Difference between revisions of "Vision's Hunger"

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{{ApocryphalProduct}}
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{{Cleanup|reason=review needed|date=September 2023}} <!-- grammar -->
 
{{InfoBoxProduct
 
{{InfoBoxProduct
| image              =  
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| image              = Vision's Hunger cover.jpg
 
| name                =  
 
| name                =  
| type                = [[Novella]]/serialized [[Novel]] (part 2 of 8)
+
| type                = [[Novella]]
 
| author              = [[Randall N. Bills]]
 
| author              = [[Randall N. Bills]]
 
| development        =  
 
| development        =  
 
| primarywriting      =  
 
| primarywriting      =  
| pages              =  
+
| pages              = 75 (EPUB edition)
| cover              =  
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| cover              = [[David Kerber]]
 
| interiorart        =  
 
| interiorart        =  
 
| illustrations      =  
 
| illustrations      =  
| publisher          = [[MechaPub Inc]]
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| publisher          = [[MechaPub, INc.]]
 
| productioncode      =  
 
| productioncode      =  
 
| year                = 21 November 2019
 
| year                = 21 November 2019
Line 19: Line 19:
 
| content            =  
 
| content            =  
 
| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
 
| era                = [[Succession Wars era]]
| timeline            = 4 August [[2994]]
+
| timeline            = 4 August [[2994]] - 15 July [[2995]]
 
| series              = [[MechWarrior 5: Origins (series)|MechWarrior 5: Origins]]
 
| series              = [[MechWarrior 5: Origins (series)|MechWarrior 5: Origins]]
 
| precededby          = [[The Calm of the Void]]
 
| precededby          = [[The Calm of the Void]]
| followedby          =  
+
| followedby          = [[Endless War]]
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Vision's Hunger''''' is an original [[BattleTech]] [[novella]] penned by [[Randall N. Bills]], the second of eight 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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'''''Vision's Hunger''''', subtitled ''A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 2'', is an original [[BattleTech]] [[novella]] penned by [[Randall N. Bills]], offered as a free tie-in product supporting the ''[[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]]'' computer game.
  
==Canonicity==
+
It was originally released in electronic format on 21 November 2019, before being also included in an electronic omnibus collection on 12 December 2019, two days after the game's launch. The novella was later re-released as part of ''[[The Mercenary Life]]'' anthology released 12 April 2021, with an additional author postscript.
This novella is a 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}}
+
Chloe Reed is among the top techs in the [[Blackhearts]] [[mercenary unit]] with endless contacts and supreme technical talent that has drawn numerous high-priced offers from other units to entice her away. But she hungers for more — to become a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]. Unfortunately her attempts to become one fall on deaf ears, with people unable or unwilling to look past her tech skills, her immediate superior [[Major]] Jeffers intensely dismissive of her continued "antics". Learning from her faithful assistant Tilo rumors that the unit will soon deploy on a raid, Chloe deduces it will be a short raid against the defending [[Thirteenth Marik Militia]] on Wing for retribution for [[FWLM]] raid against Wyatt in [[2991]], ensuring she will be back on New Kyoto long before her lover trader Nikolai Mason will next be in-system.
 +
 
 +
She is correct on all counts save how short the raid will be, with vague orders for the Blackhearts battalion to destroy "a significant portion" of the Thirteenth and both units engaging in a cat and mouse hunt against the other dragging the raid beyond the limits of both Chloe's patience and the supplies bought along. Her attempts to suggest strategy to Major Jeffers only results in in him threatening to terminate her contract and insisting she will never be a MechWarrior. Increasingly despondent, Chloe is working on a ''Phoenix Hawk'' when the Thirteenth Militia catch up with the Blackheart bivouac, being violently thrown from the top of a repair gantry she realizes she never even told Nikolai her dream. Luckily surviving the fall after landing in a snowdrift, Chloe realizes that the Blackhearts have suffered too much damage to go on and will finally withdraw, crying when she sees the deceased Tilo trapped under the burning remains of the repair gantry.
 +
 
 +
With the [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyrans]] happy enough at Major Jeffers and the Blackhearts battalion's performance during the raid to keep paying the bills, a bitter Chloe terminates her contract with the unit the moment she arrives back on New Kyoto. Turning to the competing contract offers she received, each deal falls through when she tries to insist she also receive training as a MechWarrior. When the very last interview remaining looks to go the same way, as Chloe's thoughts turn to the imminent arrival of Nikolai, desperation leads her to make a dangerous offer. A few days later in bed with Nikolai, a hesitant Chloe reveals her dream to become a MechWarrior and how she secured her new contact to fulfill that goal — by promising two people from the price of one, herself and Nikolai. Incensed she would promise his services and force him to give up his own dream without even consulting him, he angrily departs, leaving her in tears.
 +
 
 +
Four months later Chloe and Nikolai, who ultimately chose to follow her, are met by Dawson Clarmont upon arrival on Bone-Norman, welcoming both to the [[Grave Walkers]].
  
 
==Featured Characters==
 
==Featured Characters==
 
* [[Chloe Reed]]
 
* [[Chloe Reed]]
 +
* Lieutenant [[Dawson Clarmont]]
 +
* Jamal
 
* Major Jeffers
 
* Major Jeffers
 +
* Captain Jorgenson
 +
* [[Nikolai Mason]]
 +
* Tilo
  
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
==Featured BattleTech==
 
===BattleMechs===
 
===BattleMechs===
 +
* ''[[Grasshopper]]'' (mentioned)
 +
* ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''
 +
* ''[[Shadow Hawk]]''
 +
* ''[[Stinger]]'' (mentioned)
 +
* ''[[Thunderbolt]]''
  
 
+
===Featured spacecraft===
===Featured JumpShips and DropShips===
 
 
 
  
 
==Featured Places==
 
==Featured Places==
 +
* [[Bone-Norman]]
 
* [[New Kyoto]]
 
* [[New Kyoto]]
 +
* [[Wing]]
 +
* [[Algorab]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Gacrux]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Kalidasa]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Rochelle]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Solaris]] (mentioned)
 +
* [[Wyatt]] (mentioned)
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
*[https://mw5mercs.com/novellas MechWarrior 5 novella downloads] (official)
  
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
 
[[Category:Short Stories]]
[[Category:Novels]]
 
 
[[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills]]
 
[[Category:Works by Randall N. Bills]]

Latest revision as of 12:21, 5 September 2023

Vision's Hunger cover.jpg
Vision's Hunger
Product information
Type Novella
Author Randall N. Bills
Pages 75 (EPUB edition)
Cover Artwork David Kerber
Publication information
Publisher MechaPub, INc.
First published 21 November 2019
MSRP Free
Content
Era Succession Wars era
Timeline 4 August 2994 - 15 July 2995
Series MechWarrior 5: Origins
Preceded by The Calm of the Void
Followed by Endless War

Vision's Hunger, subtitled A MechWarrior 5 Origins Series Story, Installment 2, is an original BattleTech novella penned by Randall N. Bills, offered as a free tie-in product supporting the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries computer game.

It was originally released in electronic format on 21 November 2019, before being also included in an electronic omnibus collection on 12 December 2019, two days after the game's launch. The novella was later re-released as part of The Mercenary Life anthology released 12 April 2021, with an additional author postscript.

Plot summary[edit]

Chloe Reed is among the top techs in the Blackhearts mercenary unit with endless contacts and supreme technical talent that has drawn numerous high-priced offers from other units to entice her away. But she hungers for more — to become a MechWarrior. Unfortunately her attempts to become one fall on deaf ears, with people unable or unwilling to look past her tech skills, her immediate superior Major Jeffers intensely dismissive of her continued "antics". Learning from her faithful assistant Tilo rumors that the unit will soon deploy on a raid, Chloe deduces it will be a short raid against the defending Thirteenth Marik Militia on Wing for retribution for FWLM raid against Wyatt in 2991, ensuring she will be back on New Kyoto long before her lover trader Nikolai Mason will next be in-system.

She is correct on all counts save how short the raid will be, with vague orders for the Blackhearts battalion to destroy "a significant portion" of the Thirteenth and both units engaging in a cat and mouse hunt against the other dragging the raid beyond the limits of both Chloe's patience and the supplies bought along. Her attempts to suggest strategy to Major Jeffers only results in in him threatening to terminate her contract and insisting she will never be a MechWarrior. Increasingly despondent, Chloe is working on a Phoenix Hawk when the Thirteenth Militia catch up with the Blackheart bivouac, being violently thrown from the top of a repair gantry she realizes she never even told Nikolai her dream. Luckily surviving the fall after landing in a snowdrift, Chloe realizes that the Blackhearts have suffered too much damage to go on and will finally withdraw, crying when she sees the deceased Tilo trapped under the burning remains of the repair gantry.

With the Lyrans happy enough at Major Jeffers and the Blackhearts battalion's performance during the raid to keep paying the bills, a bitter Chloe terminates her contract with the unit the moment she arrives back on New Kyoto. Turning to the competing contract offers she received, each deal falls through when she tries to insist she also receive training as a MechWarrior. When the very last interview remaining looks to go the same way, as Chloe's thoughts turn to the imminent arrival of Nikolai, desperation leads her to make a dangerous offer. A few days later in bed with Nikolai, a hesitant Chloe reveals her dream to become a MechWarrior and how she secured her new contact to fulfill that goal — by promising two people from the price of one, herself and Nikolai. Incensed she would promise his services and force him to give up his own dream without even consulting him, he angrily departs, leaving her in tears.

Four months later Chloe and Nikolai, who ultimately chose to follow her, are met by Dawson Clarmont upon arrival on Bone-Norman, welcoming both to the Grave Walkers.

Featured Characters[edit]

Featured BattleTech[edit]

BattleMechs[edit]

Featured spacecraft[edit]

Featured Places[edit]

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]