Difference between revisions of "The Dying Time"

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They arrive in mid-June to a lukewarm reception by the house units already present. Having assaulted Hesperus II back in 3057, the Legion had fought against these same units then and is thus outright shunned by [[Leutnant-General]] [[Peter Zambos]] of the [[36th Lyran Guards]] while [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Gina Ciampa]] of the [[15th Lyran Guards]] tries to cooperate despite the losses her unit suffered against the Legion, and the bad blood it caused. The [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]] under [[Major]] James Goree is initially distrustful of the mercenaries as a matter of principle, to the point of nearly provoking a friendly fire incident when a Gray Death patrol comes close to the factory perimeter. [[Daniel Brewer]], who is at the same time a company commander in the Gray Death Legion and a board member of Defiance Industries, has a hard time reconciling them. Having inherited operational command of the Gray Death Legion from her late husband, [[Lori Kalmar-Carlyle]] is struggling to keep up with the political aspect of the assignment and the added responsibility, and relies heavily on the advice of experienced Legion officers such as [[Davis McCall]] and [[Julio Vargas]].
 
They arrive in mid-June to a lukewarm reception by the house units already present. Having assaulted Hesperus II back in 3057, the Legion had fought against these same units then and is thus outright shunned by [[Leutnant-General]] [[Peter Zambos]] of the [[36th Lyran Guards]] while [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Gina Ciampa]] of the [[15th Lyran Guards]] tries to cooperate despite the losses her unit suffered against the Legion, and the bad blood it caused. The [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]] under [[Major]] James Goree is initially distrustful of the mercenaries as a matter of principle, to the point of nearly provoking a friendly fire incident when a Gray Death patrol comes close to the factory perimeter. [[Daniel Brewer]], who is at the same time a company commander in the Gray Death Legion and a board member of Defiance Industries, has a hard time reconciling them. Having inherited operational command of the Gray Death Legion from her late husband, [[Lori Kalmar-Carlyle]] is struggling to keep up with the political aspect of the assignment and the added responsibility, and relies heavily on the advice of experienced Legion officers such as [[Davis McCall]] and [[Julio Vargas]].
  
−
Soon after the Legion's arrival, a suspect IR spike indicates a [[JumpShip]] may have appeared at a [[pirate jump point]], prompting aerospace assets to move out to investigate. It is really an attack by Skye Separatist forces: The [[22nd Skye Rangers]] snuck into the system aboard three ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShips, hiding first near one of Hesperus V's moons, then on Hesperus III, a barren world with merely a trace atmosphere, while slowly moving closer to Hesperus II. Their plan is to attack the planet and capture the starport when the main invasion fleet would arrive in-system and draw the defending aerospace assets away from the planet. However, when their DropShips are detected by the defenders while hiding on Hesperus III the 22nd Skye Rangers initiate an alternate battle plan, an all-out attack against the civilian infrastructure in Melrose Valley to decimate the defenders and possibly draw them out before the main body of the attack force arrives. That attack coincides with the arrival of the enemy main strike force who, following a space battle at the zenith jump point, manage to capture the ''[[Avalon]]''-class [[WarShip]] ''[[Simon Davion (Avalon)|Simon Davion]]'' and turn its guns on noncombatant JumpShips at the jump point including the ''[[Carolyn]]'' and the Gray Death Legion's ''[[Invidious (Invader)|Invidious]]'', prompting the surrender of the Legion's other two JumpShips. Incensed, Lori Kalmar-Carlyle sends a battalion under [[Major]] [[Rae Houk]] to Melrose Valley to confront the attackers there, but facing an entire regiment the battalion is forced into retreat.
+
Soon after the Legion's arrival, a suspect IR spike indicates a [[JumpShip]] may have appeared at a [[pirate jump point]], prompting aerospace assets to move out to investigate. It is really an attack by Skye Separatist forces: The [[22nd Skye Rangers]] snuck into the system aboard three ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShips, hiding first near one of Hesperus V's moons, then on Hesperus III, a barren world with merely a trace atmosphere, while slowly moving closer to Hesperus II. Their plan is to attack the planet and capture the starport when the main invasion fleet would arrive in-system and draw the defending aerospace assets away from the planet. However, when their DropShips are detected by the defenders while hiding on Hesperus III the 22nd Skye Rangers initiate an alternate battle plan, an all-out attack against the civilian infrastructure in Melrose Valley to decimate the defenders and possibly draw them out before the main body of the attack force arrives. That attack coincides with the arrival of the enemy main strike force who, following a space battle at the zenith jump point, manage to capture the ''[[Avalon]]''-class [[WarShip]] ''[[Simon Davion (Individual Avalon-class WarShip)|Simon Davion]]'' and turn its guns on noncombatant JumpShips at the jump point including the ''[[Carolyn]]'' and the Gray Death Legion's ''[[Invidious (Individual Invader-class JumpShip)|Invidious]]'', prompting the surrender of the Legion's other two JumpShips. Incensed, Lori Kalmar-Carlyle sends a battalion under [[Major]] [[Rae Houk]] to Melrose Valley to confront the attackers there, but facing an entire regiment the battalion is forced into retreat.
  
 
On 30 June the Separatist DropShips descend on Hesperus II. The Gray Death Legion's fighter wing scrambles to meet them, destroying at least one ''[[Leopard]]'' but suffering heavy losses in turn including Julio Vargas. The Legion is heavily involved in the subsequent fighting on the ground. Despite their best efforts, they are repeatedly pushed back. On 1 July they attempt to deploy from the starport at Maria's Elegy for a flanking maneuver against the enemy main force on a maglev train. An enemy 'Mech spots the train, however, and stops it by destroying the maglev rail. This causes a train crash that causes losses for the Legion and throws them into disarray while strong enemy forces close in on their position. Captain Daniel Brewer is instrumental in rallying the Legion in this critical situation, and they repulse the attack.
 
On 30 June the Separatist DropShips descend on Hesperus II. The Gray Death Legion's fighter wing scrambles to meet them, destroying at least one ''[[Leopard]]'' but suffering heavy losses in turn including Julio Vargas. The Legion is heavily involved in the subsequent fighting on the ground. Despite their best efforts, they are repeatedly pushed back. On 1 July they attempt to deploy from the starport at Maria's Elegy for a flanking maneuver against the enemy main force on a maglev train. An enemy 'Mech spots the train, however, and stops it by destroying the maglev rail. This causes a train crash that causes losses for the Legion and throws them into disarray while strong enemy forces close in on their position. Captain Daniel Brewer is instrumental in rallying the Legion in this critical situation, and they repulse the attack.
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Captain Brewer leads a successful counterattack, ejecting the attackers from the facility. Afterwards, he and an equally exhausted Major Thomas Devin discuss that the Gray Death Legion's original core of veteran officers has been killed, with only twenty or fewer MechWarriors remaining (and even heavier losses among the infantry and tank crews). They both feel the era of the Gray Death Legion has ended, unless Alexander Carlyle would take up the legacy. As it turns out though, he is not allowed to resign from his posting with the [[Royal Guards]] because Katherine Steiner-Davion feels she cannot afford to lose him until the civil war is over.
 
Captain Brewer leads a successful counterattack, ejecting the attackers from the facility. Afterwards, he and an equally exhausted Major Thomas Devin discuss that the Gray Death Legion's original core of veteran officers has been killed, with only twenty or fewer MechWarriors remaining (and even heavier losses among the infantry and tank crews). They both feel the era of the Gray Death Legion has ended, unless Alexander Carlyle would take up the legacy. As it turns out though, he is not allowed to resign from his posting with the [[Royal Guards]] because Katherine Steiner-Davion feels she cannot afford to lose him until the civil war is over.
  
−
== Featured characters ==
+
==Featured characters==
−
* Colonel [[Grayson Death Carlyle]]
+
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
−
* Colonel [[Lori Kalmar-Carlyle]]
+
* [[Private]] [[Roy Bartlett]], Marine of the ''[[Indefatigable]]'' of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
−
* [[Hauptmann (rank)|Hauptmann]] [[Alexander Carlyle]]
+
* [[Ensign]] [[Jason Batsa|Jason "Jaybird" Batsa]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] (2-2) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Corsair (Aerospace Fighter class)|Corsair]]''
−
* [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Gina Ciampa]]
+
* [[Charles Bear]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
−
* [[Major]] [[Rae Houk]]
+
* [[Leutnant-Kommodore]] [[Dieter Bern]], captain of the ''[[Simon Davion (Individual Avalon-class WarShip)|LAS Simon Davion]]''
−
* Colonel [[Davis McCall]]
+
* Technician [[Phil Bertrand]] of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]]
−
* [[Archon-Princess]] [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]]
+
* [[Colonel]] [[Nana Brennan]], XO of the [[15th Lyran Guards]]
−
* [[General]] [[Nondi Steiner]]
+
* [[Duke of Hesperus II]] [[Captain]] [[Daniel Brewer|Daniel "Dan" Brewer]], commander of 2nd (Dog) Company of 1st Battalion of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a CHP-1N ''[[Champion]]'', nephew of Nondi Steiner
−
* Wing Commander [[Julio Vargas]]
+
* [[Captain]] [[Edmond Caine]] of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
−
* [[Leutnant-General]] [[Peter Zambos]]
+
* [[Hauptmann (rank)|Hauptmann]] [[Alexander Carlyle]] of the [[2nd Royal Guards]], son of Grayson Carlyle & Lori Kalmar-Carlyle
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Durant Carlyle]] of [[Carlyle's Commandos]], father of Grayson Carlyle (mentioned)
 +
* [[Baron von Glengarry|Baron]] [[Colonel]] [[Grayson Carlyle|Grayson "Death" Carlyle]] of [[Glengarry]] & commander of the [[Gray Death Legion]], husband of Lori Kalmar-Carlyle, piloting a (modified) VTR-9K ''[[Victor]]''
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Amanda Carroll]], commander of 2nd Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Kaptain]] [[Elena Cerlenko]], captain of the ''[[Simon Davion (Individual Avalon-class WarShip)|LAS Simon Davion]]'' of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
 +
* [[Sergeant]] [[Joseph Cheng]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], commander of Fire Lance of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion, piloting an ''[[Apollo (BattleMech)|Apollo]]''
 +
* [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Gina Ciampa]], commander of the [[15th Lyran Guards]], piloting a BNC-5S ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]''
 +
* [[Cooper (Defiance Industries)|Cooper]], Maglev chief engineer of [[Defiance Industries]]
 +
* [[Leigh Cooper]] of HQ Company Command Lance of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting an ''[[Exterminator]]'' & a ''[[Grim Reaper]]''
 +
* [[Mick Cornwell]], orderly of Lori Kalmar-Carlyle of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Marty Cross]] of Charlie Company of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]]
 +
* [[Sergeant]] [[Crown(Gray Death Legion)|Crown]], commander of Recon Lance of 1st Company of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Gallowglas]]''
 +
* [[Sergeant]] [[Elron David]], platoon sergeant of the Armored Battalion "The Cats" of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[First Prince of the Federated Suns|First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion|Hanse "The Fox" Davion]], husband of Melissa Steiner (mentioned)
 +
* [[Leutnant-General]] [[Alice Day]], commander of the [[32nd Lyran Guards]], piloting an ''[[Axman]]''
 +
* [[Colonel]] [[Francisco de Argall]], commander of the [[22nd Skye Rangers]], piloting a THG-11E ''[[Thug]]''
 +
* Technician [[Gene Deloray]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], Chief tech of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Major]] [[Andrei Denniken]], commander of 1st Battalion of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a  ''[[Cataphract]]''
 +
* [[Major]] [[Thomas Devin]], commander of 1st Battalion of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born)|Cauldron-Born]]'' called ''Faudgh an Bellagh'' (Clear The Way)
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Saul Dietrich]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] (2-1) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Corsair (Aerospace Fighter class)|Corsair]]''
 +
* [[General]] [[John Claverhouse Dundee]], second-in-command of Robert Kelswa-Steiner
 +
* [[Jason Fry]] of 2nd Company, 1st Battalion of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Panther]]''
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Patrick Garrity|Patrick "Fox" Garrity]], AeroSpace pilot of the [[Death Eagles]] (1-2) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Shilone]]''
 +
* [[George (Gray Death Legion)|George]], captain of the ''[[Durant (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Durant]]'' of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Major]] [[James Goree]], commander of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]], piloting a GUN-1ERD ''[[Gunslinger]]''
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Morgan Graham]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]]'s infantry
 +
* [[First Leutnant]] [[Ari Graves]], AeroSpace pilot of the [[12th Hesperus militia]], piloting a SYD-21 ''[[Seydlitz]]''
 +
* [[Paul Hansen]] of HQ Company Command Lance of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Bombardier]]''
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Harris (Defiance Self-Protection Force)|Harris]], commander of Charlie Company of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]], piloting a ''[[Nightsky]]''
 +
* [[Major]] [[Rae Houk]], commander of the 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Gallowglas]]''
 +
* [[Bob Johnston]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] (4-1) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Stuka]]''
 +
* [[Colonel]] [[Lori Kalmar-Carlyle]], commander of the [[Gray Death Legion]], wife of Grayson Carlyle, piloting a (modified) VTR-9K ''[[Victor]]''
 +
* [[V. K. Kaufman]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], Command Lance of Daniel Brewer's company of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins", piloting a ''[[Hoplite]]''
 +
* [[Private]] [[Roger Karn]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], Fire Lance of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion, piloting an ''[[Apollo (BattleMech)|Apollo]]''
 +
* Duke of [[Skye]] [[Robert Kelswa-Steiner]], son of Ryan Steiner (mentioned)
 +
* [[Hassan Ali Khaled]], commander of the 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Corporal]] [[Valdis Koll]] of the [[4th Skye Rangers]], piloting a ''[[War Dog]]''
 +
* [[Livia Lassiter]] of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]], piloting a PPR-5S ''[[Salamander (BattleMech)|Salamander]]''
 +
* [[Major]] [[Tom Leone]], commander of the infantry of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Susan Levy]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], commander of Recon Lance of Daniel Brewer's company of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins", piloting a HM-1 ''[[Hitman]]'' & a ''[[Vulcan (BattleMech)|Vulcan]]''
 +
* [[Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation|Chancellor]] [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Dallas MacKenzie]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Trebuchet]]''
 +
* [[Private]] [[William McBride| William "Willie" McBride]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Summoner (Thor)|Thor]]'' (Alt. Conf. B)
 +
* [[Leutnant-Colonel]] [[Davis McCall|Davis Montgomery McCall]], XO of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Highlander]]'' called ''[[Bannockburn]]''
 +
* [[Fal McNab]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]] of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[M'Dhalla]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], commander of the 1st Scout Platoon, using [[Gray Death Scout]] armor
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Preston Minh]], XO of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]]
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Joan Monti]], commander of the Armored Battalion's tanks of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Ensign]] [[John Monty]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Corsair (Aerospace Fighter class)|Corsair]]''
 +
* [[Hauptmann]] [[Leo Moos]], commander of the [[12th Hesperus militia]], piloting a F-90 ''[[Stingray]]''
 +
* [[Hester Murad]], captain of the ''[[Invidious (Individual Invader-class JumpShip)|Invidious]]'' of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Leutnant-Colonel]] [[Don Nix]], XO of the [[22nd Skye Rangers]]
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Nystrom]] of Charlie Company of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]]
 +
* [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Rainer Poulin]], commander of the [[Skye Province Militia]]
 +
* [[Major]] [[Megan Powers|Megan "Meg" Powers]], commander of the Armored Battalion "The Cats" of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Samuel Quinn]], production manager of [[Defiance Industries]]
 +
[[Captain]] [[Radcliffe]], commander of the First Armored Infantry Company of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Leutnant-General]] [[Richard Regis II]], commander of the [[2nd Royal Guards]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Dale Ross]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], Command Lance of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion, piloting a ''[[Grim Reaper]]''
 +
* [[Royce]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Lucy Sal]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], Command Lance of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion, piloting a ''[[Dervish]]''
 +
* [[General]] [[Alicia Savinson]], [[Chancellor of the Lyran Intelligence Corps]]
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Brian Scully]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]], commander of 1st Battalion's 3rd Company, piloting a ''[[Hatchetman]]'' & a NGS-4S ''[[Nightsky]]''
 +
* [[Chief Warrant Officer]] [[Sellars]] of the [[15th Lyran Guards]]
 +
* [[Kaptain]] [[Geron Speer]], XO of the ''[[Simon Davion (Individual Avalon-class WarShip)|LAS Simon Davion]]''
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Carla Staedler]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] (3-1) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a CSR-V12 ''[[Corsair (Aerospace Fighter class)|Corsair]]''
 +
* [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Ivan Steiner]], commander of the [[Lyran Guards]] brigade, son of Nondi Steiner (mentioned)
 +
* [[Lisa Steiner (31st c.)|Lisa Steiner]], commander of the [[Department of the Quartermaster]], daughter of Nondi Steiner
 +
* [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Melissa Steiner (31st c.)|Melissa Steiner-Davion]], wife of Hanse Davion (mentioned)
 +
* [[General of the Armies]] [[Nondi Steiner]], aunt of Melissa Steiner
 +
* Duke [[Arthur Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned), son of Melissa Steiner & Hanse Davion
 +
* [[Archon-Princess]] [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine "Katrina" Steiner-Davion]], daughter of Melissa Steiner & Hanse Davion
 +
* [[Victor Ian Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned), son of Melissa Steiner & Hanse Davion
 +
* [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned), daughter of Melissa Steiner & Hanse Davion
 +
* [[Stanislaus Stevens]], president of [[Defiance Industries]]'s board of directors
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Diggsby Strieger-Pouls]] of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* Doctor [[Gregg Sweney]], head surgeon of the [[Gray Death Legion]]* [[Michael Taylor]] of 2nd Company, 1st Battalion of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[Warrant Officer]] [[Anson Towsley]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] (3-2) of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* Orderly [[Sarah Trotter]] of the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]]
 +
* Wing Commander [[Julio Vargas]], commander of the [[Death Eagles]] (1-1) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a SL-15 ''[[Slayer]]''
 +
* [[Leutnant-General]] [[William Harrison von Frisch]], commander of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
 +
* [[Marion Warner]] of the [[Gray Death Legion]] of Daniel Brewer's 2nd (Dog) company of 1st Battalion
 +
* [[Leutnant]] [[Petar Warner]], AeroSpace pilot of the [[12th Hesperus militia]], piloting a SYD-21 ''[[Seydlitz]]''
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Louis Weatherby]] of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Grim Reaper]]''
 +
* [[Lieutenant]] [[Christine Wellerman]], commander of Recon Lance of HQ Company of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Mist Lynx (Koshi)|Koshi]]'' (Alt. Conf. A)
 +
* [[Captain]] [[Elias Whitlocke]] of 2nd Battalion "Hassan's Assassins" of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Flashman]]''
 +
* [[Ensign]] [[Keith Williams (31st c.)|Keith Williams]], AeroSpace pilot of 1st Squadron of the [[Death Eagles]] (4-2) of the [[Gray Death Legion]], piloting a ''[[Stuka]]''
 +
* [[Colonel]] [[Chris Wyndham]], aide of Nondi Steiner
 +
* [[Leutnant-General]] [[Peter Zambos]], commander of the [[36th Lyran Guards]]
 +
* [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Almida Zee]], commander of the [[Liaison_Officer#Lyran_Commonwealth|Mercenary Troops Liaison]]
 +
{{div col end}}
  
−
== Featured places ==
+
==Featured places==
 +
* [[Coventry]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Glengarry]]
 
* [[Glengarry]]
 
* [[Hesperus II]], Hesperus III, Hesperus V Gamma
 
* [[Hesperus II]], Hesperus III, Hesperus V Gamma
 +
* [[Huntress]] (mentioned)
 
* [[New Avalon]]
 
* [[New Avalon]]
 +
* [[Terra]] (mentioned)
 
* [[Tharkad]]
 
* [[Tharkad]]
 +
* [[Thorin]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Trellwan]]
 +
* [[Verthandi]] (mentioned)
  
−
== Featured BattleTech ==
+
==Featured Units==
 +
====[[Loyalist (FCCW)|Loyalist Forces (Katherine)]]====
 +
* [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* [[2nd Royal Guards]] "The Pride of Skye"
 +
* [[12th Hesperus militia]]
 +
* [[15th Lyran Guards]] [[Inner_Sphere_military_structure#Regimental_Combat_Team|RCT]] "The Death or Glory Boys"
 +
* [[36th Lyran Guards]] [[Inner_Sphere_military_structure#Regimental_Combat_Team|RCT]] "Air Surfers"
 +
* [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]] "The Force of Last Resort"
 +
* [[Eridani Light Horse]] (mentioned)
 +
 
 +
====[[Allies (FCCW)|Allied Forces (Victor)]]====
 +
* [[1st Davion Guards]] "The Strength of Alexander" (mentioned)
 +
 
 +
====[[Federation of Skye|Free Skye Movement]]====
 +
* [[4th Skye Guards]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[4th Skye Rangers]] [[Inner_Sphere_military_structure#Regimental_Combat_Team|RCT]] "Albion"
 +
* [[17th Skye Rangers]] "The Boys of Summer"
 +
* [[22nd Skye Rangers]] "The Virgins or Katrina's Bonnie Bairns'"
 +
* [[32nd Lyran Guards]] "Fürst Hohenlohe"
 +
 
 +
====other====
 +
* [[Sirian Lancers]] "The Fury" (mentioned)
 +
 
 +
==Featured BattleTech==
 
===BattleMechs===
 
===BattleMechs===
 +
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
 
* ''[[Apollo (BattleMech)|Apollo]]''
 
* ''[[Apollo (BattleMech)|Apollo]]''
 
* ''[[Assassin]]''
 
* ''[[Assassin]]''
Line 73: Line 193:
 
* ''[[Axman]]''
 
* ''[[Axman]]''
 
* ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]''
 
* ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]''
−
* ''[[Barghest]]''
+
* BGS-1T ''[[Barghest]]''
 
* ''[[Black Knight]]''
 
* ''[[Black Knight]]''
 
* ''[[Bombardier]]''
 
* ''[[Bombardier]]''
 
* ''[[Bushwacker]]''
 
* ''[[Bushwacker]]''
 +
* ''[[Ebon Jaguar (Cauldron-Born)|Cauldron-Born]]''
 
* ''[[Cataphract]]''
 
* ''[[Cataphract]]''
 
* ''[[Catapult]]''
 
* ''[[Catapult]]''
−
* ''[[Cauldron-Born]]''
 
 
* ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]''
 
* ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]''
−
* ''[[Champion]]''
+
* CHP-1N ''[[Champion]]''
 
* ''[[Commando]]''
 
* ''[[Commando]]''
 
* ''[[Dervish]]''
 
* ''[[Dervish]]''
Line 89: Line 209:
 
* ''[[Flashman]]''
 
* ''[[Flashman]]''
 
* ''[[Gallowglas]]''
 
* ''[[Gallowglas]]''
 +
* ''[[Grasshopper]]''
 
* ''[[Grand Dragon]]''
 
* ''[[Grand Dragon]]''
−
* ''[[Grasshopper]]''
 
 
* ''[[Grim Reaper]]''
 
* ''[[Grim Reaper]]''
 
* ''[[Guillotine]]''
 
* ''[[Guillotine]]''
−
* ''[[Gunslinger]]''
+
* GUN-1ERD ''[[Gunslinger]]''
 
* ''[[Hatchetman]]''
 
* ''[[Hatchetman]]''
−
* ''[[Hauptmann]]''
+
* HAI-O ''[[Hauptmann]]'' (Alternate Configuration A)
−
* ''[[Hellbringer (Loki)]]''
 
 
* ''[[Hermes]]''
 
* ''[[Hermes]]''
 
* ''[[Highlander]]''
 
* ''[[Highlander]]''
−
* ''[[Hitman]]''
+
* HM-1 ''[[Hitman]]''
 
* ''[[Hoplite]]''
 
* ''[[Hoplite]]''
 
* ''[[Hunchback]]''
 
* ''[[Hunchback]]''
Line 105: Line 224:
 
* ''[[Javelin]]''
 
* ''[[Javelin]]''
 
* ''[[Kintaro]]''
 
* ''[[Kintaro]]''
 +
* ''[[Mist Lynx (Koshi)|Koshi]]'' (Alternate Configuration A)
 
* ''[[Lancelot]]''
 
* ''[[Lancelot]]''
−
* ''[[Locust]]'' (mentioned)
+
* ''[[Locust]]''  
−
* ''[[Maelstrom]]''
+
* ''[[Hellbringer (Loki)|Loki]]''
−
* ''[[Mist Lynx (Koshi)]]''
+
* ''[[Nightsky]]''
 +
* ''[[Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)|Mad Cat]]'' (mentioned)
 +
* ''[[Maelstrom (BattleMech)|Maelstrom]]''
 
* ''[[Mongoose]]''
 
* ''[[Mongoose]]''
−
* ''[[Nightsky]]''
+
* NGS-4S ''[[Nightsky]]''
−
* ''[[Orion]]''
+
* ON1-K ''[[Orion]]''
 
* ''[[Panther]]''
 
* ''[[Panther]]''
 
* ''[[Penetrator]]''
 
* ''[[Penetrator]]''
 
* ''[[Quickdraw]]''
 
* ''[[Quickdraw]]''
 +
* ''[[Rakshasa]]''
 
* ''[[Raven]]''
 
* ''[[Raven]]''
−
* ''[[Rakshasa]]''
+
* PPR-5S ''[[Salamander (BattleMech)|Salamander]]''
−
* ''[[Salamander (BattleMech)|Salamander]]''
 
 
* ''[[Stalker]]''
 
* ''[[Stalker]]''
 
* ''[[Starslayer]]''
 
* ''[[Starslayer]]''
−
* ''[[Summoner (Thor)]]''
 
 
* ''[[Tempest]]''
 
* ''[[Tempest]]''
−
* ''[[Timber Wolf (Mad Cat)]]'' (mentioned)
+
* ''[[Summoner (Thor)|Thor]]'' (Alternate Configuration B)
−
* ''[[Thug]]''
+
* THG-11E ''[[Thug]]''
 
* ''[[Trebuchet]]''
 
* ''[[Trebuchet]]''
−
* ''[[Victor]]''
+
* VTR-9K ''[[Victor]]''
 
* ''[[Vindicator]]''
 
* ''[[Vindicator]]''
 
* ''[[Vulcan (BattleMech)|Vulcan]]''
 
* ''[[Vulcan (BattleMech)|Vulcan]]''
 +
* ''[[War Dog]]''
 
* ''[[Watchman]]''
 
* ''[[Watchman]]''
−
* ''[[War Dog]]''
 
 
* ''[[Whitworth]]''
 
* ''[[Whitworth]]''
 
* ''[[Wraith]]''
 
* ''[[Wraith]]''
−
* ''[[Zeus]]''
+
* ZEU-9S ''[[Zeus]]''
 +
{{div col end}}
  
 
===Aerospace fighters===
 
===Aerospace fighters===
−
* ''[[Chippewa]]''
+
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
−
* ''[[Corsair]]''
+
* CHP-5W ''[[Chippewa]]''
−
* ''[[Hellcat]]''
+
* CSR-V12 ''[[Corsair (Aerospace Fighter class)|Corsair]]''
 +
* ''[[Hellcat (Aerospace Fighter class)|Hellcat]]''
 
* ''[[Lucifer]]''
 
* ''[[Lucifer]]''
−
* ''[[Rapier]]''
+
* RPR-100 ''[[Rapier]]''
−
* ''[[Seydlitz]]''
+
* SYD-21 ''[[Seydlitz]]''
 
* ''[[Shilone]]''
 
* ''[[Shilone]]''
−
* ''[[Slayer]]''
+
* SL-15 ''[[Slayer]]''
−
* ''[[Stingray]]''
+
* F-90 ''[[Stingray]]''
 
* ''[[Stuka]]''
 
* ''[[Stuka]]''
 +
{{div col end}}
  
 
===Vehicles===
 
===Vehicles===
−
*[[Boomerang]] Spotter Plane
+
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
−
*[[Demolisher II]]
+
* [[Boomerang]] Spotter Plane
−
*[[Karnov UR]] Transport VTOL
+
* [[Demolisher II]]
−
*[[Mobile HQ]]
+
* [[Drillson]] heavy hover tank
−
*[[Skulker]] Wheeled Scout Tank
+
* [[Karnov UR]] Transport VTOL
 +
* [[Maxim]] heavy hover transport
 +
* [[Mobile HQ]]
 +
* [[PPC Heavy Weapons Carrier]]
 +
* [[Skulker (Combat Vehicle)|Skulker]] Wheeled Scout Tank
 +
* [[Striker (Combat Vehicle)|Striker]] light tank
 +
{{div col end}}
  
 
===DropShips===
 
===DropShips===
−
* ''[[Leopard]]''
+
* ''[[Leopard (DropShip class)|Leopard]]''
−
* ''[[Overlord]]'' (''[[Jedburgh]]'')
+
* ''[[Overlord (DropShip class)|Overlord]]'' (''[[Jedburgh]]'') of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
−
* ''[[Union]]'' (''[[Durant]]'', ''[[Phobos (Union)|Phobos]]'')
+
* ''[[Union (DropShip class)|Union]]'' ''[[Durant (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Durant]]'' of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
−
* unspecified class ''[[Nomad (vessel)|Nomad]]''
+
* ''[[Union (DropShip class)|Union]]'' ''[[Phobos (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Phobos]]'' of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 +
* unspecified class ''[[Nomad (Individual DropShip)|Nomad]]'' of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
  
 
===JumpShips===
 
===JumpShips===
−
* ''[[Invader]]'' (''[[Invidious (Invader)|Invidious]]'', ''[[Macbeth]]'')
+
* ''[[Invader]]'' (''[[Invidious (Individual Invader-class JumpShip)|Invidious]]'') of the [[Gray Death Legion]]
 
* ''[[Monolith]]'' (mentioned)
 
* ''[[Monolith]]'' (mentioned)
−
* unspecified class ''[[Carolyn]]'', ''[[Sharuq]]''
+
* ''[[Invader]]'' (''[[Macbeth]]'')
 +
* unspecified class ''[[Carolyn]]'' of [[Defiance Industries]]
 +
* unspecified class ''[[Sharuq]]'' of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
  
 
===WarShips===
 
===WarShips===
−
* ''[[Avalon]]'' (''[[Simon Davion (Avalon)|Simon Davion]]'')
+
* ''[[Avalon]]'' (''[[Simon Davion (Individual Avalon-class WarShip)|LAS Simon Davion]]'')
−
* ''[[Fox (WarShip)|Fox]]'' (''[[Illustrious]]'', ''[[Indefatigable]]'')
+
* ''[[Fox (WarShip class)|Fox]]'' ''[[Illustrious]]'' of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
 +
* ''[[Fox (WarShip class)|Fox]]'' ''[[Indefatigable]]'' of the [[4th Skye Rangers]]
 
* ''[[Whirlwind]]'' (mentioned)
 
* ''[[Whirlwind]]'' (mentioned)
  
Line 183: Line 317:
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
=References=
+
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
−
 
−
 
 
[[Category:Novels|Dying Time, The]]
 
[[Category:Novels|Dying Time, The]]
 
[[Category:MechWarrior novels|Dying Time, The]]
 
[[Category:MechWarrior novels|Dying Time, The]]

Latest revision as of 01:28, 7 April 2024

The Dying Time.jpg
The Dying Time
Product information
Type Novel
Author Thomas S. Gressman
Pages 278
Cover Artwork Fred Gambino
Publication information
Publisher Roc Books
First published 1 January 2002
ISBN-10 0451458664
ISBN-13 978-0451458667
Content
Era Civil War era
Timeline 3065
Series Saga of the Gray Death Legion
Preceded by Operation Excalibur

The Dying Time, by Thomas S. Gressman, is the seventh and final book in the Saga of the Gray Death Legion. It was published as the fifth novel in the loosely related MechWarrior series.

The novel was made available on BattleCorps on 30 January 2011 as a PDF file (text only, without cover, pictures, or any other interior artwork except for the usual BattleCorps frame graphics). The PDF copy includes a disclaimer stating that it was created from a pre-final edition text that might differ from the printed version and that canon-wise, the print edition trumps the PDF edition.

From the back cover[edit]

“ Only days after the demise of legendary warrior Grayson Death Carlyle, the mercenary forces of the Gray Death Legion are called into action. Their mission is to protect Hesperus II in the Isle of Skye. With civil war raging, it is vital that the planet's famous Defiance BattleMech production facilities not fall into the hands of the enemy. Seeing the Lyrans and Davionists at each other's throats, the Skye separatists have seized the opportunity to instigate a new rebellion, and they too threaten the safety of Hesperus II and its factories.

Now commanding the Legion is Lori Carlyle, widow of Grayson. But what Lori doesn't realize is that her troops are little more than pawns in the continuing hostilities between the factions of Victor Steiner-Davion and his ever-cunning sister, Katrina—and that the Gray Death are about to enter a battle they are meant to lose.

If there is one constant in the universe, it is that pawns are made to be sacrificed...

”

Summary[edit]

Grayson Carlyle, Baron of Glengarry and founder of the famous Gray Death Legion, passes away on 22 May 3065. Shortly afterwards the Legion, one of Katherine Steiner-Davion's most loyal and trusted units, is ordered to move to Hesperus II and bolster the defenses there against an anticipated attack.

They arrive in mid-June to a lukewarm reception by the house units already present. Having assaulted Hesperus II back in 3057, the Legion had fought against these same units then and is thus outright shunned by Leutnant-General Peter Zambos of the 36th Lyran Guards while Hauptmann-General Gina Ciampa of the 15th Lyran Guards tries to cooperate despite the losses her unit suffered against the Legion, and the bad blood it caused. The Defiance Self-Protection Force under Major James Goree is initially distrustful of the mercenaries as a matter of principle, to the point of nearly provoking a friendly fire incident when a Gray Death patrol comes close to the factory perimeter. Daniel Brewer, who is at the same time a company commander in the Gray Death Legion and a board member of Defiance Industries, has a hard time reconciling them. Having inherited operational command of the Gray Death Legion from her late husband, Lori Kalmar-Carlyle is struggling to keep up with the political aspect of the assignment and the added responsibility, and relies heavily on the advice of experienced Legion officers such as Davis McCall and Julio Vargas.

Soon after the Legion's arrival, a suspect IR spike indicates a JumpShip may have appeared at a pirate jump point, prompting aerospace assets to move out to investigate. It is really an attack by Skye Separatist forces: The 22nd Skye Rangers snuck into the system aboard three Overlord-class DropShips, hiding first near one of Hesperus V's moons, then on Hesperus III, a barren world with merely a trace atmosphere, while slowly moving closer to Hesperus II. Their plan is to attack the planet and capture the starport when the main invasion fleet would arrive in-system and draw the defending aerospace assets away from the planet. However, when their DropShips are detected by the defenders while hiding on Hesperus III the 22nd Skye Rangers initiate an alternate battle plan, an all-out attack against the civilian infrastructure in Melrose Valley to decimate the defenders and possibly draw them out before the main body of the attack force arrives. That attack coincides with the arrival of the enemy main strike force who, following a space battle at the zenith jump point, manage to capture the Avalon-class WarShip Simon Davion and turn its guns on noncombatant JumpShips at the jump point including the Carolyn and the Gray Death Legion's Invidious, prompting the surrender of the Legion's other two JumpShips. Incensed, Lori Kalmar-Carlyle sends a battalion under Major Rae Houk to Melrose Valley to confront the attackers there, but facing an entire regiment the battalion is forced into retreat.

On 30 June the Separatist DropShips descend on Hesperus II. The Gray Death Legion's fighter wing scrambles to meet them, destroying at least one Leopard but suffering heavy losses in turn including Julio Vargas. The Legion is heavily involved in the subsequent fighting on the ground. Despite their best efforts, they are repeatedly pushed back. On 1 July they attempt to deploy from the starport at Maria's Elegy for a flanking maneuver against the enemy main force on a maglev train. An enemy 'Mech spots the train, however, and stops it by destroying the maglev rail. This causes a train crash that causes losses for the Legion and throws them into disarray while strong enemy forces close in on their position. Captain Daniel Brewer is instrumental in rallying the Legion in this critical situation, and they repulse the attack.

To prevent the besieged defenders from calling for reinforcements, the Simon Davion is ordered to destroy the ComStar HPG station, but instead of a surgical strike the entire starport is devastated through naval bombardment.

Holed up at the Defiance Industries complex, the Legion fights several battles over the following days, and their losses are mounting. During a battle on 8 July, Davis McCall is killed in full view of Lori Kalmar-Carlyle. She feels the Legion is being whittled away, with as much as fifty percent losses already, even with Defiance Industries servicing their 'Mechs or providing complete replacement 'Mechs. On 18 July the 32nd Lyran Guards reinforce the attackers and combat-drop directly onto the Defiance Industries complex in conjunction with an attack by the Separatist forces already on the ground. In the fighting, Lori's Victor is downed near its hangar which is overrun by enemy 'Mechs. On foot, she tries to hide in the hangar but is found by enemy infantry and killed by a grenade in a brief shootout.

Captain Brewer leads a successful counterattack, ejecting the attackers from the facility. Afterwards, he and an equally exhausted Major Thomas Devin discuss that the Gray Death Legion's original core of veteran officers has been killed, with only twenty or fewer MechWarriors remaining (and even heavier losses among the infantry and tank crews). They both feel the era of the Gray Death Legion has ended, unless Alexander Carlyle would take up the legacy. As it turns out though, he is not allowed to resign from his posting with the Royal Guards because Katherine Steiner-Davion feels she cannot afford to lose him until the civil war is over.

Featured characters[edit]

Captain Radcliffe, commander of the First Armored Infantry Company of the Gray Death Legion

Featured places[edit]

Featured Units[edit]

Loyalist Forces (Katherine)[edit]

Allied Forces (Victor)[edit]

Free Skye Movement[edit]

other[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

Aerospace fighters[edit]

Vehicles[edit]

DropShips[edit]

JumpShips[edit]

WarShips[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • BattleTechnology magazine is canonized as an in-universe magazine through a reference within this novel.
  • Alexander Carlyle never returned to rebuild the Gray Death Legion; his fate at time of publishing was unknown. Later pieces indicate he was discharged from the LAAF and was expected to join Brewer's Legion, but missed joining them before their destruction in 3069. He would survive the Jihad and be restored to nobility by Archon Adam Steiner. It would fall to his grandchildren Ronan and Isobel Carlyle to rebuild the Gray Death Legion.

Foreign-Language Editions[edit]

German[edit]

A German edition, translated by Reinhold H. Mai, was published by Heyne in 2002 as Ein guter Tag zum Sterben (ISBN 9783453863231).[1]

Covers[edit]

  • Original 2002 cover. Art by Fred Gambino.

  • 2002 German edition. Art by Franz Vohwinkel.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for Ein guter Tag zum Sterben

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