Editing Grave Covenant

{{InfoBoxProduct
| image               = Grave Covenant.jpg
| name                = 
| type                = Novel
| author              = [[Michael A. Stackpole]]
| development         = 
| primarywriting      = 
| pages               = 324
| cover               = [[Roger Loveless]]
| interiorart         = 
| illustrations       = 
| publisher           = [[Roc Books]]
| productioncode      = 
| year                = 01 September 1997
| ISBN10              = 0451456130
| ISBN13              = 978-0451456137
| MSRP                = 
| content             = 
| era                 = [[Clan Invasion era]]
| timeline            = [[3058]] &ndash; [[3059]]
| series              = [[Twilight of the Clans (series)|Twilight of the Clans]]
| precededby          = [[Exodus Road (novel)|Exodus Road]]
| followedby          = [[The Hunters]]
}}
'''''Grave Covenant''''', by [[Michael A. Stackpole]], is the second book in the [[Twilight of the Clans (series)|Twilight of the Clans]] series. 

{{BCNovel|on 26 July 2010}}
== From the back cover ==
{{quote|''Possessing precious secret information that will lead them down the [[Exodus Road]], the [[Inner Sphere]] [[Successor States]] can now meet the [[Clans]] on their own terms... and behind enemy lines. The Herculean task of amassing enough power means re-establishing the legendary [[Star League]]&mdash;a union of Successor States and their BattleMechs led by [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]. But with the deadly game of politics make the Successor Lords wary of alliance, and Victor's Machiavellian sister, [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katrina Steiner]], hatching more vicious plots to further her own agendas, the war against the Clans may only be a distraction from the real danger...''}}

==Summary==
This novel has three major sections.

The longest section is the follow up to the novel "Malicious Intent" and covers the political intrigues of the "Whitting Conference" on Tharkad.
Tharkad has all the major house powers conspiring against each other to achieve their varied ends while nominally creating the [[Second_Star_League|Second Star League]] and planning a counter offensive to the clans.

Some of the major early plot points are the relationship between Victor and Omi Kurita, and the work of Katherine Steiner Davion to counter Victor Davion, while courting Favor with Sun-Tzu Liao and Thomas Marik.

There is also some very early foreshadowing with the relationship between Isis Marik and Victor Davion.

A lot of the major decisions about the Twilight of the clans are made at this conference, including the decision to focus on a single clan for extermination, the decision to make it the smoke Jaguars and the decision to put Focht and Victor in charge of the operation.

Late in the planning Comstar reveals the Exodus road, and it is decided to send a force to hit Huntress at the same time the general invasion of the Jaguars is performed.

It is also revealed that the Nova Cats have been conspiring with the Draconis Combine, to join the Second Star League.

One of the interesting sub plots on Tharkad is Sun-Tzu's bid to be the first First Lord of the second star league. This ends up working, when Victor backs the plan to spite Katherine.

On Strana Mechty, the clans are plotting the election of the next IlKhan, and the Wolves and the Falcons are working together to set the Smoke Jaguars up to fail as the IlKhan.

The next section of the novel is something of a short interlude. It covers the introduction of Victor Davion to the Kurita Family, on Luthien, and peaks with Victor saving Omi from assassins, while being severely injured.

The final portion of the novel covers snippets from the various battle of Operation Bulldog. 
This portion contains some major character combat, including fighting by Victor in his [[Dire_Wolf_(Daishi)|Daishi]] alongside a [[Penetrator]] taking down a star.
It has a major scene of the major Clan Wolf players, Phelan, Ranna, and Ragmussan in a Gladiator, Warhawk and Ice Ferret against a trio of Jaguars in single combat.

The results of the campaign against the clans is seen on [[Strana Mechty]], as the Wolves and Falcons conspire to ensure that the Jaguars receive no support from other clans.

The book closes out with the war going so well for the Inner Sphere that the Jaguars begin to flee the inner sphere, causing Victor to realise that task force Serpent is likely to be overwhelmed with all the returning units on Huntress, and deciding to mount a second expedition to Huntress to reinforce them.

In trying to talk Victor out of this path, Focht reveals he is in fact Frederick Steiner, while trying to convince Victor not to go, as he expects Katherine to take advantage of his absence to destroy the new unity of the inner Sphere.

==Featured characters==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] [[Ann Adelmana]] of the [[Davion Heavy Guards]]
* Elemental [[Adrienne (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Adrienne]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* [[Colonel]] [[Daniel Allard]] of the [[Kell Hounds]]
* [[Duke of St. Ives]] [[Justin Allard]] (mentioned)
* [[Duke of St. Ives]] [[Kai Allard-Liao]] 
* [[Kuan-Yin Allard-Liao]] (mentioned)
* [[Stefan Amaris]] (mentioned)
* [[Melissa Allard-Liao]] (mentioned)
* ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]'' [[Narimasa Asano]]
* [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Jerome Blake]] (mentioned)
* [[Star Captain]] [[Vulcan Bowen]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] [[Sharon Bryan]] 
* [[saKhan]] [[Lucien Carns]] of [[Clan Nova Cat]]
* [[saKhan]] [[Vandervahn Chistu]] of [[Clan Jade Falcon]] (mentioned)
* [[saKhan]] [[Samantha Clees]] of [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
* [[Anderson Cox]] (mentioned)
* [[Jerrard Cranston|Jerrard "Jerry" Cranston (Galen Cox)]] 
* [[Khan]] [[Elias Crichell]] of [[Clan Jade Falcon]] (mentioned)
* Agent [[Curaitis]]
* [[First Prince of the Federated Suns|First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion|Hanse "The Fox" Davion]] 
* [[First Prince of the Federated Suns|First Prince]] [[Ian Davion (31st c.)|Ian Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[Duke of New Syrtis|Duchess of New Syrtis]] [[Marie Davion-St. Claire]] (mentioned)
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Olivia Drummond]] of [[Clan Nova Cat]]
* [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] of [[ComStar]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Jeremiah Furey]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* Elemental [[Grace (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Grace]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* [[Grand Duke of Oriente]] [[Christopher Halas (31st c.)|Christopher Halas]] (mentioned)
* [[Sherryl Halas]]
* [[Kommandant]] [[Allyn Hasek]] (mentioned)
* [[George Hasek Jr. (31st c.)|George Hasek jr.]]
* [[March Lord of the Capellan March]] [[Michael Hasek-Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[Marshal of the Armies|Marshal]] & [[Duke of New Syrtis]] [[Morgan Hasek-Davion]]
* [[David Hanau]] (mentioned)
* [[Khan]] [[Ian Hawker]] of [[Clan Diamond Shark]]
* Tech [[Jammer (10th Lyran Guards)|Jammer]] of the [[10th Lyran Guards]]
* [[Francesca Jenkins]]
* [[Frances Jeschke]]
* [[Tommy Jeschke]] (mentioned)
* [[Kommandant]] [[Wendy Sylvester|Wendy Karner]] of the [[Davion Heavy Guards]]
* [[Caitlin Kell]] of the [[Kell Hounds]] (mentioned)
* [[Grand Duke of Arc-Royal]] [[Morgan Kell]]
* [[Khan]] [[Phelan Kell]] of [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
* [[Commanding General of the Star League Defense Force|General]] [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] (mentioned)
* [[Khan]] [[Natasha Kerensky]] of [[Clan Wolf]] (mentioned)
* [[ilKhan]] [[Nicholas Kerensky]] of [[Clan Wolf]] (mentioned)
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Ranna Kerensky]] of [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] 
* [[ilKhan]] [[Ulric Kerensky]] of [[Clan Wolf]] (mentioned)
* [[Sang-shao]] [[Wu Kang Kuo]] of [[Harloc Raiders]]
* [[Hohiro Kurita]]
* [[Minoru Nova Cat|Minoru Kurita]] 
* [[Keeper of the Family Honor]] [[Omi Kurita]] (mentioned)
* [[Keeper of the Family Honor]] [[Omiko Kurita|Omiko "Omi" Kurita]]
* [[Shada Kurita]] (mentioned)
* [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] [[Takashi Kurita]] 
* ''[[Tai-shu]]'' [[Tomoe Sakade|Tomoe Kurita]]
* Doctor [[Deirdre Lear]]
* [[David Lear]]
* [[Khan]] [[Severen Leroux]] of [[Clan Nova Cat]]
* [[Duke of St. Ives|Duchess of St. Ives]] [[Candace Liao]] 
* [[Kali Liao]]
* [[Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation|Chancellor]] [[Maximilian Liao]] (mentioned)
* [[Mandrinn of Capella|Mandrinn]] [[Tormano Liao]]
* [[Duke of Donegal]] [[Arthur Luvon]] (mentioned)
* [[Elected Prince of the Free Rasalhague Republic|Prince]] [[Haakon Magnusson]]
* [[Ragnar Magnusson| Ragnar (Magnusson)]] of [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] 
* [[Director of MIIO]] [[Alexi Mallory]] (mentioned)
* [[Duchess]] [[Isis Marik]] 
* [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]] (mentioned)
* [[Joshua Marik]] (mentioned)
* [[Duke of Oceana|Duchess of Oceana]] [[Sophina Desiree|Sophina Marik]] (mentioned)
* [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Thomas Marik (False)|Thomas Marik]] 
* Sir [[Colonel]] [[Paul Masters]] of the [[Knights of the Inner Sphere]]
* ''[[Tai-sa]]'' [[Angus McTeague]] of the [[3rd Proserpina Hussars]]
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Logan Moon]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* [[Ted Mooraine]] of the [[Davion Heavy Guards]]
* [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Sharilar Mori]] (mentioned)
* [[Sven Newmark]]
* ''[[Tai-sa]]'' [[Katherine Oltion]] of the 6th [[Ghost Regiments|Ghost Regiment]]
* [[Khan]] [[Lincoln Osis]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* [[Loremaster]] [[Kael Pershaw]] of [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
* [[Kommandant]] Doctor [[Michael Pondsmith]]
* [[Khan]] [[Marthy Pryde]] of [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
* [[saKhan]] [[Marialle Radick]] of [[Clan Wolf]]
* [[Leftenant]] [[Renard Sanderlin|Renard "Renny" Sanderlin]] of the [[10th Lyran Guards]]
* [[Baron (noble title)|Baron]] of [[Robinson]] [[Tancred Sandoval]]
* [[ilKhan]] [[Leo Showers]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] (mentioned)
* [[Duke of New Syrtis|Duchess of New Syrtis]] [[Kym Sorenson|Kym Sorenson-Hasek]]
* [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Alessandro Steiner]] (mentioned)
* [[Arthur Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine "Katrina" Steiner-Davion]]
* [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] (mentioned)
* [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Melissa Steiner (31st c.)|Melissa Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[General of the Armies]] [[Nondi Steiner]] 
* [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[Duke of Porrima|Duke]] [[Ryan Steiner]] (mentioned)
* [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] (mentioned)
* [[Archon-Prince]] [[Victor Steiner-Davion|Victor Ian Steiner-Davion]]
* [[Khan]] [[Asa Taney]] of [[Clan Ice Hellion]]
* [[Star Captain]] [[Trent (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Trent]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] (Bloodhouse [[Howell (Bloodname)|Howell]]) (mentioned)
* Elemental [[Trevor (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Trevor]] of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
* [[Leftenant General]] [[Caradoc Trevena|Caradoc "Doc" Trevena]]
* ''[[Sho-sho]]'' [[Shin Yodama]]
* [[Major]] [[Salome Ward]] (mentioned)
* [[Khan]] [[Vladimir Ward]] of [[Clan Wolf]]
* [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Myndo Waterly]] (mentioned)
* Doctor [[Wilson (Lyran Alliance)|Wilson]] (mentioned)
* [[Khan]] [[Perigard Zalman]] of [[Clan Steel Viper]]
{{div col end}}

== Featured places ==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Alyina]] (mentioned)
* [[Arc-Royal]] (mentioned)
* [[Asgard]]
* [[Bjarred]]
* [[Coventry]] (mentioned)
* [[Huntress]] (mentioned)
* [[Kiamba]] (mentioned)
* [[Labrea]]
* [[Luthien]]
* [[New Avalon]] (mentioned)
* [[New Exford]]
* [[Northwind]] (mentioned)
* [[Nykvarn]] (mentioned)
* [[Marik]]
* [[Matamoras]]
* [[Outreach]] (mentioned)
* [[Port Arthur]]
* [[Schuyler]]
* [[Strana Mechty]]
* [[Teniente]] (mentioned)
* [[Tharkad]]
* [[Turtle Bay]] (mentioned)
* [[Twycross]] (mentioned)
* [[Warlock]] (mentioned)
* [[Wolcott]] 
{{div col end}}

== Featured BattleTech Equipment==
===BattleMechs===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Devastator]]''
* ''[[Dire Wolf (Daishi)|Daishi]]''
* ''[[Falconer]]''
* ''[[Ice Ferret (Fenris)|Fenris]]''
* ''[[Executioner_(Gladiator)|Gladiator]]''
* ''[[Mongrel (Grendel)|Grendel]]''
* ''[[Arctic Cheetah (Hankyu)|Hankyu]]''
* ''[[Kodiak]]''
* ''[[Gargoyle (Man O' War)|Man O' War]]''
* ''[[Grand Dragon]]''
* ''[[Warhawk (Masakari)|Masakari]]''
* ''[[Penetrator]]''
* ''[[Horned Owl (Peregrine)|Peregrine]]''
* ''[[Shadow Cat]]''
* ''[[Turkina]]''
{{div col end}}

===DropShips===
* [[Barbarossa (Dropship)|Barbarossa]]
* Unknown ''[[Leopard]]''-class
* ''[[Lobo Negro]]''

===JumpShips===
* ''[[King of Monkeys]]''

===Vehicles===
* ''[[Alacorn]]'' Mk VII
* ''[[Brutus]]''

<!--==Notes==-->

==Foreign-Language Editions==
===German=== 
A German edition, translated by [[Reinhold H. Mai]], was published by [[Heyne]] in 1998 as ''Heimatwelten'' (ISBN 9783453133426).<ref>[https://d-nb.info/955504619 Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for ''Heimatwelten'']</ref>  This was republished as an EPUB by [[Ulisses Medien & Spiel Distribution GmbH|Ulisses Spiele]] in 2021 as ''BattleTech Legenden 39 : Heimatwelten'' (ISBN 9783963317255).<ref>[https://d-nb.info/1232647721 Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Catalog entry for ''BattleTech Legenden 39 : Heimatwelten'']</ref>

===Hungarian===
A Hungarian edition, translated by Novák Gábor, was published by [[Beholder]] in 2002 as ''Kényszerszövetség''.<ref>Beholder product page for [http://beholder.hu/?m=bolt&cikk=155 ''Kényszerszövetség'']</ref>

===Russian===
A Russian edition, translated by M. Levin, was published by [[Дрофа]] (Drofa) in 2002 as ''Возрождение Завета'' (ISBN 5710763489) as part of a series produced in collaboration with [[Армада-пресс]] (Armada-Press). <ref> Science Fiction Lab Book description for [http://fantlab.ru/edition8464 Возрождение Завета]</ref> <ref> National Library of Russia description for [https://webservices.nlr.ru/util/?method=recordFormat&vid=07NLR_VU1&sysid=000539675&format=037&base=NLR01 Возрождение Завета]</ref>  

===Spanish===
A Spanish edition, translated by Jaime de Marcos Andreu, was published by [[Timun Mas]] in 1999 as [[List of BattleTech Print Novels in Spanish#Pacto mortal|''Pacto mortal'']].

==Covers==
<gallery>
Image:Grave Covenant.jpg|Original 1997 cover. Art by Roger Loveless.
Image:Heimatwelten.jpg|1998 German edition.
Image:BattleTech Legenden 39 - Heimatwelten.jpg|2021 German edition (reprint).
Image:Kényszerszövetség - A klánok alkonya II - 2002.jpg|2002 Hungarian edition.
Image:Возрождение Завета.jpg|2002 Russian edition.
Image:SpanishBattletech-Pacto_Mortal.jpg|Spanish edition.
</gallery>

=References=
<references/>


[[Category:Novels]]
[[Category:Classic BattleTech novels]]
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]]
[[Category:Works by Michael A. Stackpole]]
[[Category:German Editions]]
[[Category:Hungarian Editions]]
[[Category:Russian Editions]]
[[Category:Spanish Editions]]