En Passant (novel)
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 | Apocryphal Product Although the subject of this article is an official BattleTech product, it does not meet the current criteria for Canon. Its content may or may not be canonical for the BattleTech universe, and for the purpose of the Sarna.net BattleTechWiki is considered apocryphal. |
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| En Passant (novel) | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Novel |
| Author | Michael Diel |
| Pages | 320 |
| Cover Artwork | Anthony Cournoyer and Brandon Leach of Empty Room Studios |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Fantasy Productions GmbH |
| Product code | 31017 |
| First published | 2007 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-3890644790 |
| MSRP | 9,00 € |
| Content | |
| Era | Star League era |
| Timeline | 3 July 2600-31 December 2601 |
| Series | Classic BattleTech Novels Schattenkrieg trilogy |
| Followed by | (incomplete) |
En Passant, subtitled Schattenkrieg ("Shadow War") I, by Michael Diel, is a German-language BattleTech novel published by FanPro in 2007 as the first part of the Schattenkrieg trilogy which, however, was not continued beyond its first part so far.
It is also named the 5th book in the Das Goldene Zeitalter cycle, the 2nd book in the Great Game cycle, and the 15th in FanPro's line of Classic BattleTech Novels.
Contents
Overview
Susan McEvedy, head of the Federated Suns Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations, and her aide Collin Redburn find Alexander Davion poisoned during the night from 3 to 4 July 2600. To contain a possible political fallout, they decide to keep the fact that the elderly Davion was murdered secret and begin an undercover intelligence war against the perpetrators in the Draconis Combine that escalates beyond their control, and to the brink of open warfare. As the conflict turns into a personal crusade, McEvedy increasingly resorts to lies and misinformation, putting herself under ever-increasing pressure to succeed and making it impossible for her to back down.
Canonicity
Written in German and exclusively published in that language so far, Wahnsinn und Methode does not technically meet the current criteria for Canon in the BattleTech universe. As an official product published under a valid license, it should be regarded as apocryphal instead.
Known continuity problems
As En Passant was never translated or published in English, Catalyst Game Labs, the current license holder for the BattleTech IP, does not reckognize it as canonical and may not even be aware of the novel's exact content. Canonical publications have since contradicted certain aspects of the novel:
- Officially, Alexander Davion died on 28 January 2600 (and not in July as in the novel), and is thought to have died of natural causes;
From the back cover (translated from German)
| “ | The First Prince of the Federated Suns is dead, and it's Susan McEvedy's fault. Together with her assistant Collin Redburn she leaves no stone unturned to find the perpetrators of the assassination, and resorts to increasingly ruthless means. Tetsuo Yatomo is the new right hand of the Coordinator. But his new position comes with many powerful enemies, including the director of the draconis secret service ISF. Neither of them is aware that they are crucial figures in a net of intrigue and politics, and that it will depend on their decisions whether the fragile peace of the Star League can be maintained, or if the Inner Sphere will succumb to another war. First part of the Shattenkrieg trilogy. |
” |
Plot Summary
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Characters
- Gregory Amaris (cameo)
- Matthew Carmichael (cameo; protagonist from Wahnsinn und Methode)
- Rinalla Centrella (cameo)
- Etsuya Chiba
- Henry Davion
- Zane Davion
- James Hasek
- Leonard Kurita
- Sanethia Kurita
- Siriwan McAllister-Kurita
- Susan McEvedy (changes identity to "Jean Cray")
- Victor Offee (assassin who killed Alexander Davion; changes identity to "Dieter König")
- Collin Redburn
- Thomas Sandoval
- Tetsuo Yatomo
Featured worlds
- Delitzsch (mentioned)
- Deschler (mentioned)
- Misery (mentioned)
- Neukirchen (mentioned)
- New Aberdeen (mentioned)
- New Avalon
- New Mendham (mentioned)
- New Samarkand
- New Syrtis
- Proserpina (mentioned)
- Tallmadge (mentioned)
- Terra
- Thestria (mentioned)
- also, newscasts cited from Donegal and Potwin
Featured BattleTech
BattleMechs
Aerospace Fighters
DropShips
- Vulture
- Boushi O Doragon, Leonard Kurita's DropShip (unspecified spheroid design, 2750 tons)
WarShips
- Aegis (Patrick Henry and Michael Collins, Star League)
- Baron (Templeton and Lancaster Star League)
- Farragut (Ryu, Draconis Combine flagship)
- Kitty Hawk (Enterprise, Federated Suns)
- Riga (Brighton, Federated Suns)
- unspecified carrier Edward Davion (Federated Suns; possibly Kitty Hawk class)
- unspecified heavy cruisers Monroe and Swordsworn (Federated Suns)
Other
- unspecified SLDF space station Prosperity, New Mendham system
Notes
- Sarethia Kurita receives MechWarrior training in a Commando which is highly unlikely given that the Commando design was exclusive to the Lyran Commonwealth and a closely guarded secret.