederation's nascent WarShip navy has enacted a blockade of Sarna and that no reinforcements will be arriving for the defenders. Honoring the population's chinese heritage and customs, a cease-fire is announced for the Dragon Boat festival in three days; the Hiritsu officers hope that the defenders will somehow break the cease-fire and thereby lose their standing with the population.

On 23 July, Aris is frustrated because he has been unable to relay a message to his House. He learns from Li Wynn about the cease-fire and that a Hiritsu attack is expected before it takes effect. He is shocked to learn that the Kaifeng SMM receives intelligence on the attackers' movements from a Hritsu traitor, and are preparing an ambush. One mercenary MechWarrior has reportedly been bribed to kick in jewelry stores and banks during urban combat so that they can be robbed. When the Hiritsu attack comes, Aris manages to foil one of the defenders' traps and alerts a fellow Hiritsu 'Mech with molotov cocktails and Hiritsu infantry signals, warning his comrades about the trap. The Hiritsu forces disengage, but cannot evacuate Aris whose track is lost during combat.

Third interlude

During the Marik-Liao offensive into the Chaos March (Operation Guerrero), one Hiritsu company saw combat action on Sarmaxa under the command of Ty Wu Non. In a running battle on 2 August 3057, Ty's Charger is paired with Aris' Wraith. Ty repeatedly ignores Aris' tactical advice and rebukes his plans, even after suffering heavy damage to his 'Mech, and Aris unquestioningly accepts the decision of his superior officer without hesitation despite his conviction that his own plan would be superior.

Chapters 19 through 18

Having survived the battle with minor wounds, Aris decides to track down the Hiritsu traitor. The Hiritsu officers decide to start a rescue mission and Company Leader Terry Chan volunteers to infiltrate Tarrahouse to extract Aris.

Meanwhile, Major Bartlett plots to step out of General Cynthia Fallon's shadow and reap the reputation of having defeated a Capellan Warrior House. He talks two of his MechWarriors into launching a terror raid against the Dragon Boat Festival during the cease-fire, piloting militia 'Mechs painted in Hiritsu colors.

At a seedy bar, Aris is listening to militia MechWarriors talking when Terry Chan enters and openly calls him by his name. Pretending to be his lover she escorts him out of the bar where Major Bartlett arrests Aris. Terry explains that she is disgusted with how the Warrior Houses are treated by the Capellan leadership; a discontented group has chosen to leak information so that combat attrition will wash them up in leading positions, effectively giving them control of the House. After being knocked out, Aris is rescued by Li Wynn who had overheard the entire conversation, including bits about an "incident with painted 'Mechs" planned for the next day.

Featured characters

Featured places

Featured Units

Featured BattleTech

BattleMechs

Vehicles

AeroSpace Fighters

DropShips

JumpShips

Other

  • Olympus-class space station (modified, with several decks of long-term storage lockers)

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