Difference between revisions of "The Calm of the Void"

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{{ApocryphalProduct}}
 
{{ApocryphalProduct}}
 
{{InfoBoxProduct
 
{{InfoBoxProduct
| image              =  
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| image              = Calm of the Void cover.jpg
 
| name                =  
 
| name                =  
| type                = [[Novella]]/serialized [[Novel]] (part 1 of ?)
+
| type                = [[Novella]]
 
| author              = [[Randall N. Bills]]
 
| author              = [[Randall N. Bills]]
 
| development        =  
 
| development        =  
 
| primarywriting      =  
 
| primarywriting      =  
| pages              = 46 (PDF edition)
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| pages              = 75 (EPUB edition)<br />46 (PDF edition)
 
| cover              = [[David Kerber]]
 
| cover              = [[David Kerber]]
 
| interiorart        =  
 
| interiorart        =  
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| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
 
| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
 
| timeline            = 5 December [[2991]] - 20 June [[2992]]
 
| timeline            = 5 December [[2991]] - 20 June [[2992]]
| series              =  
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| series              = [[MechWarrior 5: Origins (series)|MechWarrior 5: Origins]]
 
| precededby          =  
 
| precededby          =  
| followedby          =  
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| followedby          = [[Vision's Hunger]]
 
}}
 
}}
'''''The Calm of the Void''''' is an original [[BattleTech]] [[novella]] penned by [[Randall N. Bills]], the first of a currently unknown number of parts of a serial [[novel]]. It was offered as a free tie-in product supporting [[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]] and was released in electronic format on 18 November 2019.
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'''''The Calm of the Void''''', subtitled ''A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 1'', is an original [[BattleTech]] [[novella]] penned by [[Randall N. Bills]]. It was released in electronic format on 18 November 2019.
 +
 
 +
The ''MechWarrior 5 Origins'' series is offered as a free tie-in product supporting the [[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]] computer game; the individual stories narrate the backgrounds of important characters from the game.
  
 
==Canonicity==
 
==Canonicity==
This is a MechWarrior 5 publication linked to [[Piranha Games]], not a [[Catalyst Game Labs]] BattleTech publication, and as such does not meet the criteria for canon in the (mainline) BattleTech universe. and is therefore flagged as apocryphal.
+
This novella is a promotional publication going with MechWarrior 5 and, like MechWarrior 5, derives from [[Piranha Games]]' license to BattleTech video games instead of the (distinct) "mainline" BattleTech license held by [[Catalyst Game Labs]]. As such it does not meet the criteria for canon in the "mainline" BattleTech universe and is therefore flagged as apocryphal.
  
 
==Plot summary==
 
==Plot summary==
{{sectionstub}}
+
Working for Merchant Captain Cardian of the free trader [[JumpShip]] ''[[Talia's Investiture]]'', [[Nikolai Mason]] has a fierce professional rivalry with procurement officer [[Jules Vonic]], whose position with Cardian he hopes to usurp. Vonic is aware of his goal, and tells him to his face that "Whatever ''you'' want, ''I'' get."
 +
 
 +
To prove his worth, draw the Captain's attention and get the promotion he seeks, Nicolai endeavors to procure a replacement Motor Control Unit for a [[Star League]] era ''[[Champion]]'', a [[lostech]] spare desperately sought by the [[Twelfth Star Guards]], one of the [[mercenary unit]]s Cardian supplies. To this end Nikolai makes contact with [[Chloe Reed|Chloe]], a tech with the [[Blackhearts]], and develops a crush on her. From her he learns of [[Detlef Jorgenson]], a master tech with [[Bowie Industries]] who is in possession of such a MCU and who is prepared to "jump ship" to a new employer. As corporations don't usually let their master techs walk away, Nikolai arranges for Jorgenson's covert extraction on [[Wyatt]].
 +
 
 +
Nikolai had considered a [[House Marik]] attack on Wyatt coinciding with his mission a complication so unlikely as to be negligible. However, their escape truck unexpectedly comes under attack from a ''[[Wasp]]'' in [[Marik Militia]] livery. Jorgenson is killed and Nikolai is wounded. Merchant Captain Cardian's meticulously planned timetable for his year-long round trip is upset and pushed back two days, earning Nikolai his ire. Worse, it turns out that Vonic was apparently behind the attack; she has secured the priceless MCU and is the one to provide it to the Twelfth Star Guards five weeks later.
 +
 
 +
Thus, Vonic reaps all the rewards for Nicolai's toil and expenses, namely the prestige, contacts, and good standing with Cardian. The wounded Nikolai can only watch helplessly as she mouths her "Whatever ''you'' want, ''I'' get" to him.
  
 
==Featured Characters==
 
==Featured Characters==
* Merchant Captaon Cardian
+
* Merchant Captain Cardian
* Chloe
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* [[Chloe Reed|Chloe]]
 
* [[Detlef Jorgenson]]
 
* [[Detlef Jorgenson]]
 
* Joshua
 
* Joshua
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* ''[[Wasp]]''
 
* ''[[Wasp]]''
 
* ''[[Champion]]'' (mentioned)
 
* ''[[Champion]]'' (mentioned)
 
+
===Vehicles===
===Featured JumpShips and DropShips===
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*[[Škoda "Growler" Service Utility Truck]]
* ''[[Mule]]''-class DropShip ''[[Perdido (Individual Mule-class DropShip)|Perdido]]''
+
===Spacecraft===
 +
* ''[[Mule]]''-class DropShip ''[[Perdido (Individual Mule-class DropShip|Perdido]]''
 
* ''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''-class JumpShip ''[[Talia's Investiture]]''
 
* ''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]''-class JumpShip ''[[Talia's Investiture]]''
  
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* [[Bella I|Bell I]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Bella I|Bell I]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Cavanaugh II]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Cavanaugh II]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Denebola]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Ford]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Ford]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Galisteo]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Galisteo]] (mentioned)
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* [[Rahne]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Rahne]] (mentioned)
  
==Notes==
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==External links==
 
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*[https://mw5mercs.com/novellas MechWarrior 5 novella downloads] (official)
  
[[Category:Short Stories]]
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[[Category:Short Stories|Calm of the Void, The]]
[[Category:Novels]]
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[[Category:Novels|Calm of the Void, The]]
[[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills]]
+
[[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills|Calm of the Void, The]]

Revision as of 12:16, 31 August 2020

Calm of the Void cover.jpg
The Calm of the Void
Product information
Type Novella
Author Randall N. Bills
Pages 75 (EPUB edition)
46 (PDF edition)
Cover Artwork David Kerber
Publication information
Publisher MechaPub Inc
First published 18 November 2019
MSRP Free
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 5 December 2991 - 20 June 2992
Series MechWarrior 5: Origins
Followed by Vision's Hunger

The Calm of the Void, subtitled A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 1, is an original BattleTech novella penned by Randall N. Bills. It was released in electronic format on 18 November 2019.

The MechWarrior 5 Origins series is offered as a free tie-in product supporting the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries computer game; the individual stories narrate the backgrounds of important characters from the game.

Canonicity

This novella is a promotional publication going with MechWarrior 5 and, like MechWarrior 5, derives from Piranha Games' license to BattleTech video games instead of the (distinct) "mainline" BattleTech license held by Catalyst Game Labs. As such it does not meet the criteria for canon in the "mainline" BattleTech universe and is therefore flagged as apocryphal.

Plot summary

Working for Merchant Captain Cardian of the free trader JumpShip Talia's Investiture, Nikolai Mason has a fierce professional rivalry with procurement officer Jules Vonic, whose position with Cardian he hopes to usurp. Vonic is aware of his goal, and tells him to his face that "Whatever you want, I get."

To prove his worth, draw the Captain's attention and get the promotion he seeks, Nicolai endeavors to procure a replacement Motor Control Unit for a Star League era Champion, a lostech spare desperately sought by the Twelfth Star Guards, one of the mercenary units Cardian supplies. To this end Nikolai makes contact with Chloe, a tech with the Blackhearts, and develops a crush on her. From her he learns of Detlef Jorgenson, a master tech with Bowie Industries who is in possession of such a MCU and who is prepared to "jump ship" to a new employer. As corporations don't usually let their master techs walk away, Nikolai arranges for Jorgenson's covert extraction on Wyatt.

Nikolai had considered a House Marik attack on Wyatt coinciding with his mission a complication so unlikely as to be negligible. However, their escape truck unexpectedly comes under attack from a Wasp in Marik Militia livery. Jorgenson is killed and Nikolai is wounded. Merchant Captain Cardian's meticulously planned timetable for his year-long round trip is upset and pushed back two days, earning Nikolai his ire. Worse, it turns out that Vonic was apparently behind the attack; she has secured the priceless MCU and is the one to provide it to the Twelfth Star Guards five weeks later.

Thus, Vonic reaps all the rewards for Nicolai's toil and expenses, namely the prestige, contacts, and good standing with Cardian. The wounded Nikolai can only watch helplessly as she mouths her "Whatever you want, I get" to him.

Featured Characters

Featured BattleTech

BattleMechs

Vehicles

Spacecraft

Featured Places

External links