Old MechWarriors Never...
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"Old MechWarriors never..." is a BattleTech short story by Ken St. Andre. It was published in the 1988 anthology Shrapnel.
The exact time frame of the story is indeterminate as no dates are provided. From the context of the book it can be assumed to take place between ca. 3025 and 3028.
Plot summary
Trev-R is an old Solaris arena MechWarrior and down on his luck when he happens to save Vayil Oonthrax, son of Baron Irvxx Oonthrax (owner of the Oonthrax Stables), from some muggers in an ill-reputed area of Xolaris City. The boy turns out to be a fan of Trev-R and aspires to become an arena MechWarrior himself, so he secretly enlists Trev-R to train him.
Long before he is ready to fight, young Oonthrax receives an Atlas and a heavily rigged battle is arranged by Baron Oonthrax and Arena Master Kandar Kant. Bribes and sabotage are to ensure the boy's victory, while his opponent is set up to lose the fight and quite possibly his life.
Only a few days before the event Trev-R finds out by chance that none other than he himself is the "useless old veteran" who is going to be sacrificed, with Vayil Oonthrax unaware of his father's scheming and Irvxx Oonthrax unaware of his son secretly having hired Trev-R as a trainer. His very life at stake, Trev-R fervently prepares to turn the tables in his favor. If he lives, this may be his last chance to make a profit and get off the Gaming World. Thus, Kandar Kant and Baron Oonthrax lose a fortune when Vayil Oonthrax's sabotaged Atlas loses the duel and ultimately ejects its helpless pilot, winning Trev-R the day.
==Featured Characters
- Trev-R
- Vayil Oonthrax
- Irvxx Oonthrax
- Kandar Kant