Sarna News: Bad 'Mechs - Icestorm

Editing Eclipse

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

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 18: Line 18:
 
| content            =  
 
| content            =  
 
| era                = [[Jihad era]]
 
| era                = [[Jihad era]]
| timeline            = 21–27 July [[3072]]
+
| timeline            = 21-27 July [[3072]]
 
| series              =  
 
| series              =  
 
| precededby          =  
 
| precededby          =  
 
| followedby          =  
 
| followedby          =  
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Eclipse''''' is a story by [[Jason Schmetzer]] that was published online via [[BattleCorps]] in four parts between 27 June and 8 July 2008. It was republished in [[w:EPUB|EPUB]] format on 23 August 2012. It notably features the reconstituted [[Crescent Hawks]] mercenaries in their first mission.
+
'''''Eclipse''''' is a story by [[Jason Schmetzer]] that was published online via [[BattleCorps]] in four parts between 27 June and 8 July 2008. It was (re-)published in [[w:EPUB|EPUB]] format on 23 August 2012. It notably features the reconstituted [[Crescent Hawks]] mercenaries in their first mission.
 
 
An audiobook version of ''Eclipse'' announced as the $7.5 million stretch goal for the [[2023 Mercenaries Crowdfunding Campaign]].
 
  
 
==Plot summary==
 
==Plot summary==
Line 33: Line 31:
 
After three years of fighting the Word of Blake, the Ruchbah guerrillas have hired the [[Crescent Hawks]] to help them (a situation reminiscent of the [[Gray Death Legion]]'s famous first mission on [[Verthandi]]). Deployed in [[company]] strength, the Crescent Hawks are dropped near the shore—though further offshore than intended—and walk their [[BattleMech]]s along the sea floor, emerging at the beach on 21 July [[3072]] some ten kilometers from their intended rendezvous zone.
 
After three years of fighting the Word of Blake, the Ruchbah guerrillas have hired the [[Crescent Hawks]] to help them (a situation reminiscent of the [[Gray Death Legion]]'s famous first mission on [[Verthandi]]). Deployed in [[company]] strength, the Crescent Hawks are dropped near the shore—though further offshore than intended—and walk their [[BattleMech]]s along the sea floor, emerging at the beach on 21 July [[3072]] some ten kilometers from their intended rendezvous zone.
  
The guerrillas have set pickets to watch out for them, and one of the pickets, former [[AFFS]] [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] Toll Packard in a ''[[Hatchetman]]'', is detected and engaged by a patrolling Word of Blake [[Level II]]. Within less than ten hours on-planet, the Crescent Hawks rush to his aid and together they vanquish the attackers.
+
The guerrillas have sent pickets to watch out for them, and one of the pickets, former [[AFFS]] [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] Toll Packard in a ''[[Hatchetman]]'', is detected and engaged by a patrolling Word of Blake [[Level II]]. Within less than ten hours on-planet, the Crescent Hawks rush to his aid and together they vanquish the attackers.
  
 
===Part 2===
 
===Part 2===
 
:published 1 July 2008
 
:published 1 July 2008
 
{{quote|''As the Crescent Hawks locate their contacts on Ruchbah, they’re faced with the enormity of the Blakist presence on the planet, and forced to do the best they can against unbeatable odds.''}}
 
{{quote|''As the Crescent Hawks locate their contacts on Ruchbah, they’re faced with the enormity of the Blakist presence on the planet, and forced to do the best they can against unbeatable odds.''}}
At the guerrilla base in Sand Gnat Cove, the Crescent Hawks are briefed about the local situation and their objectives by their liaison Foster Pell, a former [[MIIO]] operative who was working on Ruchbah as a factor when the Word of Blake invaded. The Crescent Hawks' contract is limited to hitting four targets within five days, with [[DropShip]] extraction planned on the sixth day. The targets are two communications relays, an ammunitions factory, and a Word of Blake reeducation camp.
+
At the guerrilla base in the Sand Gnat Cove, the Crescent Hawks are briefed about the local situation and their objectives by their liaison Foster Pell, a former [[MIIO]] operative who was working on Ruchbah as a factor when the Word of Blake invaded. The Crescent Hawks' contract is limited to hitting four targets within five days, with [[DropShip]] extraction planned on the sixth day. The targets are two communications relays, an ammunitions factory, and a Word of Blake reeducation camp.
  
Destroying the communications relay at Bharat Ur on 23 July, Crescent Hawks commander [[Jeremiah Youngblood II|Jeremiah Youngblood]] is worried by what he perceives as a too-weak and uninspired defense. Fearing that the enemy plan may be to track his forces to their hidden base, he decides not to return to Sand Gnat Cove. His fears are confirmed when Sand Gnat Cove is destroyed in a great explosion.
+
Destroying the communications relay at Bharat Ur on 23 July, Crescent Hawks commander [[Jeremiah Youngblood II|Jeremiah Youngblood]] is worried by what he perceives is a too weak and uninspired defense. Fearing that the enemy plan may be to track his forces to their hidden base he decides not to move back to Sand Gnat Cove. His fears are confirmed when Sand Gnat Cove is destroyed in a great explosion.
  
 
===Part 3===
 
===Part 3===
 
:published 4 July 2008
 
:published 4 July 2008
 
{{quote|''Betrayed and forced into hiding, the Crescent Hawks adopt a daring plan to strike back at the Word of Blake and fulfill their mission. Such daring, however, comes at a cost, and with no one left to help them, can the Hawks pay the price?''}}
 
{{quote|''Betrayed and forced into hiding, the Crescent Hawks adopt a daring plan to strike back at the Word of Blake and fulfill their mission. Such daring, however, comes at a cost, and with no one left to help them, can the Hawks pay the price?''}}
Toll Packard has just moved out from Sand Gnat Cove when it explodes. He links up with the Crescent Hawks and leads them to Jericho, a farming homestead that turns out to be a concealed base with IndustrialMech repair gantries. They meet their liaison Foster Pell there. Crescent Hawk member Rodney Klatt voices suspicion over the fact that Pell left the base just before it was destroyed.
+
Toll Packard had just moved out from Sand Gnat Cove when it exploded. He linked up with the Crescent Hawks and led them to Jericho, a farming homestead that turns out to be a concealed base with IndustrialMech repair gantries. They meet their liaison Foster Pell again there. Crescent Hawk member Rodney Klatt voices suspicion over the fact that Pell left the base just before it was destroyed.
  
Deciding that they do not know enough to investigate the betrayal of Sand Gnat Cove, the Crescent Hawks stick to their original mission. The Guided Light Educational Center twenty-four kilometers northwest of Bharat Ur is a munitions factory building missile bodies for the attack helicopters built by [[Michaelson Heavy Industries]] on the southern continent, and Pell promises support through inside agents and diversionary raids from the guerrillas. Jason Youngblood, meanwhile, decides that he could inflict vastly more damage on the Word of Blake through a few side missions to go along with the main mission.
+
Deciding that they do not know enough to investigate the betrayal of Sand Gnat Cove the Crescent Hawks stick to their original mission. The Guided Light Educational Center twenty-four kilometers northwest of Bharat Ur is a munitions factory building missile bodies for the attack helicopters built by [[Michaelson Heavy Industries]] on the southern continent, and Pell promises support through inside agents and diversionary raids from the guerrillas. Jason Youngblood, meanwhile, decides that he could inflict vastly more damage on the Word of Blake through a few side missions to go along with the main mission.
  
 
===Part 4===
 
===Part 4===
 
:published 8 July 2008
 
:published 8 July 2008
 
{{quote|''One of the maxims of military life is that no plan survives contact with the enemy. The Word of Blake, anticipating just such an attack, has reinforced the Hawks’ target, and it’ll take all of their skill and tenacity to overcome these dangerous odds and escape.''}}
 
{{quote|''One of the maxims of military life is that no plan survives contact with the enemy. The Word of Blake, anticipating just such an attack, has reinforced the Hawks’ target, and it’ll take all of their skill and tenacity to overcome these dangerous odds and escape.''}}
The Guided Light Educational Center is a trap for the Crescent Hawks, with twelve 'Mechs from two Level IIs stationed there where only one was expected. Operating alone and ahead of them, Toll Packard in his ''Hatchetman'' rampages through the complex and destroys the jamming array, which in turn allows helicopters led by Pell to arrive and evacuate the prisoners.
+
The Guided Light Educational Center is a trap for the Crescent Hawks, with altogether twelve 'Mechs from two Level II stationed there where only one was expected. Operating alone and ahead of them, Toll Packard in his ''Hatchetman'' rampages through the complex and destroys the jamming array which in turn allows helicopters led by Pell to arrive and evacuate the prisoners.
  
Coming to Packard's aid when he is cornered, Youngblood and Packard face overwhelming odds with him and cannot extricate themselves from the embattled facility. In the nick of time, the helicopter gunships that escorted the freed prisoners turn around and come to their aid.
+
Coming to Packard's aid when he is cornered, Youngblood and Packard with him face overwhelming odds and cannot extricate themselves from the embattled facility. In the nick of time, the helicopter gunships that escorted the freed prisoners turn around and come to their help.
  
With the three Crescent Hawks DropShips landed near the town of St. Claire four hours from the reeducation camp and one MechWarrior (and his 'Mech) lost in action, Youngblood offers Toll Packard a place in the unit after they narrowly escape together. Packard accepts, and Foster Pell includes himself, showing up with a duffel bag and handing Youngblood a disc labeled "[[Turanian Transport Company]], [[Towne]]" the firm Pell was working for when he got stranded on Ruchbah for a numbered account to "cover his expenses". Pell also indicates he might have a contract offer for the Crescent Hawks...
+
With the three Crescent Hawks DropShips landed near the town of St. Claire four hours from the reeducation camp and one MechWarrior (and his 'Mech) lost in action, Youngblood offers Toll Packard a place in the unit after they narrowly escaped together. Packard accepts, and Foster Pell includes himself, showing up with a duffel bag and handing Youngblood a disc labelled "[[Turanian Transport Company]], [[Towne]]" (the firm Pell was working for when he got stranded on Ruchbah) for a numbered account to "cover his expenses". Pell also indicates he might have a contract offer for the Crescent Hawks...
  
 
==EPUB teaser==
 
==EPUB teaser==
Line 67: Line 65:
  
 
==Featured Characters==
 
==Featured Characters==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
+
*Donaldson
* Donaldson
+
*[[Karen Hecht]]
* [[Karen Hecht]]
+
*[[Sasha Hind]]
* [[Sasha Hind]]
+
*[[Rodney Klatt]]
* [[Rodney Klatt]]
+
*[[Sarah Levine]]
* [[Sarah Levine]]
+
*[[Arvid Molsson]]
* [[Arvid Molsson]]
+
*[[Toll Packard]]
* [[James Norton]]
+
*[[Max Pearson]]
* [[Toll Packard]]
+
*[[Foster Pell]]
* [[Max Pearson]]
+
*[[Lena Roderick]]
* [[Foster Pell]]
+
*[[Jeremiah Youngblood II]]
* [[Lena Roderick]]
+
*[[Dan Allard]] (mentioned)
* Taller
 
* [[Jeremiah Youngblood II]]
 
* [[Dan Allard]] (mentioned)
 
{{div col end}}
 
  
 
==Featured places==
 
==Featured places==
Line 91: Line 85:
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
==='Mechs===
 
==='Mechs===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
+
*''[[Axman]]''
* ''[[Axman]]''
+
*''[[Awesome]]''
* ''[[Awesome]]''
+
*''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]''
* ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]''
+
*''[[Cestus]]''
* ''[[Cestus]]''
+
*''[[Clint]]''
* ''[[Clint]]''
+
*''[[Crockett]]''
* ''[[Crockett]]''
+
*''[[Excalibur (BattleMech)|Excalibur]]''
* ''[[Excalibur (BattleMech)|Excalibur]]''
+
*''[[Falconer]]''
* ''[[Falconer]]''
+
*''[[Hatchetman#Variants|HCT-6D Hatchetman]]''
* [[Hatchetman#Variants|HCT-6D ''Hatchetman'']]
+
*''[[Highlander]]''
* ''[[Highlander]]''
+
*''[[Hussar]]''
* ''[[Hussar]]''
+
*''[[Komodo]]''
* ''[[Komodo]]''
+
*''[[Maelstrom]]''
* ''[[Maelstrom (BattleMech)|Maelstrom]]''
+
*''[[Orion]]''
* ''[[Orion]]''
+
*''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''
* ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''
+
*''[[Quickdraw]]''
* ''[[Quickdraw]]''
+
*''[[Sentinel]]''
* ''[[Sentinel]]''
+
*''[[Talon]]''
* ''[[Talon (BattleMech)|Talon]]''
+
*''[[Toyama]]''
* ''[[Toyama]]''
+
*''[[Trebuchet]]''
* ''[[Trebuchet]]''
+
*''[[Valkyrie]]''
* ''[[Valkyrie]]''
+
*''[[Verfolger]]''
* ''[[Verfolger]]''
+
*''[[Warhammer]]''
* ''[[Warhammer]]''
+
*''[[Wraith]]''
* ''[[Wraith]]''
+
*''[[Wyvern]]''
* ''[[Wyvern]]''
 
{{div col end}}
 
  
 
===Vehicles===
 
===Vehicles===
* [[Brutus Assault Tank]]
+
*[[Brutus Assault Tank]]
* [[Cavalry Attack Helicopter]]
+
*[[Cavalry Attack Helicopter]]
* Unspecified APCs
+
*Unspecified APCs
  
 
===Aerospace Fighters===
 
===Aerospace Fighters===
* ''[[Stingray]]''
+
*''[[Stingray]]''
  
 
===Other===
 
===Other===
* "generic battle armor" (presumably [[Elemental]]s)
+
*"generic battle armor" (presumably [[Elemental]]s)
  
 
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]
 
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
 
[[Category:Works by Jason Schmetzer]]
 
[[Category:Works by Jason Schmetzer]]

Please note that all contributions to BattleTechWiki are considered to be released under the GNU FDL 1.2 (see BattleTechWiki:Copyrights for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To edit this page, please answer the question that appears below (more info):

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Advanced templates:

Editing: {{Merge}}   {{Moratorium}}   {{Otheruses| | | }}

Notices: {{NoEdit}}   {{Sign}}   {{Unsigned|name}}   {{Welcome}}

Administration: {{Essay}}   {{Policy}}   {{Procedure}}