Phoenix (novel)
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 | Apocryphal Product Although the subject of this article is an official BattleTech product, it does not meet the current criteria for Canon. Its content may or may not be canonical for the BattleTech universe, and for the purpose of the Sarna.net BattleTechWiki is considered apocryphal. |
| |
| Phoenix | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Novel |
| Author | Peter Heid |
| Pages | 286 |
| Cover Artwork | "FASA Corporation" (originally by Bruce Jensen) |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Heyne |
| Product code | 06/6252 |
| First published | 2001 |
| ISBN-10 | 3453187903 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-3453187900 |
| MSRP | 7,95 € |
| Content | |
| Era | Clan Invasion era Succession Wars era (flashback) |
| Timeline | 05 January 3033—10 April 3054 |
Published by Heyne as the 52nd in their series of German BattleTech novels, Phoenix (by Peter Heid) is notable for being the first novel in that line (and the first German BattleTech novel) that was not a translated American novel, but an original work by a German author. It has not been translated into English so far.
The cover image was taken from the novel Wolf Pack; the German translation of that novel (Wolfsrudel, Heyne #16) had been published with a different cover.
Contents
Overview
Canonicity
Written in German and exclusively published in that language so far, Phoenix does not technically meet the current criteria for Canon in the BattleTech universe. As an official product published under a valid license, it should be regarded as apocryphal instead.
From the back cover (translated from German)
| “ | Replacing a MechWarrior who got killed, Jason Boise is assigned to the Mad Jumpin Jacks, an elite mercenary company under the command of old warhorse Jack Anderson. Jason is the laughing stock of his superiors and comrades for his youth and inexperience, but when the Mad Jumpin Jacks face Lyran invaders on the Marik world of Amity and have to fight for their survival he can show what he is made of... | ” |
Plot Summary
Framework story
On 07 April 3054, Tomans is being defended against a Clan Jade Falcon incursion for a month already. The Clan attackers barely show any signs of tiring, while the defenders are quite exhausted. During night watch, a disparate group of defending MechWarriors discuss how a month of exceedingly bloody fighting barely slowed the Clan Warriors. Lhiannon Potter and Jason Boise of the Phoenix mercenary unit meet Ray Allison, an old acquaintance, which prompts them to recount a story of their unit (then known as the Mad Jumpin Jacks) from 21 years ago when they defended Amity against a Lyran attack (Part 1).
Later that night, the Tomans defenders are informed about an expected Clan attack and volunteer for a defense mission. They move out to a canyon in their 'Mechs but then have to wait until sunrise, and use this opportunity to continue the story from earlier (Part 2).
Two stars of Jade Falcons 'Mechs appear at the ambush site as expected, and are attacked with some success. However, they soon turn the tide of the fight and when the Jade Falcons withdraw, only two attacking 'Mechs remain functional. Jason Boise was mortally wounded, and asks Potter to continue the story because he likes to hear about the old days (Part 3).
In an epilogue chapter it is revealed that Boise died on the battlefield while waiting for a medevac helicopter (which took 3 hours to reach them). True to the name of Phoenix, two new recruits report to Lhiannon Potter to replace losses: Craig Osonov, who overheard the stories being told, and, daughter of
Part 1
Lyran Commonwealth forces have invaded Amity in mid-3032, hoping to acquire 'Mech blueprints, and by January 3033 the fighting is still going on because of the Marik forces' dogged defense. The Mad Jumpin Jacks mercenary unit
Part 2
Part 3
Characters
- Raymond Allison (killed by a Jade Falcon Turkina on 8 April 3054)
- Jack Anderson
- Jason Boise (killed by a Jade Falcon Fire Falcon on 8 April 3054)
- Craig Osonov: Young and inexperienced officer from the Outworlds Alliance
- Lhiannon Potter: An orphan girl from the Federated Suns who does not know when she was born, but thinks it was around 3010.
- Robert (killed by a Jade Falcon Masakari on 6 April 3054)
Featured places
Featured BattleTech
BattleMechs
- Cyclops
- Grasshopper
- Griffin
- Javelin
- Masakari
- Panther
- Quickdraw
- Stalker
- Valkyrie
- Victor
- Vulcan
- Whitworth
- Zeus