Editing Impetus of War

{{InfoBoxProduct
| image               = Impetus of War.jpg
| name                = 
| type                = Novel
| author              = [[Blaine Lee Pardoe]]
| development         = 
| primarywriting      = 
| pages               = 304
| cover               = [[Bruce Jensen]]
| interiorart         = [[Duane Loose]]
| illustrations       = 
| publisher           = [[Roc Books]]
| productioncode      = 
| year                = 01 December 1996
| ISBN10              = 0451455290
| ISBN13              = 978-0451455291
| MSRP                = 
| content             = 
| era                 = [[Clan Invasion era]]
| timeline            = [[3058]]
| series              = 
| precededby          = 
| followedby          = 
}}
'''''Impetus of War''''', by [[Blaine Lee Pardoe]], is a novel of the [[Northwind Highlanders]] [[mercenary unit]], as they are hired for a secret strike deep into [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] territory.

{{BCNovel|on 06 August 2010}}
== From the back cover ==
{{quote|''Major [[Loren Jaffray]] is a soldier's soldier, a hardened professional who made his reputation with the [[Capellan Confederation]]'s legendary [[Death Commandos]]. Now serving as an officer in the [[Northwind Highlanders]], Loren longs to prove his loyalty to his new comrades. And he's getting that chance&mdash;the [[Draconis Combine]] is hiring his regiment to take on a mission unlike any before it.''

''The ruthless [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] emulate the savagery of their feline namesake with lethal accuracy. Nobody knows this better than the samurai of the Draconis Combine, who fought to the death to save their very [[Battle of Luthien (3052)|homeworld]]. Now Loren's crack Highlanders will be the instrument of the Combine's vengeance, striking into the [[Deep Periphery]] to crush one of the Jaguars' supply centers on a distant world called [[Wayside V]]. But the young, confident major is in for a very nasty surprise&mdash;and unless he makes a brilliant change in plans, Wayside V will be soaked with Scots blood...''}}

== Summary ==
<div style="font-weight:bold; padding:10px 0px; text-align:left">
This is the story of the invasion of a Clan-held Periphery world by the Northwind Highlanders, under contract with the Draconis Combine. It involves Clans Smoke Jaguar and Nova Cat. It is the last Clan-related novel before the Twilight of the Clans series begins.

This story covers an early, pre-Operation Serpent, attack on the deep periphery by the inner sphere against the clans.
It provides good background on the state of the Smoke Jaguars and the Nova Cats prior to the upcoming novels covering Operation Bulldog and Serpent.

In the novels, a regiment of Highlanders are expected to take a world from second line troops, with the goal of disrupting clan supply lines.
Upon arrival to the world, they find a new Smoke Jaguar Galaxy, preparing to cut its teeth on raids of Nova Cat Worlds.

As the main force becomes trapped on the planet, with a warship in orbit keeping the dropships pinned down, they manage to salvage clan equipment and a bondsman to instigate a counter raid by Nova Cat forces against the Smoke Jaguars.

The novel also provides some interesting background on Nova Cat Culture and Mysticism.

</div>

== Featured characters ==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Kalvin Amari]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Angelique West|Angelique]] of the Nova Cats
* [[Major]] [[Kurt Blakadar|Kurt "Blackie" Blakadar]]
* [[MechWarrior_(rank)#Mercenaries|MechWarrior]] [[Sumpter Burke]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[saKhan]] [[Lucian Carns]]
* [[Captain]] [[Torri Chandler]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Klark Chrisholm]] 
* [[Colonel]] [[James D. Cochrane]]
* [[Major]] [[Cullen Craig]]
* [[First Prince of the Federated Suns|First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[First Prince of the Federated Suns|First Prince]] [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[Captain]] [[Andrew Defoe]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Ithon Delaporta]] 
* [[MechWarrior_(rank)#Mercenaries|MechWarrior]] [[Dollson]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Ajax Drummond]]
* [[Star Commander]] [[Edward]] of Clan Nova Cat
* [[Captain]] [[Mitchell Fraser|Mitchell "Mitch" Fraser]]
* [[Captain]] [[Jake Fuller]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[MechWarrior_(rank)#Mercenaries|MechWarrior]] [[Gilliam]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Chantilly Hamilton]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Gregory Hector|Gregory "Greg" Hector]]
* [[Sho-sa]] [[Ruth Horner]]
* [[Major]] [[Loren Jaffray]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Glenda Jura]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[IlKhan of the Clans|ilKhan]] [[Nicholas Kerensky]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Kerndon]] of Clan Smoke Jaguar
* [[Corporal]] [[Killfries]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Corporal]] [[Kinross]]
* [[Captain]] [[Kirwan]] 
* [[MechWarrior_(rank)#Mercenaries|MechWarrior]] [[Paul Kriter]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Omiko Kurita|Omiko "Omi" Kurita]]
* [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] [[Theodore Kurita]] (mentioned)
* [[Precentor]] [[Mercedes Laurent]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Nina]] of Clan Nova Cat
* [[Khan]] [[Severen Leroux]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Javin]] of Clan Smoke Jaguar
* [[Star Captain]] [[Jill Lenardon]]
* [[Captain]] [[Jebediah Lewis]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation|Chancellor]] [[Maximilian Liao]] (mentioned)
* [[Captain]] [[Colin Lovat]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[MechWarrior_(rank)#Mercenaries|MechWarrior]] [[Sara Macallen]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Major]] [[MacFranklin]] (mentioned)
* [[Colonel]] [[William MacLeod]] 
* [[Star Captain]] [[Mandrake]] of Clan Nova Cat
* [[Star Captain]] [[Marilen]] of Clan Smoke Jaguar 
* [[Sergeant]] [[Ralston McAnis]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Trisha McBride]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Colonel]] [[Henrietta McCormack]] (mentioned)
* [[Captain]] [[Rory McCray]]
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Leigh Ann Miller]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* [[Major]] [[Chastity Mulvaney]]
* [[MechWarrior_(rank)#Mercenaries|MechWarrior]] [[O'Brian]]
* [[Galaxy Commander]] [[Devon Osis]]
* [[Khan]] [[Lincoln Osis]]
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Thibideau Osis]]
* [[Star Commander]] [[Otis (Clan Nova Cat)|Otis]] of Clan Nova Cat
* [[Sho-sa]] [[Elden Parkensen]]
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Patricia (250th Assault)|Patricia]]
* Mr. [[Pluncket]]
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Rosen]]
* [[Khan]] [[Sandra Rosse]] (mentioned)
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Roberta]] of Clan Smoke Jaguar
* [[Colonel]] [[Edward Senn]]
* [[Captain]] [[Colvin Spillman]]
* [[Colonel]] [[Andrea Stirling|Andrea "Cat" Stirling]]
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Uther]] of the Kilsyth Guards
* Gunner's Mate [[Volks]] of Clan Smoke Jaguar
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Santin West]]
* [[Oathmaster]] [[Biccon Winters]]
{{div col end}}

==Featured places==
* [[Avon]]
* [[EC-EY-4189|EC-EY-4189 (Boltin)]]
* [[EC-EY-4170]]
* [[Gravenhage]]
* [[K-001-WD-505]]
* [[Northwind]]
* [[Tarnby]]
* [[Outreach]] (mentioned)
* [[Wayside V| Wayside V (Wildcat)]]

==Featured BattleTech==
===BattleMechs===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Albatross]]''
* ''[[Stone Rhino (Behemoth)]]''
* ''[[Nova (Black Hawk)]]''
* ''[[Catapult]]''
* ''[[Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born)]]''
* ''[[Cerberus (BattleMech)|Cerberus]]''
* ''[[Cyclops]]''
* ''[[Dire Wolf (Daishi)]]''
* ''[[Fire Moth (Dasher)]]''
* ''[[Viper (Dragonfly)]]''
* ''[[Executioner (Gladiator)]]''
* ''[[Grand Dragon]]''
* ''[[Grand Titan]]''
* ''[[Grim Reaper]]''
* ''[[Arctic Cheetah (Hankyu)]]''
* ''[[Hatamoto-Chi]]''
* ''[[Huntsman (Nobori-nin)]]''
* ''[[Ice Ferret (Fenris)]]''
* ''[[Jenner]]''
* ''[[Hellbringer (Loki)]]''
* ''[[Mist Lynx (Koshi)]]''
* ''[[Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)]]''
* ''[[Gargoyle (Man O' War)]]''
* ''[[Grand Dragon]]''
* ''[[Marauder II]]''
* ''[[Warhawk (Masakari)]]''
* ''[[Penetrator]]''
* ''[[Adder (Puma)]]''
* ''[[Rifleman]]''
* ''[[Rifleman IIC]]''
* ''[[Stormcrow (Ryoken)]]''
* ''[[Supernova]]''
* ''[[Summoner (Thor)]]''
* ''[[Kit Fox (Uller)]]''
* ''[[Victor]]''
* ''[[Mad Dog (Vulture)]]''
* ''[[Warhammer IIC]]''
* ''[[Wolf Trap]]''
* ''[[Wyvern]]''
{{div col end}}

===Vehicle===
* ''[[Bombadier hover vehicle]]
* ''[[J-27 Ordnance Transport]]
* ''[[Demolisher]]

===Battle Armor===
* [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elemental]]
* [[Infiltrator]]

===AeroSpace Fighters===
* ''[[Bashkir]]''
* ''[[Sabutai]]''

===DropShips===
* ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip ''[[Bull Run]]''
* ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip ''[[Claymore (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Claymore]]''
* ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip ''[[Retribution (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Retribution]]''
* ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip ''[[Stonewall Jackson]]''
* ''[[Bonnie Prince Charles]]'' (class unknown)

===JumpShip===
* ''[[Invader]]''-class JumpShip ''[[Fox's Bane]]''
* ''[[Magellan (JumpShip class)|Magellan]]''-class JumpShip ''[[Kobayashi]]''
* ''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''

===WarShip===
* ''[[Essex]]''-class Destroyer ''[[Dark Claw]]''
* ''[[Lola III]]''

==Foreign-Language Editions==
===German=== 
A German edition, translated by [[Reinhold H. Mai]], was published by [[Heyne]] in 1997 as ''Der Vater der Dinge'' (ISBN 9783453118874).<ref>Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for [https://d-nb.info/952644878 ''Der Vater der Dinge'']</ref>  This was republished as an EPUB by [[Ulisses Medien & Spiel Distribution GmbH|Ulisses Spiele]] in 2020 as ''BattleTech Legenden 34 : Der Vater der Dinge'' (ISBN 9783963316982).<ref>Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for [https://d-nb.info/1224809122 ''BattleTech Legenden 34 : Der Vater der Dinge'']</ref>

==Covers==
<gallery>
Image:Impetus of War.jpg|Original 1997 cover. Art by Bruce Jensen.
Image:Der Vater der Dinge.jpg|1998 German edition. Art by [[Romas Kukalis]].
Image:BattleTech Legenden 34 - Der Vater der Dinge.jpg|2020 German edition (reprint).
Image:Двойная игра.jpg|2002 Russian edition.
</gallery>

=References=
<references/>


[[Category:Novels]]
[[Category:Classic BattleTech novels]]
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]
[[Category:Works by Blaine Lee Pardoe]]
[[Category:German Editions]]