Difference between revisions of "Shadow of Death"
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{{InfoBoxProduct | {{InfoBoxProduct | ||
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| era = [[Clan Invasion era]] | | era = [[Clan Invasion era]] | ||
| timeline = 2 January [[3050]] to 6 May [[3052]] | | timeline = 2 January [[3050]] to 6 May [[3052]] | ||
| − | | series = [[Battle of Tukayyid ( | + | | series = [[Battle of Tukayyid (anthology)]] |
| precededby = [[Two Roads Diverged]] | | precededby = [[Two Roads Diverged]] | ||
| followedby = [[The Burdens of Honor]] | | followedby = [[The Burdens of Honor]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | '''''Shadow of Death''''' is a short story by [[Randall N. Bills]], third entry in the [[Battle of Tukayyid (anthology)|''Battle of Tukayyid'' series]] written as a companion of the ''[[BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid]]'' | |
| − | '''''Shadow of Death''''' is a short story by [[Randall N. Bills]], third entry in the [[Battle of Tukayyid ( | ||
==Teaser text== | ==Teaser text== | ||
| Line 31: | Line 29: | ||
==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| − | + | Nova Cat warrior Torian Nostra is shocked at the sight of [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Nova Cat)|Alpha Galaxy's]] command ship falling from the sky. The loss of a significant portion of his Clan's strength within the first hours of battle against [[ComStar]] seems to confirm the background of the heart-breaking mission personally given to him by [[Khan]] [[Severen Leroux]] himself, but does not match his vision of the terrible task he must do. While the burden weighs heavily upon him, he continues to fight well as the Nova Cats attempt to earn victory on Tukayyid, suffering increasing losses in the process. | |
| + | |||
| + | In the two years leading up to the battle, Khan [[Severen Leroux]] grows increasingly convinced that his Clan is following the wrong path. This belief begins with the first fateful meeting with [[Anastasius Focht]] and the unexpected assault against the [[Precentor Martial]] by his [[Loremaster]] Biccon Winters. Having chosen until that point to heed only the positive aspects of her visions and join [[Operation REVIVAL]], the confrontation with Focht had him increasingly focusing on the terrible fate for all the Clans she has foretold. Meeting with her, Winters attempts to lead Leroux to understanding, asking why their ancestors followed [[Nicholas Kerensky]], shooting down the easy Clan answers to get him to admit the truth - the exiled [[SLDF]] had suffered such horrendous losses that it followed the Founder because the only alternative was death. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Winters insists that the Clans will face ComStar and again must suffer such terrible losses that the Nova Cats will willingly accept transformation from what they are now to follow a totally new path, to avoid their destruction and ensure their survival. Recognizing that this vision must be assured to pass, a sorrowful Leroux meets with Torian Nostra and three other warriors and instructs them to intentionally cripple the offensive, to ensure their Clan is not just defeated but totally humbled during the battle. Acknowledging that others might see his actions as treason for dooming all the Clans, Leroux steadfastly believes in the shared vision with the Loremaster and insists he will pay any price to ensure the ultimate salvation and survival of their people. | ||
| + | |||
| + | While the battle turns against his Clan, Torian's [[Star]] discovers a secret [[BattleMech|'Mech]]-sized tunnel running towards [[Joje]] under the impenetrable ComStar walls. Presented with an opportunity for the Nova Cats to still triumph, Nostra instead jams his Starmates' communications before killing them all, dying as foretold as he takes the last of his friends with him. | ||
| + | |||
| + | As the Nova Cat's fifteenth and last functional 'Mech, a battered ''[[Arctic Cheetah]]'', boards a [[DropShip]] to lift off Tukayyid days later in defeat, a heavily wounded Severen Leroux reflects on the burden he has carried for the past two years. Knowing that his name will join those of history's most incompetent generals, Leroux consoles himself with the thought that in the long run his actions have ensured the long-term salvation of Clan Nova Cat. | ||
==Featured characters== | ==Featured characters== | ||
| − | *[[Torian Nostra]] | + | * [[Torian Nostra]] |
| − | *[[Severen Leroux]] | + | * [[Severen Leroux]] |
| − | *[[Biccon Winters]] | + | * [[Biccon Winters]] |
| − | *[[Leo Showers]] | + | * [[Leo Showers]] |
| − | *[[Elias Crichell]] | + | * [[Elias Crichell]] |
| − | *[[Karl Bourjon]] | + | * [[Karl Bourjon]] |
| − | *[[Theresa DelVillar]] | + | * [[Theresa DelVillar]] |
| − | *[[Garth Radick]] | + | * [[Garth Radick]] |
| − | *[[Ulric Kerensky]] (mentioned) | + | * [[Ulric Kerensky]] (mentioned) |
| − | *[[Lucian Carns]] | + | * [[Lucian Carns]] |
| − | *[[Anastasius Focht]] | + | * [[Anastasius Focht]] |
| − | *[[Nicholas Kerensky]] | + | * [[Nicholas Kerensky]] (mentioned) |
| − | *Jix | + | * Jix |
| − | *[[James McKenna]] (mentioned) | + | * [[James McKenna]] (mentioned) |
| − | *[[Aleksandr Kerensky]] (mentioned) | + | * [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] (mentioned) |
| − | *[[Armando Luchesi]] (mentioned) | + | * [[Armando Luchesi]] (mentioned) |
==Featured places== | ==Featured places== | ||
| − | *[[Tukayyid]] | + | * [[Tukayyid]] |
| − | *[[Star's End]] | + | * [[Star's End]] |
| − | *[[Altenmarkt]] | + | * [[Altenmarkt]] |
== Featured BattleTech == | == Featured BattleTech == | ||
=== BattleMechs === | === BattleMechs === | ||
| + | * [[Arctic Cheetah (Hankyu)|''Arctic Cheetah'']] | ||
| + | * [[Huntsman (Nobori-nin)|''Huntsman'']] | ||
| + | * ''[[King Crab]]'' | ||
* ''[[Shadow Cat]]'' | * ''[[Shadow Cat]]'' | ||
* [[Stormcrow (Ryoken)|''Stormcrow'']] | * [[Stormcrow (Ryoken)|''Stormcrow'']] | ||
* ''[[Thug]]'' | * ''[[Thug]]'' | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
=== WarShips === | === WarShips === | ||
| Line 69: | Line 75: | ||
=== JumpShips === | === JumpShips === | ||
| − | * [[Outbound Light]] (mentioned) | + | * ''[[Outbound Light]]'' (mentioned) |
* ''[[Merchant]]''-class ''[[Vision's Price]]'' | * ''[[Merchant]]''-class ''[[Vision's Price]]'' | ||
=== DropShips === | === DropShips === | ||
| − | * ''[[Overlord-C]]'' | + | * ''[[Overlord-C]]'' - ''[[Cat's Maw]]'' |
=== Aerospace Fighters === | === Aerospace Fighters === | ||
Latest revision as of 06:48, 20 February 2024
| Shadow of Death | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Randall N. Bills |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs |
| First published | 6 November 2020 |
| Content | |
| Era | Clan Invasion era |
| Timeline | 2 January 3050 to 6 May 3052 |
| Series | Battle of Tukayyid (anthology) |
| Preceded by | Two Roads Diverged |
| Followed by | The Burdens of Honor |
Shadow of Death is a short story by Randall N. Bills, third entry in the Battle of Tukayyid series written as a companion of the BattleTech: Battle of Tukayyid
Contents
[edit]
| “ | Torian Nostra is yoked with an unbearable truth he must endure as the Nova Cats fight for their lives at Losiije. | ” |
Plot summary[edit]
Nova Cat warrior Torian Nostra is shocked at the sight of Alpha Galaxy's command ship falling from the sky. The loss of a significant portion of his Clan's strength within the first hours of battle against ComStar seems to confirm the background of the heart-breaking mission personally given to him by Khan Severen Leroux himself, but does not match his vision of the terrible task he must do. While the burden weighs heavily upon him, he continues to fight well as the Nova Cats attempt to earn victory on Tukayyid, suffering increasing losses in the process.
In the two years leading up to the battle, Khan Severen Leroux grows increasingly convinced that his Clan is following the wrong path. This belief begins with the first fateful meeting with Anastasius Focht and the unexpected assault against the Precentor Martial by his Loremaster Biccon Winters. Having chosen until that point to heed only the positive aspects of her visions and join Operation REVIVAL, the confrontation with Focht had him increasingly focusing on the terrible fate for all the Clans she has foretold. Meeting with her, Winters attempts to lead Leroux to understanding, asking why their ancestors followed Nicholas Kerensky, shooting down the easy Clan answers to get him to admit the truth - the exiled SLDF had suffered such horrendous losses that it followed the Founder because the only alternative was death.
Winters insists that the Clans will face ComStar and again must suffer such terrible losses that the Nova Cats will willingly accept transformation from what they are now to follow a totally new path, to avoid their destruction and ensure their survival. Recognizing that this vision must be assured to pass, a sorrowful Leroux meets with Torian Nostra and three other warriors and instructs them to intentionally cripple the offensive, to ensure their Clan is not just defeated but totally humbled during the battle. Acknowledging that others might see his actions as treason for dooming all the Clans, Leroux steadfastly believes in the shared vision with the Loremaster and insists he will pay any price to ensure the ultimate salvation and survival of their people.
While the battle turns against his Clan, Torian's Star discovers a secret 'Mech-sized tunnel running towards Joje under the impenetrable ComStar walls. Presented with an opportunity for the Nova Cats to still triumph, Nostra instead jams his Starmates' communications before killing them all, dying as foretold as he takes the last of his friends with him.
As the Nova Cat's fifteenth and last functional 'Mech, a battered Arctic Cheetah, boards a DropShip to lift off Tukayyid days later in defeat, a heavily wounded Severen Leroux reflects on the burden he has carried for the past two years. Knowing that his name will join those of history's most incompetent generals, Leroux consoles himself with the thought that in the long run his actions have ensured the long-term salvation of Clan Nova Cat.
Featured characters[edit]
- Torian Nostra
- Severen Leroux
- Biccon Winters
- Leo Showers
- Elias Crichell
- Karl Bourjon
- Theresa DelVillar
- Garth Radick
- Ulric Kerensky (mentioned)
- Lucian Carns
- Anastasius Focht
- Nicholas Kerensky (mentioned)
- Jix
- James McKenna (mentioned)
- Aleksandr Kerensky (mentioned)
- Armando Luchesi (mentioned)
Featured places[edit]
Featured BattleTech[edit]
BattleMechs[edit]
WarShips[edit]
- Congress-class True Vision
JumpShips[edit]
- Outbound Light (mentioned)
- Merchant-class Vision's Price